FMCSA Rule Changes

New final rules

Changes to FMCSA's regulations. Check the effective date.

• Final rulePublished October 5, 2026Effective October 5, 2026

  Clarification to the Applicability of Emergency Exemptions; Response to Petitions for Reconsideration

  FMCSA amends its emergency declaration regulations to revise from 14 days to 30 days the length of the relief automatically triggered subsequent to a regional declaration of emergency by a Governor of a State, the Governor's authorized representative, or FMCSA. This action is in response to several petitions for…

• Final rulePublished September 1, 2026Effective October 1, 2026

  Fees for the Unified Carrier Registration Plan and Agreement

  FMCSA amends the regulations governing the annual Unified Carrier Registration (UCR) Plan and Agreement registration fees that participating States collect from motor carriers, motor private carriers of property, brokers, freight forwarders, and leasing companies. On September 18, 2025, the UCR Board recommended a fee…

• Final rulePublished July 21, 2026Effective July 21, 2026

  General Technical, Organizational, Conforming, and Correcting Amendments to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations

  FMCSA amends its regulations by making technical corrections throughout the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSR). The Agency makes minor changes to correct inadvertent errors and omissions, remove or update obsolete references, and improve the clarity and consistency of certain regulatory provisions. FMCSA…

• Final rulePublished June 22, 2026Effective July 22, 2026

  Completed Inspection Report Disposition

  FMCSA amends the regulations to revise the requirement that motor carriers and intermodal equipment providers sign and return a completed roadside inspection form to the issuing State agency. FMCSA is aware that not all issuing State agencies require the return of these reports, and that requiring motor carriers and…

• Final rulePublished June 22, 2026Effective July 22, 2026

  Removal of Self-Reporting Requirement

  FMCSA amends the regulations requiring commercial driver's license (CDL) holders to self-report motor vehicle violations to their State of domicile. With the implementation of the exclusive electronic exchange (EEE) of violations between State Drivers Licensing Agencies (SDLAs) in 2024, self-reporting is no longer…

• Final rulePublished June 22, 2026Effective July 22, 2026

  Rescinding the Requirement for Electronic Logging Device Operator's Manual Located in Commercial Motor Vehicles

  FMCSA amends the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSR) to rescind the requirement for a copy of the electronic logging device (ELD) operator's manual to be kept in a commercial motor vehicle (CMV). Drivers are required to understand the operation of the ELD on the vehicle to ensure the accuracy of their…

• Final rulePublished April 30, 2026Effective April 30, 2026

  Removal of Obsolete References to “Water Carriers”; Correction

  In a final rule published in the Federal Register on February 19, 2026, FMCSA amended its regulations to remove obsolete references to "water carriers" in the FMCSA regulations (FMCSRs). The final rule contained an error in the amendatory instructions. The Agency corrects this error.

• Final rulePublished April 27, 2026Effective May 27, 2026

  Administrative Rulemaking, Guidance, and Enforcement Procedures

  This final rule reinstates and expounds upon procedural reforms for the Department's rulemakings, guidance documents, and enforcement actions rescinded by a final rule published by the Department on April 2, 2021, "Administrative Rulemaking, Guidance, and Enforcement Procedures." Accordingly, this final rule revises…

• Final rulePublished February 19, 2026Effective March 23, 2026Comments closed March 23, 2026

  Removal of Obsolete References to “Water Carriers”

  FMCSA amends its regulations to remove obsolete references to "water carriers" in the FMCSA regulations (FMCSR). FMCSA does not specifically regulate water carriers except to the extent that such carriers also engage in motor carrier operations. In such cases, the existing FMCSR provide appropriate coverage of the…

• Final rulePublished February 19, 2026Effective March 23, 2026

  Parts and Accessories Necessary for Safe Operation; Fuel Tank Overfill Restriction

  FMCSA removes the requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSR) that a liquid fuel tank manufactured on or after January 1, 1973, be designed and constructed so that it cannot be filled, in a normal filling operation, with a quantity of fuel that exceeds 95 percent of the tank's liquid capacity.…

• Final rulePublished February 19, 2026Effective March 23, 2026

  Electronic Driver Vehicle Inspection Reports

  FMCSA clarifies the requirement to complete a Driver Vehicle Inspection Report (DVIR) based upon a public comment filed by the National Tank Truck Carriers (NTTC). The DVIR may already be completed electronically, however the explicit language in this rule will make this clear. This will encourage motor carriers and…

• Final rulePublished February 19, 2026Effective March 23, 2026Comments closed March 23, 2026

  Commercial Driver's License Standards; Requirements and Penalties: Applicability to the Exception for Certain Military Personnel

  FMCSA amends the Federal Motor Carrier Safety regulations (FMCSR) to allow dual-status military technicians to qualify for the exception for certain military personnel from commercial driver's license (CDL) standards. Dual-status military technicians are civilian technicians employed by military units to provide…

• Final rulePublished February 19, 2026Effective April 20, 2026Comments closed March 23, 2026

  Parts and Accessories Necessary for Safe Operation; Spare Fuses

  FMCSA amends the emergency equipment rules to remove the requirement for commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) to be equipped with at least one spare fuse for each type and size of fuse needed for the operation of the CMV. This change will remove an unnecessary requirement from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations…

• Final rulePublished February 19, 2026Effective March 23, 2026

  Parts and Accessories Necessary for Safe Operation; Liquid-Burning Flares

  FMCSA amends the rules for emergency equipment on commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) to remove the references to liquid-burning flares from the warning device requirements in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSR). This action eliminates outdated language referring to warning devices that FMCSA believes…

• Final rulePublished February 19, 2026Effective March 23, 2026

  Parts and Accessories Necessary for Safe Operation; Tire Load Markings

  FMCSA amends the requirements for commercial motor vehicle (CMV) tires to clarify that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSR) do not require tire load restriction markings on the sidewalls of the tires. This change eliminates confusion and clarifies the scope of FMCSA's authority regarding requirements…

Proposed rules

Changes FMCSA is considering. They don't apply yet; anyone can comment before the deadline.

• Proposed rulePublished August 10, 2026Comments closed October 9, 2026

  English Language Proficiency; Out of Service Criteria

  FMCSA proposes to codify the English language proficiency (ELP) driver qualification requirement as an out-of-service (OOS) violation. The rulemaking would ensure uniform enforcement by aligning the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSR) with the current enforcement tolerances in the North American Standard…

• Proposed rulePublished May 18, 2026Comments closed June 17, 2026

  Fees for Commercial Driver's License Information System

  FMCSA proposes to implement a user fee as authorized by Congress in the "Strengthening the Commercial Driver's License Information System Act" applicable to State driver licensing agencies (SDLAs) for accessing the Commercial Driver's License Information System (CDLIS). The fees would be collected by the American…

• Proposed rulePublished May 1, 2026Comments closed May 26, 2026

  Fees for the Unified Carrier Registration Plan and Agreement

  FMCSA is extending the comment period for its April 7, 2026, NPRM, titled "Fees for the Unified Carrier Registration Plan and Agreement," from May 7, 2026, to May 26, 2026. The purpose of the comment extension is to provide an opportunity for the public to access the supporting documentation regarding fee calculations…

• Proposed rulePublished April 7, 2026Comments closed May 7, 2026

  Fees for the Unified Carrier Registration Plan and Agreement

  FMCSA proposes amendments to its regulations governing the annual Unified Carrier Registration (UCR) Plan and Agreement registration fees that participating States collect from motor carriers, motor private carriers of property, brokers, freight forwarders, and leasing companies. The UCR Board of Directors (Board) did…

• Proposed rulePublished March 27, 2026Comments closed April 27, 2026

  Railroad Grade Crossings; Stopping Required: Exception for Railroad Grade Crossing Equipped With Active Warning Device Not in Activated State

  This notification of data availability (NODA) is to alert interested parties about information that FMCSA believes may be relevant to this proceeding. This NODA identifies information the Agency has developed and provides an opportunity for public comment. The Agency may consider this information in preparation of…

• Proposed rulePublished January 9, 2026Comments closed March 10, 2026

  Clarification to the Applicability of Emergency Exemptions; Response to Petitions for Reconsideration

  In response to several petitions for reconsideration, FMCSA proposes to revise from 14 days to 30 days the length of the emergency relief automatically triggered subsequent to a regional declaration of emergency by a Governor of a State, their authorized representative, or FMCSA. This proposal would reverse one change…

• Proposed rulePublished November 19, 2025Comments closed December 19, 2025

  Incorporation by Reference; North American Standard Out-of-Service Criteria; Hazardous Materials Safety Permits (2025)

  FMCSA proposes amendments to its Hazardous Materials Safety Permits (HMSPs) regulations to incorporate by reference the updated Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) handbook containing inspection procedures and Out-of-Service Criteria (OOSC) for inspections of shipments of transuranic waste and highway route-…

• Proposed rulePublished September 17, 2025Comments closed November 17, 2025

  Hours of Service of Drivers; Pilot Program To Allow Commercial Drivers To Split Sleeper Berth Time

  FMCSA proposes a pilot program allowing temporary regulatory relief from the Agency's regulation requiring one rest period of at least 7 consecutive hours in the sleeper berth for drivers who elect to split their time in the sleeper berth. Participation in the pilot program would be limited to approximately 256…

• Proposed rulePublished July 24, 2025

  Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards; Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations; Parts and Accessories Necessary for Safe Operation; Speed Limiting Devices; Withdrawal

  FMCSA and NHTSA withdraw the September 7, 2016 joint NPRM that proposed to require that heavy vehicles (those with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of more than 11,793 kilograms (26,000 pounds)) be equipped with a speed limiting device that is maintained at a set speed. FMCSA also withdraws its May 4, 2022 ANSPRM,…

• Proposed rulePublished July 9, 2025Effective July 9, 2025Comments closed July 29, 2025

  Parts and Accessories Necessary for Safe Operation; Liquid-Burning Flares; Correction

  In an NPRM published in the Federal Register on May 30, 2025, FMCSA proposed to remove references to liquid-burning flares from the warning device requirements in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations. This proposed revision would remove outdated language referring to warning devices that FMCSA believes are no…

• Proposed rulePublished June 5, 2025Effective June 5, 2025Comments closed July 29, 2025

  Parts and Accessories Necessary for Safe Operation; Liquid-Burning Flares; Correction

  In an NPRM published in the Federal Register on May 30, 2025, FMCSA proposed to remove references to liquid-burning flares from the warning device requirements in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations. This proposed revision would remove outdated language referring to warning devices that FMCSA believes are no…

• Proposed rulePublished May 30, 2025Comments closed July 29, 2025

  Parts and Accessories Necessary for Safe Operation; Tire Load Markings

  FMCSA proposes to revise the requirements for tires on commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) to clarify that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) do not require tire load restriction markings on their sidewalls. This change would eliminate confusion and clarify the scope of FMCSA's authority regarding the…

• Proposed rulePublished May 30, 2025Comments closed July 29, 2025

  Parts and Accessories Necessary for Safe Operation; License Plate Lamps

  FMCSA proposes to provide an exception from the lamp and reflective device requirements for license plate lamps on the rear of truck tractors while towing a trailer. This proposed change would remove an unnecessary regulatory requirement without impacting safety.

• Proposed rulePublished May 30, 2025Comments closed July 29, 2025

  Accident Reporting: Modification to the Definition of the Term “Medical Treatment”

  FMCSA proposes to amend the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) to revise the term "medical treatment" for the purpose of accident reporting to incorporate revised regulatory guidance issued by the Agency regarding medical treatment away from the accident scene.

• Proposed rulePublished May 30, 2025Comments closed July 29, 2025

  Parts and Accessories Necessary for Safe Operation; Auxiliary Fuel Tanks

  FMCSA proposes to add an exception to the prohibition on gravity and syphon feeds for auxiliary pumps with a fuel tank capacity of less than 5 gallons mounted on the trailer chassis frame or trailer bed, for purposes other than operation of the motor vehicle, that are operational only when the motor vehicle is not in…

Exemptions, waivers and pilot programs

These apply only to the companies or groups FMCSA names.

• NoticePublished November 16, 2026Comments due December 16, 2026

  Qualification of Drivers; Exemption Applications; Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators (ICD)

  FMCSA announces receipt of applications from five individuals for an exemption from the prohibition in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) against operation of a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) by persons with a current clinical diagnosis of myocardial infarction, angina pectoris, coronary…

• NoticePublished November 9, 2026

  Qualification of Drivers; Exemption Applications; Epilepsy and Seizure Disorders

  FMCSA announces its decision to deny applications from 16 individuals who requested an exemption from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) prohibiting persons with a clinical diagnosis of epilepsy or any other condition that is likely to cause a loss of consciousness or any loss of ability to operate…

• NoticePublished November 4, 2026Comments due December 4, 2026

  Parts and Accessories Necessary for Safe Operation; Metronet Application for Exemption

  FMCSA requests public comment on an application from Metronet for an exemption from the requirement that all exterior lighting devices be steady burning. The exemption would allow Metronet to use Grote Industries LLC's (Grote) amber brake-activated pulsating lamp on its commercial motor vehicles (CMVs), including…

• NoticePublished November 4, 2026

  Qualification of Drivers; Exemption Applications; Epilepsy and Seizure Disorders

  FMCSA announces its decision to exempt 16 individuals from the requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) that interstate commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers have "no established medical history or clinical diagnosis of epilepsy or any other condition which is likely to cause loss of…

• NoticePublished November 4, 2026

  Qualification of Drivers; Exemption Applications; Epilepsy and Seizure Disorders

  FMCSA announces its decision to exempt 11 individuals from the requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) that interstate commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers have "no established medical history or clinical diagnosis of epilepsy or any other condition which is likely to cause loss of…

• NoticePublished November 4, 2026

  Qualification of Drivers; Exemption Applications; Epilepsy and Seizure Disorders

  FMCSA announces its decision to exempt 12 individuals from the requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) that interstate commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers have "no established medical history or clinical diagnosis of epilepsy or any other condition which is likely to cause loss of…

• NoticePublished October 28, 2026Effective October 14, 2026

  Parts and Accessories Necessary for Safe Operation; Application for Exemption Renewal From Loomis Armored US, LLC

  FMCSA announces its decision to grant an exemption renewal to Loomis Armored US, LLC (USDOT 252201) (Loomis) to allow the company to continue operating armored vehicles with welded-shut cab doors and the addition of two doors behind the cab. FMCSA has analyzed the exemption renewal application and the public comments…

• NoticePublished October 27, 2026Comments due November 27, 2026

  Commercial Driver's License: PAM Transport, Inc.; Application for Exemption

  FMCSA requests public comment on PAM Transport Inc.'s (PAM) application for an exemption from the requirement that a holder of a commercial learner's permit (CLP) who has successfully passed the commercial driver's license (CDL) skills test but not yet been issued CDL credentials be accompanied by a CDL holder in the…

• NoticePublished October 26, 2026Comments due November 25, 2026

  Parts and Accessories Necessary for Safe Operation; Application for an Exemption From R.B. Stewart Petroleum Products, Inc., USDOT # 1290158

  FMCSA requests public comment on an application from R.B. Stewart Petroleum Products, Inc., USDOT No. 1290158, (R.B. Stewart) for an exemption from the requirement that lighting devices be steady burning. The exemption would allow the company to operate commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) equipped with a module…

• NoticePublished October 21, 2026Effective October 20, 2026

  Hours of Service of Drivers: Association of American Railroads and American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association; Application for Exemption Renewal

  FMCSA announces its final decision to renew and modify the exemption granted to the Association of American Railroads and the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association and member railroads (the Associations) from the hours-of-service (HOS) prohibitions against driving after the 14th hour after coming on…

• NoticePublished October 20, 2026Comments due November 19, 2026

  Parts and Accessories Necessary for Safe Operation; Application for an Exemption From Grote Industries, LLC

  This notice advises the public of new information that FMCSA believes is relevant to the application from Grote Industries, LLC (Grote) for an exemption from the requirement that exterior lighting devices on commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) be steady-burning. If granted, the exemption would allow motor carriers to…

• NoticePublished October 9, 2026Effective October 7, 2026

  Parts and Accessories Necessary for Safe Operation; Application for Exemption From Aurora Operations, Inc (USDOT #341156)

  FMCSA announces its decision to grant a limited five-year exemption to Aurora Operations, Inc. (Aurora) and other motor carriers operating Level 4 automated driving system (ADS)-equipped commercial motor vehicles (CMVs), with prior notice to FMCSA, from compliance with the warning device placement requirements, the…

• NoticePublished October 8, 2026Effective October 12, 2026

  Qualification of Drivers; Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance; Application for Exemption

  FMCSA announces its decision to renew provisionally for one year an exemption to allow drivers with a commercial learner's permit (CLP) or commercial driver's license (CDL) issued by the State of Alaska, and their employers, to rely on a paper copy of the medical examiner's certificate (MEC) as proof of the driver's…

• NoticePublished September 30, 2026Effective September 23, 2026Comments closed October 30, 2026

  Hours of Service of Drivers; Parts and Accessories Necessary for Safe Operation; Exemption Renewal for Cleveland-Cliffs Steel LLC

  FMCSA announces its decision to provisionally renew and consolidate two exemptions previously granted to Cleveland-Cliffs Steel LLC (Cliffs), formerly ArcelorMittal Indiana Harbor, LLC, from certain hours-of-service (HOS) and parts and accessories requirements of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs).…

• NoticePublished September 30, 2026

  Commercial Driver's License Standards: Application for Exemption; Agri-Tech Aviation

  FMCSA announces its decision to deny the application from Agri-Tech Aviation requesting an exemption to allow its commercial learner's permit (CLP) holders who have passed the commercial driver's license (CDL) skills test but not yet obtained a CDL license to drive its commercial motor vehicles (CMV) without being…

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