Table of Contents
Navigating an ever-evolving regulatory landscape can be tricky. This round up of notable rules and mandates is here to help your fleet stay compliant.
Note: this list was last updated on January 23, 2025.
New Fleet Regulations
All of the following regulations have gone into effect over the past 12-18 months.New 'Types' Added to the FMCSA's Crash Preventability Determination Program
Updates
Prior to this update, the FMCSA's Crash Preventability Determination Program (CPDP) investigated crashes that belonged to 17 eligible categories. Now, when someone submits a Request for Data Review (RDR), they have 21 options to select from, with the new crash types being:
- CMV was struck on the side by a motorist operating in the same direction as CMV
- CMV was struck because another motorist was entering the roadway from a private driveway or parking lot
- CMV was struck because another motorist lost control of the vehicle
- Any other crash involving a CMV where a video demonstrates the sequence of events of the crash
Affected Fleets
While it's difficult to say whether these new crash types will result in greater efficiency or investigative accuracy from the CPDP, having more options to choose from when submitting RDRs can only benefit motor carriers and drivers.
Effective Date: December 1, 2024
The FMCSA rolled out the new crash types on December 1, 2024. Notably, crashes that occurred prior to that date can only be reviewed under the FMCSA's previous standards.
The Advanced Clean Truck Rule Expands Beyond California
Updates
The Advanced Clean Truck (ACT) rule requires manufacturers of medium- and heavy-duty vehicles to have electric or hybrid vehicles make up an annually increasing percentage of their yearly sales. By 2035, the ACT rule will mandate that 55% of Class 2b-3 truck sales, 75% of Class 4-8 straight truck sales and 40% of truck tractor sales be for zero- and near-zero-emission vehicles.
Affected Fleets
The ACT is aimed at vehicle manufacturers, but critics say it could indirectly harm fleets by diminishing supply of non-zero-emission vehicles, making them harder to come by and more expensive. As of writing, the following states have fully adopted the ACT: California, Colorado, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Washington and Vermont.
Effective Date: Starting January 1, 2025
California has been enforcing the ACT since the start of 2024. Vehicle manufacturers conducting business in Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York and Washington will have to abide by the ACT beginning on January 1, 2025. 2026 will see Oregon and Vermont following suit, and the remaining states are slated to begin enforcement in 2027.
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Pending Fleet Regulations
Before they can become law, regulations must survive a long bureaucratic journey of cost-benefit reviews, public comment periods, modifications and withdrawals. Some of the following rules have been delayed multiple times, and it's probable that a few might end up being dropped altogether. Still, whether they're ultimately enacted or not, knowing what's on the radar of the FMCSA can help fleets make decisions that account for possible regulations in the future.Heavy Vehicle Automatic Emergency Braking
What is changing?
When an automatic emergency braking (AEB) system detects that its vehicle is about to collide with something, it automatically applies its brakes. And if its brakes are already being applied by the vehicle's driver, an AEB system can apply additional braking force to help prevent a crash.
The FMCSA is considering a rule that would mandate that all commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) with a gross weight rating exceeding 10,000 pounds be equipped with an AEB system.
What are proponents saying?
Officials from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and FMCSA believe that AEB systems have the potential to "mitigate the frequency and severity of rear-end crashes" thereby "reducing, and, ultimately, eliminating preventable tragedies that harm Americans." To support their stance, the NHTSA cited an analysis that estimates the rule would avert "19,118 crashes, save 155 lives and prevent 8,814 injuries annually."
What are critics saying?
Many drivers of vehicles with AEB systems have criticized the technology in public comments responding to the proposed rule. They say that AEB systems sometimes apply brakes needlessly, turning safe scenarios into potentially dangerous ones (especially when roads are slick due to rain or snow and jackknifing is a major concern). Until these issues are resolved, these drivers argue that AEB systems should not be required and that roads are safer when drivers have sole control over their vehicles at all times.
DID YOU KNOW?
The Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act of 2015 requires federal agencies to raise their fines annually to account for inflation. Fines for FMCSA violations are no exception. You can view a full breakdown of how much non-compliance will set you back here.
Amendments to the Commercial Driver's License Requirements
What is changing?
For decades, the path to becoming a professional truck driver has consisted of three primary steps--getting a commercial learner's permit (CLP), training behind the wheel, and obtaining a commercial driver's license (CDL). That middle phase is mostly done alongside someone who already has their CDL as the law stipulates that CLP holders can't operate CMVs on public roads unaccompanied.
But, if the FMCSA enacts a new rule meant to loosen CDL administration from multiple angles, CLP holders will soon be able to hone their driving skills solo.
What are proponents saying?
The FMCSA argues that, by making CDL regulations less rigid, they'll be able to meaningfully streamline the process of becoming a professional truck driver without compromising on necessary safety standards. In light of the ongoing driver shortage, supporters of the rule believe the move could help aspiring drivers get behind the wheel faster, much to the benefit of the trucking industry.
What are critics saying?
Critics of the proposed rule believe that having the guidance of a CDL-holder while on the road is a crucial part of the training process. One public comment argues that "there is no shortcut to producing good drivers," which appears to be a sentiment shared by many who fear that less supervised practice may result in preventable accidents.
Heavy Vehicle Speed Limiters
What is changing?
Speed limiters (also known as speed governors) are devices that prevent the vehicles they're installed in from exceeding a set speed.
The FMCSA has announced their intention to develop a rule requiring speed limiters on CMVs with a gross vehicle weight above 26,000 pounds, but details regarding speed limits, testing standards and enforcement methods remain unknown.
What are proponets saying?
Nonprofits like the Institute for Safer Trucking, Road Safe America and the Safe Operating Speed Alliance have backed the proposal by citing the fact that higher speeds correlate with higher accident fatality rates. With regards to the efficacy of speed limiters, the groups claim that trucks not using speed limiters get into twice as many high-speed collisions as their limiter-equipped counterparts.
What are critics saying?
The FMCSA received more than 15,000 public comments in response to this proposal, making it the most talked about rule we examine in this blog post by far. Similar to the response the FMCSA received with their AEB systems proposal, many replies to the potential rule argue that speed limiters would often be more harmful than helpful. Drivers fear that being forced to operate under the speed limit will result in more frequent accidents with vehicles not equipped with speed limiters.
4. Regulations on Automated Driving Systems (ADS)-Equipped Commercial Motor Vehicles
What is changing?
While autonomous CMVs may be far from becoming the norm, there's no denying that self-driving technology has made great strides in recent years.
To prepare for the future, the FMCSA has announced that they're laying the groundwork for automated driving system-aimed regulations. After already requesting public comments in 2019 and 2023, the agency will likely request further feedback in coming months.
What are people saying?
Because the proposal is currently more about hearing perspectives than dictating requirements, it's difficult to gauge public sentiments at present. Past requests for comment received significantly fewer responses than the other rules highlighted in this blog post. Once the FMCSA's intentions are clearly defined, we should be able to tell which way the wind is blowing.
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5. Electronic Logging Device (ELD) Revisions
What is changing?
Since December 2016, nearly all commercial drivers have had to comply with the FMCSA's ELD Mandate that replaced the paper logbooks of the past with electronic driver logs. The rule was several years in the making and represents one of the largest technological changeovers ever to occur in trucking history.
Now that the dust has settled, the FMCSA is exploring ways their current ELD rules can be improved.
What are proponents saying?
Getting the fleet industry to adopt ELDs en masse was a massive undertaking, and the FMCSA contends that they learned a lot of lessons leading up to the end of 2016 (and in the years since). By pulling from that experience, the FMCSA believes they can revise their regulatory text and ELD technical specifications to improve clarity, address concerns and even improve the functionality of ELDs.
What are critics saying?
While the ELD Mandate excluded vehicles with engines predating model year 2000, in public comments, some drivers have expressed concerns that updated regulations might go after classic vehicles. Drivers of these vehicles say they operate them for their low-tech charm and that having to install an ELD would deprive them of that. They argue that the paper logbooks they've been using for decades still do their job just fine.
Staying Compliant with Fleet Management Software
No matter what the future of fleet compliance holds, it's a safe bet that Driver Vehicle Inspection Reports (DVIRs) won't be going away anytime soon. With a fleet management software like Fleetio, your drivers can perform FMCSA-compliant electronic DVIRs right from their phones. eDVIRs are not only faster to complete than paper forms, they also can't be misplaced or damaged, which can be a significant benefit if you're ever audited by the Department of Transportation (DOT).
Fleetio also helps organizations stay on top of their vehicles' service needs via reminder notifications when preventive maintenance work will soon be due. By keeping your vehicles in tip-top shape, you can ensure that you're never penalized for vehicle condition infractions at weigh stations or on the road.
