Regulations

Over the past several days, screenshots like the one circulating below have spread rapidly across trucking social media. The letter, issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), notifies a driver that their non-domiciled Commercial Learner’s Permit or CDL has been cancelled effective immediately, citing non-compliance with federal regulations. Naturally, that has triggered a […]

Even BMC-85 trust funds must now consist of cash or cash equivalents.

Over 57% of roadside inspections result in at least one violation. Reliance Partners’ director of DOT regulatory compliance shares regulations that drivers and carriers commonly overlook.

Shippers are expected to do their due diligence when it comes to choosing carrier partners. That includes choosing companies that are working within FMCSA guidelines, a task that requires knowledge of said guidelines.

Each year carriers must pay their Unified Carrier Registration fees, and failure to do so could result in significant penalties, including suspension of vehicle registrations.

A multistate initiative focused on cutting emissions from medium- and heavy-duty vehicles released an action plan for transitioning to zero-emission vehicles.

Reasons why you should care about idling

The new president of the Truckload Carriers Association talks with an expert at FreightWaves about how environmental regulations and switching technologies impact the industry.

A new complaint filed by NLRB could serve as a focal point in a revision of independent contractor rules.

While hydrogen fuel cells offer a promising alternative to ozone-threatening diesel engines, creating an electric-friendly infrastructure will require dedication from government regulators, equipment manufacturers and industry players alike.

The current regulatory environment can be opaque and confusing, with each state left to create — or not — its own rules surrounding EVs. So far, six states have adopted a regulatory framework that requires a percentage of each fleet’s trucks to meet the definitions of zero-emission vehicle in the next few years.

A recent court decision serves as notice to all employers that OSHA violations, even when wrongfully and willfully encouraged by a supervisor, can still result in liability to the employer.

Carriers must pay fuel taxes to states they travel through, but the process can be complicated and time-consuming due to the various jurisdictions. Even a simple filing mistake can trigger an IFTA audit and bring unwanted scrutiny upon the carrier.

A carbon price is an “essential element in any decarbonization plan,” John Butler, president and CEO of WSC, said during a press conference Thursday.

While a federal appeals court has halted enforcement of the Biden administration’s COVID vaccine mandate, companies should familiarize themselves with the requirements regardless.

Infrastructure bill and trucking impact On Nov. 5, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) by a 228-206 vote after passage by the Senate on Aug. 10. In a report published by Georgetown University, trucking jobs are estimated to account for 20% of the infrastructure plan, with […]

The nation’s safest fleet represent the best the industry has to offer. Applications are now being accepted for TCA’s 2022 Fleet Safety Awards. Deadline is Nov. 1.

From time to time, truck drivers require additional training. Whether it is refresher training or due to a recent incident, success depends on having the right approach.

FMCSA’s Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse has several reporting requirements for carriers, but those without proper protocols in place could be reporting violations they shouldn’t, and that is harming drivers.

Yard tractors are often found in ports, like this one in Port Houston, but fleets, warehouses and distribution centers are typical users of the vehicles. Anytime a driver is using a yard tractor, it presents a safety risk, so even though it may not be going onto public roadways, driver training is critical to ensure safe operation. (Photo: Jim Allen/FreightWaves)

Learn how Lytx can navigate the regulatory landscape.

How quickly drone package delivery becomes a reality is dependent on a couple of factors, perhaps none bigger than whether the public is ready to accept it.

What suggestions would you give new Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg? Our reporters share theirs in this FreightWaves roundtable.

E-log violations during roadside inspections and compliance reviews can add up to thousands of dollars in penalties for carriers. Knowing the most common violations is the first step to avoiding these penalties.

Zach Strickland and Anthony Smith discuss headlines before Black Friday and what a changing presidential administration means for logistics regulations.

Trucking is going sustainable. Find out the details on AFVs, FTLs, automation and what new regulations to expect next year.

The California Air Resources Board has mandated a percentage of zero-emission Class 8 trucks must be built for sale in California. Darren Prokop’s commentary covers the ins and outs of this regulatory mandate.

With upcoming changes to hours-of-service rules, drivers and fleets could see improved productivity, safer operation and fewer violations.

As Congress and the White House consider short- and longer-term funding infrastructure needs, the railroads want to ensure that the rail sector is part of the discussion.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s emergency declarations extend far beyond hours of service.

In these trying times, regulatory compliance can’t be an afterthought. Failure to follow the rules – and the number of exemptions currently being issued makes that even more challenging – jeopardizes the fleet’s viability.

Will capacity tighten and raise rates, or will volumes evaporate and crash them again?

Darren Prokop writes about California’s AB 5 and its impact in California – and nationwide.

Family-owned Howard Baer Inc. of Nashville, Tennessee, cites government regulations, the struggle to find qualified drivers and soaring insurance costs as factors behind its decision to close after 69 years.

Companies may be creating unnecessary risk in their operations if they have an out-of-date policy and procedure manual, or worse, aren’t following it.

Are the reports of FedEx’s struggles greatly exaggerated?

Plus: Amazon driver steals package; Rivian vs. Tesla

FMCSA has increased the use of off-site audits, giving carriers the opportunity to respond to safety and compliance concerns digitally, but it increases the likelihood of an interaction with an FMCSA official.

TCA Vice President of Government Affairs, Dave Heller and TCA Manager of Government Affairs, Kathryn Sanner On October 21, the public comment period closed for the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) on hours of service (HOS). More than 2,700 comments were submitted to the Agency, with arguments both in […]

Enterprise supply chain solutions provider LLamasoft has introduced a new taxes and duties analytics service on its platform, which will help companies navigate the complex environment of fluctuating global tariffs while optimizing strategic decisions.

FreightWaves finds growing evidence that manufacturers and distributors are transferring operations from the U.K. to northern Europe.

“I can license a 26,000-pound vehicle at 80,000 pounds, it doesn’t mean it’s legal. It’s understanding the local regulations to license it properly to match the local regulations,” Eric Jahnsen, director of the transportation fleet for Sunbelt Rentals, said on the complex task of vehicle licensing and registration.

New European study of popular LNG truck models show that they release 2 to 3.5 times more poisonous NOx gases than an average diesel truck.

Not many people are aware of this, but Alaska received a special exemption from the HOS regulations.

There are a dozen electric scooter companies in Paris, and the city has seen enough of the impact that an unregulated e-bike market can create on the city roads.

Carriers waiting to implement ELDs until the last minute run the risk of hardware shortages, training slowdowns and fines on the highway.

Don Blake’s passion raises $250,000 in two truck auctions for Truckers Against Trafficking

The trucking apocalypse is upon us, and it has taken its latest victim. This time, it’s a 40-year-old carrier out of California. Timmerman Starlite Trucking Inc. of Ceres, California, announced it would be shutting down, placing 30 employees in the unemployment line effective immediately. Ceres is a suburb of Modesto, California, a mid-sized city 100 […]

Austria will be increasing its toll for Euro 6 trucks by 4 percent next year. It already has many restrictions on trucks moving on local roads, products that the trucks can carry, and has organized several block checks, creating unnecessary traffic bottlenecks.

The legislation comes four years after Washington and California passed laws requiring better preparation for derailments and spills.

North Dakota has no restricted air spaces, a favorable climate for testing drones, and a government that is keen on growing its UAS industry.

Another outbreak of salmonella poisoning has occurred – this one caused by tainted fruit. Read how blockchain could help deter and detect these outbreaks before they harm many.

The European Union (EU) is looking to introduce several mandatory safety features in new vehicles from 2022, which would include technology that limits speed and cautions drivers on hazardous road conditions in order to reduce accidents due to speeding.

Navistar’s Steve Gilligan discussed several technological opportunities for truck makers, including autonomous and electric trucks, during this week’s ACT Research conference.

Compliance issues can result in large fines for companies, which is why some companies find outsourcing compliance programs to experts can be a financial win.

Cargo thefts fell 19 percent in 2018 compared to the year before, according to SensiGuard. Plus, the EU cuts a deal on truck emissions and another trucker protest is planned for this week.

Marten Transport and other public truckload companies could make a good stock investment if historical trends hold, says an analyst from Stephens.

A new petition is seeking White House help to get two bills that would exempt most small trucking companies and owner-operators exempted from the ELD requirement reintroduced to Congress.

As administrators for the Black Smoke Matters group on Facebook worked to get a handle on the sudden explosion of members in the group, one administrator announced he is stepping away from the page and the group has posted what it is calling “Truckers Declarations for the 2019 Shutdown” on its website.

Political analysts say that the presidential campaign of Washington State Governor Jay Inslee will focus on climate policy in the transportation, manufacturing, and energy sectors, which could affect the way goods move across the country.

Canada is working to finalize an ELD rule for truckers in that country. The rule would closely mirror the U.S. regulation, with a few significant differences.

ZED Connect has announced that it is discontinuing its ZED-ELD product and offering current customers an opportunity to transition to the EZ-ELD from Stoneridge.

Even as the trucking industry struggles to identify new drivers, there is a segment of the U.S. population that is facing unemployment rates above 27% that are looking for jobs. Can felons fill the driver gap?

Groups representing livestock, bee and fish haulers in the nation have asked the Department of Transportation to extend their available driving time up to 15 hours a day, up from the current federally regulated 11 hours.

As e-bike sharing startups flush cities with bikes for rent at dirt cheap prices, city administrations need to take a look in and understand the impact an unregulated e-biking scene could have on its roads.

FreightWaves reached out to OOIDA for their perspective on the current state of affairs in trucking. We also want to engage in a dialog from the fragmented industry interests, seeking points of agreement, as well as naming points of contention.

The popular electronic logging device (ELD) exemption for agricultural haulers is up for renewal before Sept. 30, but it’s longer-term fate may hang with Congress’ ability to pass a budget – or at least a Continuing Resolution (CR) to keep the government open beyond Sunday.

Military members looking to become truck drivers may have an easier time in doing so as the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has authorized states to waive the commercial learner’s permit (CLP) knowledge test and driving skills tests.

The long-anticipated Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reauthorization bill is up for a vote and it does not include the controversial meal-and-rest break provision that the American Trucking Associations (ATA) and other industry forces were seeking.

The underlying science of glider kit emissions was the topic of a hearing on Thursday in Washington, although opponents of glider kits were not part of the panel.

FEMA stands ready to address the aftermath of Hurricane Florence and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has now issued a “Regional Emergency Declaration” for 13 states and the District of Columbia as the southeast braces for the historic storm.

It’s no surprise that truck drivers who travel during peak times face slower average speeds and that more flexible HOS regulations could not only speed those travel times, but also would not impact the miles drivers cover in a day, according to ATRI.

If there is just one word that can best sum up the official Listening Session on hours of service (HOS) that FMCSA held on Friday at the Great American Trucking Show, it would be flexibility.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is moving forward with plans to solicit public comment on current hours-of-service (HOS) regulations.

As the California Air Resources Board (CARB) prepares to finalize the phase 2 greenhouse gas (GHG) standards and amendments to the tractor-trailer GHG regulation, Fresno-based carrier John R. Lawson Rock & Oil has released a statement calling the proposed regulations illegal.

The U.K. has the second largest dairy trade deficit in the world, with 98% of all its dairy products being sourced from the EU. Once Brexit hits, the country might have a problem doing business like before.

Understanding hours-of-service and ELD regulations and their exemptions can help fleets better manage driver’s time.

Think government regulations are just a drain on your finances? Think again. Today, savvy fleets are using government regulations such as the hours-of-service rules to their advantage — but how?

Efforts are being made to exempt livestock and certain agricultural haulers from ELD and hour-of-service rules, but a trucking group and safety advocacy organization are fighting back.

Imagine the worst boss you’ve ever had looking over your shoulder all day and telling you what to do, and then once 14 hours have elapsed since you drove to work, you have to drop everything, stop work and take a 10-hour break regardless of the time of day.

California is applying meal and rest break provisions to truck drivers that are in conflict with federal hours-of-service regulations, according to many in the industry. That is why so many are pushing to include the Denham Amendment in the FAA authorization bill.

Cashflow Corner presented by TriumphPay …Truck operators have a number of regulations they must meet to operate in California, including trailer and refrigeration unit mandates. Failure to do so can lead to big fines.

The shift would put the burden of dealing with trucking infractions on to local Oklahoma courts. 

FMCSA’s Joe DeLorenzo took plenty of questions from the audience as he tried to clear up confusion over the ELD rule during a session at the Mid-America Trucking Show.

Presented by Reliance Partners …For truly safe trucking companies, chameleon carriers are a problem. But it is one that data is helping solve.

Several states are looking at ways to exempt truck drivers from the ELD mandate, but at least one expert says any laws passed by states to do so would likely violate federal regulations.

Cashflow Corner presented by TriumphPayDetention of drivers remains a significant problem in the industry, with few solutions in sight, although ELDs may be able to help smaller fleets and owner-operators enforce detention policies.

The Owner-Operators Independent Drivers Association has joined efforts to change the current hours-of-service rules to allow drivers to stop driving when they are tired.

Though the Food Safety Modernization Act mandate has already been partially implemented with regard to large carriers and fleet agencies, the hard deadline for smaller fleets is up this year.

Regulations surrounding autonomous vehicles are taking different approaches in the U.S. and Europe, with Europe writing specific technologies into its laws.

Nearly 17 years in the making since the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration first attempted to require electronic logging devices (ELDs) on commercial vehicles, the day has finally arrived for most of the nation’s 3 million plus driver workforce to begin using the devices.

For many fleets, the electronic logging device (ELD) mandate presents a new variable in the regulatory landscape that must be carefully navigated. Following best practices will help fleet managers identify the most common mistakes and pitfalls that may result in a fine, expensive roadside delays or even worse, a business shutdown.

The ELD mandate has finally arrived, but lets stop pretending this is a safety issue. Its not. The ELD mandate is about money. If we wanted to talk safety, our attention should focus on the real-evil: Hours of Service rules. 

To get a more detailed look at the impact ELDs are having on the industry, FreightWaves talked with drivers and a fleet that has been running the devices, and each has reported different experiences, but in the end, the concern of all of them is that the devices simply work.

The adoption rate for ELDs is slowly inching up as more fleets come into compliance with the law, which goes into effect on Dec. 18.

Dry van spot rates hit a 3-year monthly high in November, according to data compiled by DAT Solutions. The November rate was $2.07 per mile, the highest monthly average since December 2014, the firm said, and 5 cents above October levels.

Last-minute efforts to delay or stop the electronic logging device rule (ELD) are continuing, but it may be too little, too late unless President Donald Trump throws a Hail Mary.

ZED Connect offers an ELD device that comes with a one-time purchase fee and no monthly charges. COO Chris Harlow offered up some last-minute thoughts as the deadline quickly to implement ELDs quickly approaches.

UPS has angered the Teamsters union after it implemented a longer workweek for package delivery drivers for the holidays.

Innovation is sweeping across the trucking industry; technologies such as autonomy, blockchain, and electrification are beginning to demonstrate real value potential. However, the question is, where innovation has been stagnant in the past, is the industry ready for change?