FMCSA’s New Rules Are Coming: What Truckers Need to Know

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is continuing a broad regulatory and enforcement campaign in 2026, with actions focused on commercial driver requirements, training providers, electronic logging device compliance, carrier identity fraud and registration systems.

FMCSA Removes Training Providers

FMCSA officials said the agency has removed more than 10,000 training providers from its registry since December 2025. The action comes as the agency increases scrutiny of fraudulent or noncompliant commercial driver training schools.

Under Administrator Derek Barrs, FMCSA has also stepped up enforcement of English-language proficiency and commercial driver’s license requirements. The agency is targeting training providers that do not meet federal standards, ELD providers that fail to comply with regulations and “chameleon” carriers that attempt to evade enforcement by operating under new identities.

Agency Continues Work on Hours-of-Service Rules

The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association has continued to press lawmakers and FMCSA for changes to the federal hours-of-service regulations.

“For years, our members have told lawmakers and FMCSA that existing hours-of-service rules are not sensible for today’s trucking industry,” OOIDA Executive Vice President Lewie Pugh said.

FMCSA has previously taken steps to consider changes following industry protests and petitions, but efforts to advance broader revisions have not resulted in a final rule, according to the information provided.

Maintenance Records Information Collection

On July 16, 2026, FMCSA published a Federal Register notice outlining plans to renew its approved information collection covering inspection, repair and maintenance records.

Motor carriers are required to maintain these records as part of the federal safety framework intended to reduce the likelihood of commercial motor vehicle crashes. The renewal would allow the agency to continue collecting information related to carriers’ maintenance programs and vehicle condition.

Registration and Insurance Compliance Remain Priorities

FMCSA is also continuing work on its MOTUS online registration dashboard. Agency officials have acknowledged user-experience issues with the system, including difficulties some carriers have encountered when linking existing accounts and confirming that information transferred correctly from legacy FMCSA systems.

Insurance filings remain another area of concern for carriers. A carrier can have a valid insurance policy but still be unable to operate if the required insurance record has not been properly attached to its FMCSA authority. The agency evaluates the filing associated with the carrier’s operating authority, not simply the declarations page held by the carrier.

FMCSA has also warned companies not to sell, purchase or lease USDOT or motor carrier numbers. The agency is expected to continue advancing existing initiatives and additional regulatory actions throughout 2026.