Welcome to your July 2026 Compliance+ Regulatory Update. Each month, we compile the most important regulatory developments, enforcement trends, and compliance reminders so you can stay ahead of the curve. As always, reach out to us with any questions about how these updates affect your operation or how we can help!
1. FMCSA Finalizes More Deregulatory Rules — What the Latest Package Means for Your Fleet
The current administration's deregulatory posture at FMCSA continues to generate real changes for carriers and safety directors. FMCSA has finalized additional rule revisions as part of its ongoing effort to reduce regulatory burden. And while some of these changes offer genuine operational relief, they also carry important nuances that fleets need to understand before adjusting their programs.
Key takeaways from the latest deregulatory package:
Some documentation requirements have been streamlined. Certain record retention and reporting obligations have been modified to reduce administrative overhead. However, fleets should not interpret "streamlined" as "eliminated." The underlying safety obligations remain, and audit exposure is still very real.
Driver qualification and vehicle maintenance requirements remain substantively unchanged. The deregulatory focus has largely targeted procedural and administrative requirements. Core safety standards under 49 CFR Part 391 (driver qualification) and 49 CFR Part 396 (vehicle maintenance) are intact.
Compliance programs built on the old rules may need minor updates. If your safety manual or internal procedures reference specific regulatory language that has been revised, now is the time to update those documents to reflect current requirements.
For a full breakdown of the specific rules affected, read our in-depth article: FMCSA Finalizes More Deregulatory Rules. .
Action Item: Review the finalized rule changes against your current safety manual, driver qualification procedures, and vehicle maintenance program. Update any internal documentation that references superseded regulatory language.
2. Indiana Revokes Nearly 1,800 Non-Domiciled CDLs — The Enforcement Wave Continues
The non-domiciled CDL enforcement story that has dominated compliance headlines for much of 2026 has a significant new chapter. Indiana has revoked approximately 1,790 CDLs under its new state law targeting drivers who obtained their commercial license without being properly domiciled in the state. This follows the broader federal-state enforcement framework that FMCSA has been aggressively pushing under 49 CFR §383.23 and 49 CFR §384.405.
What fleets need to know:
Indiana joins a growing list of states taking action. California's 13,000 CDL cancellations and New York's compliance failures have dominated the headlines, but Indiana's revocations demonstrate that this enforcement wave is national in scope, not limited to a few high-profile states. For our full coverage, read: Indiana Revokes Nearly 1,800 Non-Domiciled CDLs Under New State Law.
A revoked CDL may not trigger an immediate alert in your system. State revocations do not always flow into MVR records in real time. There can be a lag between when a state revokes a license and when that revocation appears on a standard MVR pull.
Your driver qualification file is only as current as your last MVR. Under 49 CFR §391.25, carriers must review driving records at least annually, but in this enforcement environment, annual reviews are a floor, not a ceiling. Drivers operating with a revoked CDL expose your fleet to significant liability.
Dalilah's Law adds another layer of complexity. Congressional legislation targeting CDL eligibility based on immigration status continues to move. Stay current on its progress: Dalilah's Law Moves Through Committee With Key Revisions.
Action Item: Pull fresh MVRs on all drivers holding Indiana, California, and New York CDLs immediately. Do not wait for your annual review cycle. Verify that every CDL in your fleet is currently valid and issued by the driver's state of domicile. Review your DQ file process to ensure you have a mechanism for more frequent MVR pulls during active enforcement periods.
3. Marijuana Rescheduling, Executive Orders, and CDL Drivers — Where Things Stand Now
The marijuana regulatory landscape continues to generate significant confusion for fleet safety directors, and the stakes for getting it wrong remain extremely high. Here is a consolidated update on where things stand as of July 2026.
The key facts:
Marijuana's federal scheduling status has been the subject of both rulemaking activity and executive action. Despite ongoing discussions about Schedule III reclassification and related executive orders, DOT's drug testing program under 49 CFR Part 40 has not changed. DOT has been explicit: marijuana remains a prohibited substance for safety-sensitive transportation employees regardless of federal scheduling changes or state law. Read our coverage: Medicinal Marijuana Is Now Schedule III. For CDL Drivers, the Answer Is More Complicated Than It Should Be.
Medical marijuana cards cannot override a positive DOT drug test. A Medical Review Officer (MRO) cannot accept a medical marijuana card or prescription as a "legitimate medical explanation" for a positive THC result. The DOT and FMCSA have been unambiguous on this point. See our article: DOT: Medical Marijuana Cards Can't Override a Positive Test.
Executive order activity has created uncertainty — but not a change in legal obligations. For full context on how executive orders may intersect with CDL drug testing requirements, see: CDL Drug Testing Faces Uncertainty After Trump Executive Order.
Clearinghouse enforcement is ongoing and Phase 2 obligations remain in effect. Drivers with drug/alcohol program violations who have not completed the return-to-duty process cannot legally operate a CMV. Carriers must query the Clearinghouse before hiring and conduct annual queries for all employed CDL drivers.
Action Item: Brief your drivers and supervisors on the current state of DOT drug testing, particularly around marijuana. The frequency of drivers testing positive and claiming a medical card defense is increasing. Ensure your Substance Abuse Policy is current, your random testing program is compliant, and your Clearinghouse queries are up to date. For the 2026 random testing rates, see: FMCSA Keeps Random Drug & Alcohol Testing Rates the Same for 2026.
4. FMCSA Extends NRII Waiver Through October 11 — Medical Certificate Relief Continues
FMCSA has extended its National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners (NRCME) Integrity Initiative (NRII) waiver through October 11, 2026, providing continued relief to CDL drivers and carriers affected by the agency's ongoing effort to remove fraudulent or non-compliant medical examiners from the National Registry.
Here is what this waiver means in practice:
The waiver allows CDL drivers to continue operating on paper medical certificates issued by examiners who have since been removed from the National Registry, provided specific conditions are met. Drivers are not automatically disqualified during the waiver period if their examining physician was removed after their certificate was issued.
Carriers must track the October 11 expiration date. Unless the waiver gets extended again, effective October 11, carriers must ensure they have fully transitioned to the electronic process for confirming the physical qualifications of their CDL drivers (i..e, running MVRs to obtain their new medical certification information).
For full details, read our coverage: FMCSA Extends NRII Waiver Through October 11, Continuing Paper Medical Certificate Relief.
Action Item: Ensure your CDL drivers are familiar with the new process by which their medical certifications get transmitted to their state licensing agencies and associated with their license. Also ensure your fleet has processes in place to closely track the expirations of your drivers' medical certificates and obtain new MVRs each time they obtain a new certification.
5. MOTUS System Rollout
FMCSA's MOTUS system, the agency's modernized registration and operating authority platform, continues its phased 2026 rollout. If your fleet has not yet engaged with the transition requirements, now is the time to act. The rollout has been rocky to say the least, with many carriers reporting being locked out from the system or their accounts displaying inaccurate data (e.g, inactive operating authority).
Where things stand:
The phased rollout means not all functions are live simultaneously. FMCSA has been migrating capabilities to the new platform in stages. Carriers who have not yet created a MOTUS account or verified their registration data in the new system should do so now to avoid disruptions as additional functionality goes live.
MCS-150 biennial update inactivations temporarily postponed. In light of serious IT problems, FMCSA has temporarily paused the its inactivation of USDOT registrations for carriers that have failed to file their required biennial MCS-150 updates.
Data accuracy in the new system matters. As FMCSA migrates records to MOTUS, carriers should verify that their company information, operating authority status, and insurance filings are accurately reflected. Errors in the legacy system will migrate forward.
For a full preparation guide, read: FMCSA's MOTUS System: 2026 Rollout To Transform Registration Process.
Action Item: Log in to the MOTUS platform and verify your carrier profile, operating authority status, and insurance filings. Confirm your MCS-150 is current. Follow FMCSA's MOTUS updates here: https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/registration/temporary-suspension-usdot-inactivation-motus
6. eRegs v2 Is Live — Your FMCSR Compliance Reference Just Got a Major Upgrade
If you use Trucksafe's eRegs platform to reference the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations, you have a significantly upgraded tool available right now. eRegs v2 represents a complete rebuild of the platform, delivering faster navigation, improved search functionality, and a cleaner interface designed specifically for compliance professionals who need to find and apply regulatory language quickly.
Key improvements in v2:
Rebuilt search and cross-reference tools make it easier to locate specific CFR sections and understand how regulations interact across parts — particularly useful when navigating driver qualification, hours-of-service, and drug testing requirements that span multiple CFR parts.
Mobile-optimized interface means compliance officers and safety directors can reference regulations from the road, during audits, or at roadside — not just from a desktop.
Integrated compliance notes and context provide practical interpretive guidance alongside the regulatory text, reducing the gap between "what does the rule say" and "what does that mean for my operation."
For full details on the rebuild and what's new, read: eRegs v2 Is Here: A Complete Rebuild of the FMCSR Compliance Platform.
Action Item: Log in and explore the new eRegs v2 platform. Share access with your safety team and ensure your compliance officers know how to use the updated search and cross-reference tools.
7. Mid-Year Compliance Checklist — Don't Let Summer Slow Down Your Safety Program
July marks the midpoint of the calendar year, and it is one of the best times to conduct a structured self-audit of your compliance program before fall enforcement activity picks up. Based on the themes we have tracked throughout 2026, here are the highest-priority items for your mid-year review:
Driver Qualification Files: Are all DQ files current? Medical certificates, MVRs, annual reviews, and road test certificates under 49 CFR Part 391 should all be verified. Pay special attention to CDL validity given the ongoing non-domiciled CDL enforcement environment.
Drug & Alcohol Program: Is your random testing pool current and are you on track to meet the required test rates by year end (i.e., 50% for drugs and 10% for alcohol)? Have you completed all required Clearinghouse annual queries? Are any drivers in return-to-duty status being properly monitored?
ELD Compliance: Are all ELD devices properly registered and functioning? Following CVSA's International Roadcheck focus on ELD tampering in May, enforcement attention on ELD compliance remains elevated. Review our coverage: CVSA's 2026 International Roadcheck Targets ELD Tampering.
Vehicle Maintenance Records: Are DVIRs being completed correctly? Are all required periodic inspection records (49 CFR §396.21) in order? Maintenance BASIC violations are among the most common audit findings.
CSA Scores: Pull your SMS BASIC scores and review for any new elevations. File DataQs appeals on challengeable violations before they age further into your scoring window.
Operating Authority & Registration: Is your MCS-150 current? Are your insurance filings accurate and up to date in the MOTUS system?
If your mid-year self-audit reveals gaps, our team is here to help. Visit our Audit Readiness page for resources, explore our compliance templates and checklists, or register for an upcoming Bootcamp to sharpen your team's compliance skills. And as always, don't hesitate to reach out to us directly with questions.
