Expert Insights on DOT Compliance
In-depth analysis, regulatory updates, and practical compliance guidance from transportation attorneys and industry experts.
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
Compliance Theater: When Documentation Replaces Judgment
Many fleets are proud of their documentation. They document driver qualification. They document training. They document inspections, audits, incidents, and corrective actions. They keep complete driver files, run required reports, and maintain records they can be produced quickly when requested. Internally, that documentation often becomes a source of confidence. The thinking goes, if something goes wrong, the paperwork will show we did what we were supposed to do.That belief is understandable.
Brandon Wiseman
Compliance Theater and the Illusion of Protection
In trucking litigation, safety programs often become evidence. This article explores “compliance theater,” where check-the-box compliance creates records but fails to control risk.
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 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
Top 10 Regulatory Developments Fleets Should Understand Heading Into 2026
If 2024 hinted at regulatory turbulence, 2025 made it impossible to ignore. Over the past year, FMCSA and USDOT unleashed the most aggressive series of compliance initiatives in more than a decade—targeting language proficiency, non-domiciled CDL issuance, electronic logging devices, medical certification, training quality, and core data systems. These moves were not isolated events; collectively, they signaled a larger shift toward enforcement-first policymaking and heightened scrutiny on found
Brandon WisemanNever Miss an Update
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