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Industry News

Daily trucking industry and regulatory news, curated for US fleet owners and operators.

FMCSA proposes English proficiency as an out-of-service violation

FMCSA has proposed making English language proficiency an out-of-service violation. It is still only a proposal. For owner-operators and dispatchers, that makes it an item to watch, not a final rule. The notice was published August 10, 2026 (Docket FMCSA-2026-0826), amends 49 CFR parts 390 and 391, and responds to a CVSA petition. It would align the FMCSRs with CVSA's out-of-service criteria. A limited exception covers drivers working only inside designated U.S.-Mexico border commercial zones. FMCSA says the cost of non-compliance does not change, because the proposal only codifies existing guidance and CVSA criteria. Comments closed October 9, 2026, with about 2.2K received, and no final rule has been issued. FMCSA will review the feedback before deciding how to proceed. Follow the docket for updates: regulations.gov/docket/FMCSA-2026-0826

November 03, 2026

IMPORTANT

USDOT number vs operating authority: what FMCSA says on Motus

Sorting out USDOT number vs operating authority in Motus? FMCSA Deputy Administrator Jesse Elison says the industry should notice more fixes within weeks, though no firm date has been given. He said the user front end should hopefully be fixed in weeks, while smoothing out the back end will go on for some time. Carriers say insurance or operating authority shows as inactive in Motus despite current coverage. A motor carrier alert linked that to data synchronization problems. Truck News reported a tracking site counted 185 carriers stuck, up from just over 45 in early July. FMCSA has suspended enforcement of biennial updates and USDOT number inactivations for updates due on or after June 1, 2026. Contact center hours now run 8 AM to 11 PM Eastern on weekdays, plus Saturdays. Check your status and write down any mismatch.

October 30, 2026

IMPORTANT

HOS compliance: fuel hauler waiver now covers ethanol

Fuel haulers have a wider hours-of-service waiver to work with, and HOS compliance depends on knowing exactly where it stops. FMCSA issued an amendment on Oct. 15, 2026 that added ethanol and denatured ethanol to the fuels covered by its nationwide waiver for fuel haulers. The waiver caps driving at 16 hours in any 24-hour period for interstate carriers and drivers hauling diesel, gasoline, ethanol and denatured ethanol. Heating oil is a narrower case. It is covered only when hauled in a compartmentalized cargo-tank load with one or more of the four listed fuels, and it can be no more than 75% of the total shipment at the time of loading. According to the FMCSA waiver notice, the waiver took effect Sept. 16, 2026 and expires Dec. 16, 2026. Read the notice itself before you rely on it for a load.

October 28, 2026

IMPORTANT

FMCSA MVR Requirements Unchanged; Emergency Relief Now 30 Days

FMCSA has stretched the automatic relief that follows a regional emergency declaration from 14 days to 30. The final rule is effective October 5, 2026. If you came looking for fmcsa mvr requirements, this rule doesn't touch them. The only regulatory text change is in 49 CFR 390.23(b), where "14" becomes "30." The declaration can come from a state Governor, the Governor's authorized representative, or FMCSA. The Federal Register describes the exemption as limited. It covers only commercial motor vehicles giving direct assistance in a declared emergency, and only the hours-of-service rules in 49 CFR 395.3 and 395.5. FMCSA says it can still extend emergency exemptions past 30 days under 49 CFR 390.25. Petitions for reconsideration are due to the FMCSA Administrator by November 4, 2026.

October 23, 2026

IMPORTANT

Driver qualification file management after the paper waiver

The nationwide exemption that let drivers show a paper medical certificate ran April 11 to October 11, 2026. FMCSA said it did not expect to grant more nationwide NRII waivers or exemptions afterward. As of October 12, 2026, CDL holders licensed outside Alaska and their employers can no longer use a paper medical examiner's certificate as proof of medical certification, even briefly. Alaska is the only state that hasn't implemented the NRII rule, and FMCSA's provisional exemption renewal for Alaska is limited to one year. For CDL and CLP holders covered by NRII, carriers must verify medical certification through the driver's CDLIS MVR and keep the required record in the driver qualification file. Good driver qualification file management now means checking each file for that record, not just a paper copy.

October 23, 2026

IMPORTANT

IFTA Quarterly Filing and Form 2290 Move to Monday, Nov. 2

Oct. 31 falls on a Saturday this year, so two filings move to Monday, Nov. 2. The first is the IFTA quarterly filing for the third quarter. The Texas Comptroller says IFTA returns are due the last day of the month after quarter-end, and a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday pushes that to the next business day. A carrier that traveled no miles still has to file a zero return, according to Missouri's transportation department. The second is Form 2290 for vehicles first used in September, per the IRS due-date table. The Heavy Highway Vehicle Use Tax applies to highway vehicles with a taxable gross weight of 55,000 pounds or more. Mark both ifta reporting deadlines for Monday. Official sources: https://comptroller.texas.gov/taxes/fuels/ifta.php and https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/when-form-2290-taxes-are-due

October 21, 2026

IMPORTANT

FMCSA MVR requirements vs. revoked ELDs: Oct 6 has passed

The October 6, 2026 cutoff for five revoked ELDs has passed. FMCSA removed Moonlight ELD, HGRS ELD, Highest ELD, Truckford ELD and Sparkle ELD from its registered list on August 6, 2026, saying they failed minimum requirements. Carriers still running them are now treated as operating without an ELD. FMCSA had urged officials not to cite drivers before October 6; that leniency has ended. Violations include 49 CFR 395.8(a)(1), no record of duty status, and drivers are placed out of service under CVSA criteria. Check your device against FMCSA's registered and revoked ELD list at eld.fmcsa.dot.gov. It's a separate task from FMCSA MVR requirements or IFTA reporting deadlines.

October 21, 2026

IMPORTANT Fuel & Economy

Diesel Prices Tick Up Nationally as Refinery Maintenance Season Begins

The national average price of diesel rose for the third consecutive week as several major refineries entered scheduled maintenance, tightening supply ahead of the summer driving season.

October 11, 2026

IMPORTANT Market Trends

Spot Market Rates Stabilize After Months of Volatility

Dry van and reefer spot rates have leveled off over the past four weeks, offering carriers a more predictable planning environment heading into peak season.

October 07, 2026

Industry Trends

Truck Parking Shortage Remains Top Driver Concern, Survey Finds

A newly released industry survey found that lack of safe, available truck parking continues to rank as the number one concern among long-haul drivers, ahead of pay and detention time.

October 06, 2026