Expert Insights on DOT Compliance
In-depth analysis, regulatory updates, and practical compliance guidance from transportation attorneys and industry experts.
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 Wiseman
Spotlight on non-domiciled CDLs
On August 14, 2025, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) launched a comprehensive investigation into a devastating Florida highway crash that resulted in three fatalities, linking the incident to possible breaches in Commercial Driver's License (CDL) issuance protocols and English language proficiency (ELP) standards. This inquiry not only exposes the perils of allowing unqualified drivers to handle heavy commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) but also intensifies the ongoing politi
Brandon Wiseman
How fleets can best prioritize compliance issues
Fleet safety teams face a complex challenge: ensuring compliance with Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and related state regulations while juggling limited time and resources. Roadside inspection violations, Electronic Logging Device (ELD) data, audits, and accident claims all demand attention, often leaving safety teams uncertain about where to focus their attention. Of course, not all compliance issues are equally weighted. Some have the potential to cause significant headac
Brandon Wiseman
Is your fleet audit ready?
For trucking companies, regulatory compliance isn’t just about avoiding fines—it’s about ensuring the safety of drivers, protecting the public, and maintaining the ability to operate efficiently. One of the most significant regulatory hurdles a motor carrier can face is an FMCSA compliance review. Whether it’s a new entrant safety audit, a focused review, or a full-scale compliance investigation, being prepared is crucial to keeping your fleet on the road and in good standing with regulators.Und
Brandon Wiseman
FMCSA Regulatory Update: Key Takeaways from the Florida Trucking Association Safety Summit
On February 20, 2025, Trucksafe president Brandon Wiseman presented an FMCSA Regulatory Update at the Florida Trucking Association’s Safety Summit in Tampa. The presentation provided an overview of recent and upcoming regulatory developments, enforcement trends, and compliance considerations for the trucking industry. Below is a summary of the key topics discussed.Download the slides from Brandon's presentation below:FMCSA Enforcement SummaryFMCSA enforcement activity remains robust, with 2.9 mi
Trucksafe launches two new services: Micro Audits & Bootcamp on the Road!
Fleet safety is a vital aspect of the transportation industry, ensuring not just compliance but also the well-being of drivers and the public at large. At Trucksafe, we're thrilled to unveil two new services to help fleets be proactive with compliance and keep themselves out of the crosshairs: Trucksafe Micro Audits and Bootcamp on the Road.Introducing Trucksafe Micro AuditsImagine having a virtual "check-up" for your DOT safety programs, providing you with a quick but comprehensive assessment
Brandon Wiseman
Trucksafe & Haul launch cutting-edge managed services offering
For today’s fleet managers, navigating the complex world of DOT regulations and ensuring fleet safety can feel like an uphill battle. But what if you could hand over the reins and focus on what you do best – running your business? That’s exactly what the groundbreaking partnership between Trucksafe Consulting, LLC and Haul, a cutting-edge AI-powered fleet risk management software provider, aims to achieve. Through this strategic alliance, Trucksafe expands its offerings with the launch of Trucks
Controlling driver log falsifications
In a recent episode of our Trucksafe LIVE! podcast, we tackled the issue of commercial driver log falsification. What exactly are false logs? Log falsification is a misrepresentation of a commercial driver's duty status or driving time on their daily record of duty status. False logs can be deliberate or unintentional. Attempts to conceal substantive hours-of-service violations by mis-logging time are frequent contributors to log falsifications. Misuse of personal conveyance status, mischaracter
Brandon Wiseman
FMCSA again considering substantial changes to safety ratings
**UPDATE: Since publishing this article, the FMCSA has scheduled an in-person listening session at the Texas Truck Show in Houston on June 29, 2024 to hear from the public on the proposal to modify the safety rating process. The agency also plans to hold additional virtual listening sessions in June and July 2024 on the topic. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is once again contemplating significant changes to its Safety Fitness Determinations, commonly known as "safety rat
Brandon WisemanNever Miss an Update
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