Expert Insights on DOT Compliance
In-depth analysis, regulatory updates, and practical compliance guidance from transportation attorneys and industry experts.
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 Carpenter
CVSA Human Trafficking Awareness Week and What Your Drivers Need to Know
Today through January 16, the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance is running its annual Human Trafficking Awareness Initiative across the United States. Law enforcement agencies are conducting outreach at truck stops and weigh stations. Motor carrier officers are handing out materials during roadside inspections. And your drivers are being asked to step up.This is not just an awareness campaign. This is a compliance and safety issue that every fleet should be taking seriously.The Numbers You Need
Rob Carpenter
FMCSA escalates feud with California; withholds $160M in federal funding
On January 7, 2026, FMCSA issued a Final Determination of Substantial Noncompliance against the California Department of Motor Vehicles, formally concluding that the state has failed to comply with federal standards governing the issuance of non-domiciled commercial learner’s permits and commercial driver’s licenses. As a result, FMCSA will withhold millions of dollars in federal highway funding beginning in fiscal year 2027.This determination is notable not only for its financial impact, but fo
Brandon Wiseman
CDL Drug Testing Faces Uncertainty After Trump Executive Order
It's official. December 18, 2025, President Donald Trump signed an Executive Order directing the Attorney General to "take all necessary steps to complete the rulemaking process related to rescheduling marijuana to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act in the most expeditious manner."For the cannabis industry, it's a landmark moment. For the trucking industry, it's the beginning of a very uncertain chapter, one that hinges entirely on how the Department of Health and Human Services, the
Rob Carpenter
What Trump’s Marijuana Rescheduling Executive Order Could Mean for Trucking
On December 18, 2025, President Trump signed an executive order directing federal agencies to expand medical marijuana and cannabidiol research and to move marijuana toward rescheduling under the Controlled Substances Act. While the order is framed around science, medicine, and research access, it has once again raised a critical question for the trucking industry: what happens to federal drug testing and highway safety if marijuana is no longer treated as a Schedule I drug?This is not a new con
Brandon Wiseman
FMCSA to tighten ELD self-certification process
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has announced a significant shift in how it evaluates and approves Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs), marking the most substantial change to the approval process since the ELD mandate first took effect. While the agency continues to stop short of a full third-party certification program—similar to the one now used in Canada—its move toward a more structured, hands-on vetting approach signals a notable evolution in federal oversight of the ELD marke
Brandon Wiseman
FMCSA Flags Pennsylvania for Non-Domiciled CDL Irregularities
FMCSA has once again turned its attention to state-level CDL practices, this time issuing a pointed preliminary determination of substantial noncompliance to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania over how it has been issuing non-domiciled commercial learner’s permits (CLPs) and CDLs. The nine-page letter, dated November 19, 2025, reads as both a technical audit and a warning shot, signaling that the Agency’s scrutiny of lawful-presence verification and non-domiciled credentialing practices is expandi
Brandon Wiseman
Chameleon Carriers, Fraud Detection, and FMCSA’s Evolving Data Strategy
Chameleon carriers—trucking companies that shut down and quickly reopen under new identities to avoid regulatory enforcement—have posed a persistent challenge for federal regulators for more than a decade. These operators, often emerging with new names, DOT numbers, or corporate structures, can be difficult to distinguish from legitimate new entrants simply trying to begin operations. Yet the stakes are high. Reincarnated carriers have historically shown higher crash rates, and their ability to
Rob Carpenter
Federal Court temporarily halts FMCSA’s non-domiciled CDL rule
In a major development with nationwide implications for motor carriers, foreign drivers, and state licensing agencies, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit has temporarily stayed the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) controversial interim final rule (IFR) restricting the issuance of non-domiciled commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs). The court’s November 10, 2025 order halts the rule pending further judicial review, creating further uncertainty for the industry. Judg
Brandon WisemanNever Miss an Update
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