Every year, there’s a short window in trucking where things just feel different on the road. Trucks slow down a bit, drivers are more alert, and inspections suddenly feel a lot more “present” than usual. That’s International Roadcheck.

The commercial trucking industry is once again adjusting to a major compliance update from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). The agency has officially extended the temporary allowance for paper Medical Examiner’s Certificates (MECs), giving drivers and carriers additional time during the ongoing shift to a fully electronic medical certification system. This exemption is effective from April 11 through October 11, 2026, and continues to allow CDL holders, CLP…

A major update in the new trucking laws 2026 is putting pressure on one of the most essential sectors of the U.S. economy. A new federal rule could affect as many as 200,000 immigrant truckers, raising concerns across the transportation and logistics industry. According to recent CDL news and broader driver’s license news, the U.S. is tightening how commercial driver’s licenses are issued and renewed, especially for non-domiciled drivers. While…

When Self-Driving Cars Hit a Roadblock… Literally If you’ve been keeping up with the news out of California, you’ve probably seen something that’s hard to ignore: people putting traffic cones on Waymo’s self-driving cars to disable them during the Waymo protests in California. Others are forming human chains across intersections, protesting what they see as tech companies using public streets as their testing labs. While these protests are mostly targeting…

The world of trucking in the U.S. has recently gone down a new regulatory road. On May 12, 2025, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Association (FMCSA) revoked eight electronic logging devices (ELDs) from its approved list of ELD providers. This new decision has the power to affect thousands of motor carriers in operation nationwide. To avoid potential penalties, all motor carriers operating in the U.S. using these devices are now required…

In a recent update in the U.S. transportation industry, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has stated that the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) will undergo DOT staff cuts towards the end of May. As part of President Donald Trump's federal efficiency initiative, this move is expected to affect FMCSA operations, enforcement, and agency responsiveness. For trucking companies, freight brokers, and independent owner-operators, these DOT staff cuts could mean slower processing times,…

A Regulatory Shift for the Trucking Industry: Mandatory Trucker English Proficiency On Monday, April 29, 2025, President Donald Trump signed a new executive order making trucker English proficiency mandatory for all commercial truck drivers across the U.S. While English requirements were already part of the FMCSA guidelines, this mandate places greater importance on enforcement and visibility. This could bring serious implications for carriers, brokers, DOT-authorized operators. We at DOT Operating…

Key Takeaways The FMCSA plans to publish its speed limiter rule proposal in May 2025. The rule would apply to commercial vehicles over 26,000 lbs with electronic engine control units (ECUs). A national maximum speed is expected to be set — likely between 60–68 MPH. Carriers may need to audit ECUs, retrain drivers, and update safety protocols. Noncompliance with the FMCSA speed limiter rule could impact CSA scores and lead…

New Year's always bring about new laws, some going into effect as soon as the first of the year. This year is looking to be no different, as we already know of several changes are coming on both local and federal levels. Some of these changes specifically affect trucking regulations. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is poised to implement a number of different new regulations and regulation changes in…

When it comes to driver safety on the road, these days you can never be too cautious. With driver safety becoming an increasingly more important priority for most, things like dash cams have become increasingly more popular. Along with dash cams that face the road, more and more drivers are also beginning to have cameras that face themselves. Road-facing dash cams have been go-tos for years now, but the driver-facing…