Expert Insights on DOT Compliance
In-depth analysis, regulatory updates, and practical compliance guidance from transportation attorneys and industry experts.
Medicinal Marijuana Is Now Schedule III. For CDL Drivers, the Answer Is More Complicated Than It Should Be.
The DOJ and DEA reclassified state-licensed medical marijuana to Schedule III on April 22, 2026. For CDL drivers, the answer is simple: nothing has changed. Here is what carriers and drivers need to know right now.
Brandon Wiseman
FMCSA to withhold $73M in federal funds from New York
FMCSA withheld $73.5 million from New York after auditors found a 53% failure rate in non-domiciled CDL issuances. Here is what that audit means for your driver qualification files and what you need to do under 49 CFR Part 391.
Brandon Wiseman
FMCSA Finalizes DataQs System Overhaul with State-Level Appeals Process
FMCSA finalizes comprehensive DataQs system overhaul requiring states to implement three-stage independent review process tied to federal highway funding, addressing industry concerns about biased appeals.
Brandon Wiseman
Iowa English Proficiency Law Progresses Through State Legislature: What SF 2426 Means for Carriers
Iowa Senate File 2426 would establish one of the nation's first comprehensive state-level English proficiency requirements for CDL applicants, with carrier penalties up to $10,000 per violation. Here's what Iowa carriers need to know now.
Brandon Wiseman
FMCSA Extends NRII Waiver Through October 11, Continuing Paper Medical Certificate Relief
FMCSA has extended its NRII waiver through October 11, 2026, allowing continued reliance on paper medical certificates despite the agency’s push toward a fully electronic system. The extension confirms what the industry is already experiencing: delays in state posting of medical certifications are still creating gaps between qualification and documentation. Until those gaps close, carriers must manage both paper and electronic records to stay compliant.
Brandon Wiseman
Indiana Revokes Nearly 1,800 Non-Domiciled CDLs Under New State Law
Indiana revoked 1,790 non-domiciled CDLs under new state law, establishing precedent for nationwide enforcement with $50,000 employer penalties and felony charges.
Brandon Wiseman
FMCSA's MOTUS System: 2026 Rollout To Transform Registration Process
FMCSA's MOTUS registration system launches in 2026, consolidating all DOT registration processes into a single platform. This comprehensive guide covers critical preparation steps carriers must take now to avoid transition pitfalls.
Brandon Wiseman
The Open Door Policy That Broke American Trucking
Indiana’s revocation of nearly 2,000 non-domiciled CDLs has sparked national attention, but focusing only on immigration misses the deeper issue. This article argues that the real problem is a decades-long erosion of entry standards across the trucking industry, driven by deregulation, self-certification, and a misplaced “driver shortage” narrative. From carrier authority and broker licensing to ELDT, ELDs, and medical certification, the system increasingly relies on trust where verification is needed. The result is an industry flooded with underqualified participants and a compliance framework struggling to keep up.
Rob Carpenter
CVSA's 2026 International Roadcheck Targets ELD Tampering During May 12-14
CVSA's 2026 International Roadcheck (May 12-14) focuses on ELD tampering enforcement with enhanced penalties up to $16,000 per violation and automatic 10-hour out-of-service orders for tampering violations.
Brandon WisemanNever Miss an Update
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