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
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
California to Cancel 13,000 Non-Domiciled CDLs
Following a federal audit and regulatory enforcement action by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and the U.S. Department of Transportation, the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) has begun canceling thousands of previously issued non-domiciled CDLs after federal officials concluded that many of the licenses were issued in violation of federal eligibility requirements.The situation illustrates a broader regulatory shift occurring at the federal level regarding non
Brandon Wiseman
FMCSA Issues Final Rule on Non-Domiciled CDLs
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has issued a new final rule on non-domiciled Commercial Learner’s Permits (CLPs) and Commercial Driver’s Licenses (CDLs). Scheduled for publication in the Federal Register on February 13, 2026 (Docket No. FMCSA-2025-0622, RIN 2126-AC98), this rule largely reaffirms the provisions of the September 29, 2025, Interim Final Rule (IFR) with minor clarifications, despite intense legal scrutiny, a court-imposed stay, and thousands of public commen
Brandon Wiseman
FMCSA Keeps Random Drug & Alcohol Testing Rates the Same for 2026
On January 8, 2026, the U.S. Department of Transportation announced what many of us in the industry expected: the minimum random drug testing rate for CDL drivers remains at 50%, with alcohol testing holding steady at 10%.If you're keeping score at home, that's six consecutive years at these rates since FMCSA bumped them up from 25% in January 2020. And based on the numbers coming out of the Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse, don't expect that to change anytime soon.Why the Rate Stays Where It IsHere
Rob CarpenterNever Miss an Update
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