The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) was established within the Department of Transportation on January 1, 2000, pursuant to the Motor Carrier Safety Improvement Act of 1999 (49 U.S.C. 113). Formerly a part of the Federal Highway Administration, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s primary mission is to prevent commercial motor vehicle-related fatalities and injuries. Activities of the Administration contribute to ensuring safety in motor carrier operations through strong enforcement of safety regulations; targeting high-risk carriers and commercial motor vehicle drivers; improving safety information systems and commercial motor vehicle technologies; strengthening commercial motor vehicle equipment and operating standards; and increasing safety awareness. To accomplish these activities, the Administration works with Federal, State, and local enforcement agencies, the motor carrier industry, labor and safety interest groups, and others.
When it comes to ELD regulations, we have aired our grievances before. It seems someone at the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is a huge fan of our writing, as they are taking steps to inform truckers of Electronic Logging Devices being removed from their registry. Either that, or it is a happy coincidence. […]
Regulations are much harder to get off the books than they are to prevent from getting onto them in the first place. With Donald Trump a few months out from his second presidential term, here are some potential changes to upcoming regulations plaguing the trucking industry.
At the advent of 2020, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration released the Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse, a database to track commercial drivers with a record of using substances on the road that could adversely impact their driving abilities, or at the very least track when they refuse a testing request from an officer. Now, […]
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has declared a State of Emergency in Florida due to the damage caused by Hurricane Milton. Details Hurricane Milton has come and gone, but its lingering effects, the destruction left in its wake, still persists. To that end, the FMCSA is suspending some regulatory requirements from Parts 390-399 […]
Hurricane Helene has come and gone, and now states on the East Coast are doing their best to pick up the pieces from the disaster. One of the losses was a significant portion of the I-40 in North Carolina, near the border of Tennessee, as well as other roads in the Tarheel State.
Anyone with a passing knowledge of how the United States federal government works knows about the three branches, in the case for this store: the FMCSA (executive), Congress (legislative), and Administrative Law Judges (judicial) are in a bit of a battle over the ability to assess punishments for broker fraud.DetailsIn 2019, an Administrative Law Judge […]
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) announced on June 3rd 2024 that it will be providing $480 million in grant funding to promote vehicular safety, including commercial vehicles, to fifty-six different regions in America.DetailsThe recently announced Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program grant awards are the latest implementation of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, signed into […]
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) deals in much more than just road safety; it also partakes in managing financial safety within the greater commercial transportation sector. To that end, the FMCSA has the Truck Leasing Task Force (TLTF), which exists to monitor the terms and conditions of truck leasing agreements, and it will […]
If you have been following trucking industry news for some amount of time, you have probably heard about the purported trucker shortage. One of the reasons for this is the elevated barrier of entry to become a professional driver: time that normally happens after graduation from high school. Connell High School wants to do something […]
It has been established through numerous regulations in the past that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) provides not only physical safety to its constituents, but also financial safety. The FMCSA took this one step further when it announced on May 20th a new program to crack down on scams relating to the interstate […]
On April 19th, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) announced in the Federal Register that it hopes to replace the Unified Registration System (URS) with a new system called the FMCSA Registration System (FRS).DetailsSo what is the big deal about this new system? The Notice in the Federal Register is thousands of words long, […]
You probably saw this coming from a mile away, but the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is declaring a State of Emergency in direct response to the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore. Details The Declaration provides relief from 49 CFR § 395.3 of federal regulations, which is the maximum driving […]
The Mid-America Trucking Show has come and gone, with one of the biggest entities speaking at the event being the FMCSA (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration), which started the conference with some big news: they admit that there is a problem with fraud in the current system, and they are taking steps to fix it.Details”Freight […]
The purported trucker shortage is partially fueled by the barrier of entry to becoming a trucker. It is fantastic that only the best and brightest should be allowed to operate a heavy-duty big rig, but at the same time, the trucking industry is imperative to the nation’s economic vitality. To that end, the FMCSA is […]
February and March are two of the coldest months of the year, but that has not stopped wildfires from rampaging across the second-largest state in the USA, and the largest of the 48 contiguous states. To that end, Texas Governor Greg Abbott has enacted a State of Emergency.DetailsThe Declaration is extremely vague in its wording, […]
Oftentimes when people think of computer hackers, they think of what is known as the “brute force” method: having hundreds of computers trying every possible combination of characters within the parameter limits of a password until one of them gives way to access into the account. While it makes for good cinema, it is not […]
In the distant past of February 2019, back when a “corona” was little more than a beer brand in most people’s minds, a company named Stoneridge had its technology approved by the FMCSA for five years. The company had developed a system of cameras called MirrorEye that were intended not just as a replacement for […]
You have probably heard the jokes before about hidden fees. The resort fee, the paper-reduction fee, the convenience fee, the fee management fee. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has published in the Federal Register some plans in order to mitigate them. When it comes to fees for towing commercial trucks, the United States Department of […]
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) that, if passed, will loosen regulations on Commercial Learner’s Permit (CLP) holders as they transition to obtaining a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL). That is a lot of acronyms, but the real potential problem is what effect this will have on […]
The trucking industry is filled with all sorts of regulations. Still, perhaps one of the most important ones is having a medical examiner who can make the judgment call that someone is fit for driving an approximately 80,000-pound tractor-trailer combo. To that extent, the FMCSA is considering implementing a new rule that will wipe 17% […]
This January appears to be one for the record books.We wrote about last week how eleven different states had States of Emergency as a result of extreme winter weather. Well, it appears that the season is not slowing down any time soon, as seven more states have joined in on the Declarations.DetailsThere are seven new […]
The role of Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) Administrator is looking more and more like a carousel all the time, as Robin Hutcheson announced that she is stepping down from the position.Details“It has been the most profound honor to serve in the Biden-Harris Administration, and I am grateful to President Biden for appointing me […]
It has been around three months since the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) revised its terms for declaring a State of Emergency, so things must be pretty hectic out there in the winter weather when eleven different states are calling on truckers for help. Details These eleven states in question, along with their Declarations: […]
The 2024 Republican presidential candidate who is also a billionaire spoke at the World’s Largest Truckstop in Iowa to talk about what he would do regarding regulations within the trucking industry.Was our description of the candidate not apt enough to properly discern? To be more specific: it was Vivek Ramaswamy.DetailsThe Republican hopeful on his campaign […]
With the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) opting to increase the scrutiny for what counts as a State of Emergency, the news regarding them has slowed to a crawl. This makes it all the more surprising when two states on the East Coast announce one within a day of each other, for the same […]
When it comes to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) enforcing safety, usually one thinks of safety from collisions, but could it also include safety from being scammed by bad faith actors? We remember writing an article three years ago where the Transportation Intermediaries Association said this falls out of the purview of the […]
In the first instance since the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) had updated the rules regarding States of Emergency, Governor Andy Beshar of Kentucky has signed off on one that applies to truckers.DetailsThe entire Declaration can be read on the relevant webpage. It starts by mentioning drought that is causing wildfires to emerge statewide, […]
We write about State of Emergency Declarations all the time here at TopMark Funding, but it seems the number of them and to what extent they cover are about to decrease, according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).DetailsOn October 10th, the FMCSA released a Final Rule that is set to reduce the number […]
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) seems intent on introducing speed limiter regulation despite negative reception for drivers. Perhaps as an olive branch, the FMCSA is taking a small step back on the subject for the time being. Details The idea of requiring speed limiters was first put on the table in late 2016, […]
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is finding itself under fire from the Government Accountability Office (GAO), saying that the agency dealing with commercial vehicle safety needs to set better standards in handling complaints.DetailsThe full report, which you can read on the GAO’s relevant webpage, spans sixty pages, but the entire debacle can be […]
The East Coast really is getting a hard time this hurricane season. The number of states near the Atlantic Ocean that have declared a State of Emergency in response to watery winds has increased from seven to ten.MarylandMaryland is worried about general nasty weather, including “inland flooding and isolated tornadoes”, and to that extent the […]
More hurricane news! This time, the hurricane is hitting the northeast, and some states are already declaring emergencies to be ahead of the curve, before Lee hits land as a category five hurricane.MaineMaine’s State of Emergency Declaration, which you can read on the relevant FMCSA webpage, does not directly pertain to truckers. Instead, it is […]
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is stepping up its game when it comes to getting more drivers on the road, but it does not want to sacrifice road safety to do so. To that end, the FMCSA is putting $44 million into grants for CDL training.DetailsThe announcement came on September 14th, 2023. You […]
Hurricane Idalia is hitting the eastern seaboard, and what was once a problem for Florida is now expanding into other states. Here is what that entails for the four states below.GeorgiaGeorgia’s Declaration covers a variety of topics, which you can read on the FMCSA webpage, but what will catch the eye of truckers is the […]
Besides traffic, one of the most aggravating aspects of being a driver is the time spent waiting at facilities for the truck to load and unload. This time is often unpaid, further exacerbating the problem. The FMCSA wants to study what effects this issue plaguing the trucking industry has on safety. If they do something […]
Update: Hurricane Invest 93L has upgraded into Hurricane Idalia. Stay safe! It seems both sides of the United States are getting hit with natural disasters this late in the summer. First, it was California with Hurricane Hilary, and now Florida is having a tropical depression, currently named Invest 93L, that has the potential to become a […]
California is a very large state, so although we are headquartered here in Roseville, the most water we have gotten in the past month is a quarter inch at the absolute most. Compare this with the southern half of the state, which is having a bit of a crisis due to Hurricane Hilary. As such, […]
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), one of the leading regulators of the trucking industry, said that California’s and Washington’s rules regarding breaks did not apply to truckers. They are instead under the jurisdiction of federal regulations. This declaration happened in 2018 during the Trump Administration, and as such the current establishment is heavily […]
It has been a while since there has been a State of Emergency anywhere in the country that trucking could help with, as things seemed to be moving smoothly throughout the nation. That has finally changed, however, as Kristi Noem, Governor of South Dakota, has declared a State of Emergency regarding the dearth of fuel […]
The primary State of Emergency exemption from the COVID-19 pandemic, the one regarding waiving hours-of-service requirements within reason, has long since passed, but its smaller brother, a waiver that enables some third-party CDL skill tests examiners to also conduct CDL knowledge tests, is still ongoing. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) wants to stop […]
Federal regulators are trying their hardest to get Americans to eventually switch away from fossil fuels such as petroleum, but that does not mean they do not need it now. Both of the states Nebraska and North Dakota are suffering from fuel shortages at the current moment, and to that extent both governors are issuing […]
When a four-wheel driver decides to do a brake check on a big rig just for fun, and it leads to something catastrophic, it does not impact the carrier’s ranking in the CSA Safety Measurement System. This is because the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) only wants to penalize drivers who find themselves in […]
Nobody becomes a trucker to sit around and twiddle their thumbs while they wait for other people to get moving, so why is detention time so widespread amongst the trucking industry? That is a question the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is hoping to tackle by first conducting a study.DetailsThe Infrastructure Investment and Jobs […]
Does this story sound familiar? Last year, we wrote about how the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) had plans to reduce Unified Carrier Register (UCR) fees for 2023. Now, it looks like they are going to do it again.DetailsThe UCR, a system where fees are collected from and given to 41 member states, has […]
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse is the system by which the federal government tracks commercial drivers’ use of mind-altering drugs, and, should their licenses be revoked, how far along in the steps the driver is in being able to return to service. However, there was a loophole that a […]
When Robin Hutcheson was promoted from Deputy Administrator to the top of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), there was a vacancy for the Deputy position. The USDOT has found the person for the role: a man named Earl Adams Jr.The Experience of Earl Adams Jr.Normally, the Deputy Administrator position does not need a […]
Is it just us, or is this winter colder than most? The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) seems to agree, as it is extending a State of Emergency for eight states in the hauling of various fuels.DetailsThe first Declaration was in direct response to the Suncor refinery in Colorado having an unexpected shutdown, leading […]
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has been in the news quite a bit lately, and this article is no different. Here is a taste of what the FMCSA is planning on changing to its Safety Measurement Systems (SMS).Relearning the BASICsSome modeling that the FMCSA uses to determine high-risk drivers is the Behavior Analysis and […]
In the last two weeks the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has revoked three Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs) of their certification status. Drivers who had one of these three types of ELDs are required to use paper logs until they can obtain a suitable replacement. This situation highlights a serious issue in the ELD […]
Autonomous trucks are no doubt still far into the future, but that has not stopped the Federal Motor Safety Administration (FMCSA) from preparing to regulate them. They have announced a Supplemental Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (SANPRM) where they request public feedback on how self-driving trucks should be regulated as they become more common.DetailsThe SANPRM […]
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is considering increasing the amount of readily-available assets (mostly cash) that a broker must have on hand to pay fleets who have completed deliveries for them, as written on a proposal in the Federal Register. Details The way things are now, a broker is required to keep $75,000 in […]
Loyal readers may remember what we had written about in the past, how California was experiencing intense drought and how the federal government may want to install a pipeline that can distribute water from where it is flooding to where it is dry. That will not be needed anymore. California is experiencing intense downpour to […]
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) says that if current winter storms are any indicator of what is to come, the start of 2023 is going to be a time of great cold. As such, the FMCSA is giving hours-of-service exemptions to haulers providing heating oil, such as propane and natural gas, to numerous […]
What do you get when you ask truckers for help but also provide additional stipulations for them to do their jobs? You get a mess. This is what is happening in the state of New York, as the state government has declared both a State of Emergency and road closures for commercial vehicles. State of […]
While it is true that we are not going to run out of fuel any time soon, it is undeniable that people reliant on energy are feeling the strain of higher prices. In direct response to this, three states have enacted States of Emergencies to mitigate wallet damage.NebraskaGovernor Pete Ricketts of Nebraska has enacted a […]
The trucking industry is ever-changing and the history of trucking is very extensive. What is even more extensive, is the recent influx in regulations pertaining to trucking and overall transportation. We’ve hand-crafted a list of the most influential and relevant regulations to the trucking industry. Some you may be familiar with, and some you may […]
The Department of Transportation’s latest Significant Rulemaking Report shows various actions it wants to implement in governing safety on the road. Speed Limiters on the Table The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) wants to continue considering applying speed limiters to trucks with electronic control units. FMCSA Administrator Robin Hutcheson knows how grossly unpopular the […]
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), traffic fatalities in 2021 were estimated to be around 43,000, which is a 10.5% increase from an already high prior year. This news has led to the Secretary of the Department of Transportation to tweet about how safety standards on the road should be closer to […]
Thirty-one months to flatten the curve. In our last update regarding the coronavirus State of Emergency from the FMCSA, we talked about how the change in pace from the exemption being renewed every ninety days to every forty-five days could mean the Declaration may be on its last legs. It appears that that rings true, […]
The water distribution problem continues. As recovery from Hurricane Ian happens in the easternmost states, other states are suffering from a lack of water. The latest to join the trend is Oklahoma, upon which the governor has declared a State of Emergency.Hey, Hay!The typical Declaration is all about hours-of-service exemptions provided the driver does not […]
There appears to always be some weather phenomenon going on somewhere in the fifty states that comprise this country. This time, the topic of interest is Hurricane Ian, the second major hurricane of this year’s hurricane season. In response to it, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has declared a State of Emergency to […]
Tropical Depression Nine was spotted approximately 1,000 miles southeast of Florida on September 23rd, 2022, and the Sunshine State is expecting it to brush up against its shores. In a direct proactive response, Governor Ron DeSantis is issuing a State of Emergency that is fourteen sections long and is far longer than any typical Declaration […]
Months after it was first put into motion, the Senate vote for Robin Hutcheson to become the first FMCSA Administrator since October 2019 has completed. Robin Hutcheson is now the FMCSA Administrator.DetailsIt has been almost three years since Ray Martinez left the position in October 2019. Since then, numerous Acting Administrators have held down the […]
Of all the various regulations the FMCSA requires, the ELD mandate is one of the most confusing. Truckers are required to use an approved Electronic Logging Device, but seldom does the FMCSA update the list to show which are allowed and which are not. Now the FMCSA wants to revise its mandate, and it wants […]
It is widely considered that the most dangerous part of a Class 8 truck is the driver behind the wheel. If he or she is not actively paying attention, catastrophic damage can occur. Autonomous trucking technology is slowly getting better, but long before trucks ever become fully automatic, they will become easier to handle but […]
While the State of Emergency regarding hours-of-service and COVID-19 has been extended only forty-five days, its sister declaration regarding the handling of Commercial Learner’s Permits (CPLs) has been extended the typical ninety days.DetailsUnder normal circumstances, a CLP driver needs to have a driver with a CDL riding shotgun for the duration of training. With coronavirus […]
In a period of excessive inflation, this news is sure to bring a smile to any fleet owner’s face.The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration announced via the Federal Register that it would reduce the United Carrier Registration fees by an average of 31% for 2023 and beyond.DetailsThe price cuts are as follows:0-2 vehicles: $59 to […]
The United States is suffering from a water distribution problem this summer: while the west coast cannot get enough water, the east coast is experiencing torrential downpour. As of the start of September seven states are undergoing States of Emergencies regarding water, be it a dearth or an abundance.AlaskaAlaska is the largest state in the […]
We were hoping on August 31st, the last day of the previous extension, that it would be the last. In the final hours, however, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has extended the Declaration another 45 days. This is the first time that the regulatory body has extended it by this period of time, usually […]
On August 24th, the BP Whiting refinery suffered a fire and for the time being is shut down for safety reasons. It is one of the largest refineries in the United States, processing around 440,000 barrels of crude oil per day. As a result of its closure, there is a shortage of various fuels in […]
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, as a part of last year’s Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, is giving away $44 million in grants to different state CDL training programs. If you are a fleet hoping to get more drivers in your trucks, here is what you need to know.Details“FMCSA’s core mission is safety, and […]
It would not be a summer season in California without rampaging wildfires, would it? Governor Gavin Newsom has declared a State of Emergency.DetailsIn the middle of a historical drought, California is prime land for wildfires in the season with the highest temperature.While the fires have not burned to the same extent as the Dixie fire […]
Here at TopMark Funding’s headquarters near the capital of the sun-drenched California, we are suffering from a tremendous drought that has left us wondering where all the water has gone. It appears we finally have our answer: it is hitting Kentucky and West Virginia with great force. So much so, that the governors of both […]
If you have taken a step outside in the past few weeks, you may have noticed that it is blisteringly hot outside. The Northern Hemisphere is suffering a massive heatwave.One of the common side effects for a heatwave is the drying out of vegetation, both alive and dead, increasing the risk of fire hazards. This […]
Do you consider the idea of a truck driver under the age of 21 able to drive from Redding, California to San Diego to be okay, but traveling from Kansas City, Missouri to Kansas City, Kansas as unsafe to be an absurd notion? The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is inclined to agree, and is […]
Truckers helping truckers!On July 15, 2022, Jim Walz, the Governor of Minnesota, issued a declaration suspending the hours-of-service regulations in regards to the hauling of various petroleum-based fuels.DetailsThe entire problem is a logistics Catch-22, as truckers needing to haul fuels such as diesel and gasoline need diesel to haul them. Governor Walz hopes that by […]
It appears as though COVID-19 is not the only State of Emergency that needed to be extended, as the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has updated its Declaration regarding the hauling of materials used in the production of baby formula.DetailsThe events started in February, when an Abbott plant in Michigan that produces baby formula shut […]
Rev up those engines, truckers! Montana needs our help in providing relief from flooding.DetailsOn June 10th, the National Weather Services announced a Flood Watch for Montana. The National Weather Services was right to issue that statement, as some counties in the Treasure State experienced four inches of rain in that single day. Acting Governor Kristen […]
Robin Hutcheson, the next person in line to become the Administrator of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, has had her confirmation hearing before the U.S. Senate. Here are the events that transpired.DetailsThere were a multitude of topics discussed during the confirmation hearing, but perhaps none as important as the purported “driver shortage” and the […]
In recent times the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has made changes to commercial driver qualification filing rules. While each individual change did not justify an article on its own, combined they add up into something larger. Here are the changes that have been made in 2022 thus far.Road Test Certificate InformationAs of March […]
If you have been following the news at all, there is a good chance you have heard about the baby formula shortage going on in the United States. On May 18th, Joe Biden announced his plan to use the Defense Production Act to leverage governmental powers to get more baby formula produced. One such example […]
When the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) announced changes to the COVID-19 State of Emergency within less than a month of its expiration, it raised the notion that it would be extended again. Now, we know for sure that it has.DetailsThis extension is brought to you by Robin Hutcheson, current Deputy Administrator of the […]
North Dakota is having issues with extremely cold weather within its borders. As a result, Governor Doug Burgum has declared a State of Emergency to help save North Dakota’s agricultural industry.DetailsThe Declaration is not unlike a similar one performed by Florida three months ago to save its agricultural commodities, except whereas Florida grows citrus fruits, […]
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has extended the COVID-19 State of Emergency exemptions numerous times, but this specific instance of touching it is a unique one. While the Declaration is being modified to include new items to be hauled under it, it is not being extended, for the time being.DetailsOn May 13th, Robin […]
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear has announced that a State of Emergency exists within the Bluegrass State, and is lifting trucking regulations regarding just that to provide aid to needy citizens.DetailsThe declaration cites a need due to:TornadoesSevere thunderstormsFlash floodsDamaging windsAs a direct result of the nasty weather, the governor is suspending some hours-of-service regulations and regulations […]
A little inflation of around 2% is a good thing; such inflation encourages people to actually use their money rather than hide it under a mattress. Inflation rates above 9 percent, however, are a little more worrisome. The DOT’s recent final rule is a strong example of why.DetailsThe Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements […]
We have been reporting so much on coronavirus these past two years, it is almost a sight for sore eyes to hear about another public health crisis!Now that the shock of a different pathogenic disease as the center of attention has passed, Iowa has declared a State of Emergency within its state borders to help […]
At this point, it is a little difficult to keep track of how many times this emergency waiver has been extended. As the country almost enters its third year of two weeks to flatten the curve, the Federal Motor Safety Carrier Administration is not backing down from fighting the virus, directly and indirectly.DetailsThe new extension […]
From January 28th to the 30th, Florida experienced exceptionally cold temperatures across the state. This has compelled Florida Governor Ron DeSantis to declare a State of Emergency. Unlike the cold snaps in Texas for the past two years, the objective with this waiver is to not save lives, but to save the agricultural industry and […]
Soon, a new rule will go into effect to improve entry-level driver training (ELDT). Here are the things you should know about this program so that you do not get blindsided by changes happening in the trucking industry.1. It parallels obtaining a standard driver’s license.Like obtaining a normal driver’s license for a 4-wheeler, the new […]
The position of Acting Administrator for the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has been traded off like a hot potato for the past few years. Whether it is a change in leadership from the Department of Transportation or the resignation of the Administrator moving to greener pastures, the slot is having a hard time […]
We wrote at the start of September that it was anyone’s guess as to if the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) would extend the hours-of-service suspension for hauling in regards to the COVID-19 pandemic. We now have our answer: yes, it is being extended.DetailsThe extension was announced on November 29th, just a few days […]
The news in the trucking industry has been so hectic this November, we simply could not keep ahead of it.Recently, rear impact trailer guardrails have been added as a requirement for annual FMCSA inspections.DetailsThe change is to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s 396 section, which deals with all things inspection and maintenance. Failure to […]
Come November 8th, getting a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) will be ever so slightly cumbersome.The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) will require state driver’s licensing agencies to check the Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse before issuing, renewing, or upgrading a trucker’s CDL.The ProcessFew would argue against keeping drunk or otherwise intoxicated drivers off the road. […]
North Dakota is home to 39,300,000 acres of farmland and is responsible for over $4 billion in agricultural exports every year. Like most states west of the Mississippi River, the Peace Garden State is in desperate need of water. So much so that the state government is declaring a state of emergency to help keep […]
The confirmation hearing, taking place on September 22nd, is expected to result in a positive confirmation for Meera Joshi. Assuming she is confirmed, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) will have its first official administrator since Ray Martinez two years ago. What does this mean for trucking? More of the Same Joshi has been […]
The interesting thing about news in contrast with government is that news moves fast while government moves slowly. In the past few days, more states have entered the fold of declaring a state of emergency due to Hurricane Ida, bringing the total number to seven. Details The first declarations were covered previously, so we will […]
The previous extension was set to expire at the end of August 31st. Now, only a few hours before it was set to expire, the FMCSA has extended it again. COVID-19 Emergency Details It is the same song and dance as the previous extensions; you can see all of the details on the webpage. In […]
We are about halfway through hurricane season, and we have another one. This time it is Hurricane Ida, and it is hitting states along the Gulf of Mexico. States and agencies are weighing in. Details Here are the various emergency declarations and what they entail. Southern and Western FMCSA Centers This is the most typical […]
It seems to be quite the season for natural disasters. As a result, the emergency declarations keep on coming. This time the declaration comes from Bill Lee, governor of Tennessee.DetailsThe flash flooding is most prominent in Tennessee City, where it weakens further away from the radius, but still covers Nashville and Waverly.The destruction has already […]
Governor Andrew Cuomo may be on his way out the door due to resigning amidst sexual harassment allegations, but that is not stopping Mother Nature from threatening havoc. By the time you read this, Tropical Storm Henri should have hit the New York shore. Experts have Henri pinned at a tropical storm of wind speeds […]
In a vote of 69-30 (with one senator absent), the United States Senate has voted to pass H.R. 3684, also known as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 or the INVEST in America Act. What does the bill entail, and how are truckers affected should it pass the House of Representatives? H.R. 3684 […]
This article was published on Smokey Bear’s 67th birthday. Happy birthday to Smokey Bear! There is always something going on in the approximately 3.5 million square miles that comprise our nation. If it is not hurricane season, it is tornado season; if not tornado season, it is wildfire season. These are the states that are […]
It should not be a surprise to anyone that governments tend to be lazy, even with each other. Federal regulations call for states where drivers are convicted to transmit conviction data to the state where the driver is licensed either electronically via Commercial Driver’s License Information System (CDLIS), or by mail, but not both. The […]
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) always planned for the off-site audits to become the norm. The coronavirus pandemic merely accelerated it. From 2017 to 2020, the number of off-site audits increased fifteenfold, and the number only appears to be increasing for 2021. Currently, these remote audits account for about 46% of all of […]
If you are an owner-operator or a fleet owner, chances are you have two dozen things on your mind at any given time, but to make sure you are in compliance with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration quickly, look up the last two digits of your USDOT number. If the last digit represented the […]
On Thursday July 8th, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Labor Secretary Marty Walsh, and Deputy Administrator Meera Joshi of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) hosted a roundtable to discuss trucking employment. Trucking Employment: Retention Versus Recruitment The “shortage” (the economic law of supply and demand impacting market rates and therefore carriers paying a premium […]
It should be no surprise to members in the trucking industry that whenever an “event” happens, regulators relieve some pressure to allow drivers to get their job done more quickly. In just the past eighteen months we have had hours-of-service exemptions for: Novel coronavirus-19 (COVID-19) nationwide. Wildfires along the western coast. Cold snap for states […]
Were you aware that each month, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) publishes data of violations entered into their Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse? With the program in motion for almost a year and a half, here are the most interesting bits of information. Clearinghouse Details To read the reports, including for months prior, go […]
Unless you have been living under a rock, you are no doubt aware of the hours-of-service exemption for hauling related to the pandemic that has permeated the trucking industry for about 15 months now. Less talked about but just as important is the other waiver for Commercial Driver’s License (CDL), Commercial Learner’s Permit (CLP), and […]
Another quarter, another announcement regarding the pandemic. The FMCSA has announced another extension to the hours-of-service (HOS) exemption for the hauling of goods related to the coronavirus state of emergency. Details The declaration can be read in its entirety via the FMCSA’s website. It follows the standard procedure for the exemption, with no modifications or […]
Notice: As of May 11th the FMCSA has added West Virginia to the list of affected states. Colonial Pipeline owns over 5,500 miles of pipe from Texas to New York. It was the victim of a malware attack starting on May 7th, 2021. In response, Colonial Pipeline has shut down its system, which transferred 100 […]
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is attempting to bring awareness to driving extra cautiously in work zones, especially in the time of the coronavirus pandemic where such injuries have been exacerbated.Cone ZoneAn average person may be inclined to believe that COVID-19 has reduced injuries on the road. The truth is that with fewer […]
In mid-April, Joe Biden announced his intent to nominate Meera Joshi as the administrator to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). Does this sound familiar? If the news sounds like a repeat from the beginning of the year, there is a slight change that makes this different than before. Technical Promotion Until now, Joshi […]
On March 10th, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration held its 20th annual Analysis, Research, and Technology (ART) Forum, and the first under the Biden presidency with a new change of officials. ART is used to discuss how technology is used to fulfill the FMCSA’s goals, namely minimizing truck crashes, and was especially fitting because […]
Listen to the article We wrote how we thought this state of emergency would not need an extension, and in twenty-eight cases we were right. However, some states were hit harder by the cold weather than others, and as such, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is expanding the state of emergency in these six […]
It was but five months ago that the FMCSA declared a regional emergency for the west coast states in response to rampant wildfires in that area. Now it is time for over 30 other states, plus Washington D.C., to receive additional support from the nation’s truckers due to a cold wave.Cold Snap Delivery DetailsThe state […]
If you have been following the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) news for a while now, three names might ring as familiar: Raymond Martinez, Jim Mullen, and Wiley Deck. These three were the deputy administrators of the FMCSA during the Trump Administration, for varying amounts of time. With the transition to the Biden Administration, […]
While Elaine Chao has resigned from Secretary of the Department of Transportation by the time you read this article, one of her last acts was to order the DOT to create and publish what it calls the “Automated Vehicles Comprehensive Plan” (AVCP).It is no secret that self-driving trucks are still far away from becoming reality, […]
Secretary of the Department of Transportation Elaine Chao has announced that she will be resigning from her position, effective January 11th. This marks the end of the second-longest cabinet holding behind Mike Pence himself: Elaine Chao started January 31st, 2016. Details Elaine Chao cites the storming of the U.S. Capitol as her reason for not […]
The grace period for not being inside the FMCSA Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse, a database of drivers and such violations, is approaching its end rapidly, January 6th. If you drive under your own Authority, you must conduct a limited query for yourself and all drivers under your Authority by that date, or you may be […]
Unless your name is Jeff Bezos or Elon Musk, there is a pretty good chance this was not your year. From a potential World War III in January, to the COVID-19 pandemic that started in March and is still going today, to the summer protests and blocked highways, this year had it all. We want […]
Under the current system of rules, third-party companies such as private truck-driving schools could not be both the trainer and the examiner for a driver. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) plans to publish a Final Rule in the Federal Register changing this. The new regulations will make it so that the trainer and […]
We wrote about what a Biden presidency would mean for the trucking industry in mid-November. In that article, our first point was that the Secretary of the Department of Transportation (DOT), Elaine Chao, would end her nearly four year term by being replaced. You have read the title of this article, so you know who […]
Remember in October when the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) started allowing tanker trucks to use pulsating amber brake lights? It may be added to more truck types soon enough, as the FMCSA has granted Grote Industries LLC a limited 5-year exemption to allow motor carriers operating trailers and van body trucks to install […]
As the coronavirus vaccines are finalized and become ready for distribution, the question remains as to who gets the first round of doses. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), an arm of the CDC, recently reached a nearly-unanimous vote on Monday approving a three step plan for vaccine distribution:Phase 1a: Healthcare workers and residents […]
While the winner of the 2020 election is not yet set in stone due to recounts, lawsuits, and accusations of fraud, it is hard to deny that the likelihood of becoming president has shifted into Biden’s favor. Strongly enough, in fact, that it is worth speculating what the shift in power would mean for the […]
Unless all the election news has pushed older information out of your brain, you may remember that the FMCSA spoke at an ATA virtual conference about many topics, one of which was working to make self-driving commercial vehicles as safe as possible. But beyond safety, there are many more uncertainties to autonomous trucks. Will they […]
It has been almost a year since the FMCSA instituted the Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse, which means that the deadline for running a limited query for all fleets in the nation is rapidly approaching. Here are the details of the regulations and why you should have the query done for your fleet, whether it’s a […]
On October 28th, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration held another virtual conference, this time regarding broker regulations. In attendance were representatives from the Transportation Intermediaries Association (TIA), Owner-Operator Independent Driver Association (OOIDA), and the Small Business in Transportation Coalition (SBTC). As you can imagine, the TIA wants fewer regulations, and the OOIDA and SBTC […]
On October 23rd, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Deputy Administrator Wiley Deck spoke at the American Trucking Association’s (ATA) virtual version of its Management Conference and Exhibition. The event was turned into a virtual one this year, due to the coronavirus pandemic. Here is what he spoke about. Under 21 Drivers With the trucking industry […]
When it comes to electric vehicles overall, even beyond electric heavy-duty trucks, two major problems impede mass production and adoption: range and refueling. We have written extensively about the first one, and automotive and tech companies work around the clock to increase the number of miles an electric truck gets on a single charge. The […]
You might remember how the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) allowed a single company, Groendyke Transport, to add pulsating amber brake lights to the rear of their tanker trucks. You might also remember that rear-end collisions dropped over 33% for the tanker trucks equipped with them. Finally, you may recall that the FMCSA was […]
A week after the publishing of this article, October 2nd, marked the third annual “That’s a Big 10-4 on Washington D.C.” event. Normally the event lasts multiple days, but because of today’s landscape between the COVID-19 pandemic and social unrest during an election year, the event was compacted into a single day.The DetailsMissed the event […]
If you have been following the news regarding the coronavirus pandemic, you may remember two things:The hours-of-service exemption was extended until the end of 2020.Other exemptions, such as the CDL renewal, CPL renewal, and medical certification renewal, were provided.On September 18th, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) combined the two and made it so […]
In late April 2020, a tech company by the name of Pronto.ai petitioned the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, asking that its motor carrier customers get an additional two hours of driving each day thanks to the driving assistance their technology provides. You can probably tell from the title of this article where that petition […]
The United States government is a complicated system. In a short summary relating to truckers, the president appoints the Secretary of the Department of Transportation, who then manages the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). It is a tall building where it may feel as though the limit of trucker input is voting for the […]
On September 29th, truckers will breathe a sigh of relief as FMCSA hours-of-service regulations are loosened and allow more leeway to the driver. If you have been delivering for the many various State of Emergencies that have plagued 2020, you may have forgotten what the changes to the hours-of-service regulations entail. Here is a refresher […]
It seems as though every trucking industry change is taken to court at some time or another. This time, it is a change that most truckers are looking forward to: the changes in hours-of-service regulations. Intended to provide added flexibility to a trucker’s daily work, the hours-of-service changes are being challenged by safety groups arguing […]
Every month for a while now, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has been extending the State of Emergency by another month. The FMCSA has decided to take a more proactive approach, and as of September 11th the State of Emergency has been extended until the end of the year. The Details You can […]
Between COVID-19, hurricanes, and now wildfires, it seems the whole United States is in a constant state of emergency. There is little need to worry though, truckers have the means to get us through these hard times. Even more so because, like for the hurricanes before it and the coronavirus pandemic going on now, the […]
If you have been following trucking industry news before the coronavirus pandemic hit the forefront, you may remember that Congress debated the DRIVE Safe Act. Apparently that bill died in the halls of Congress, because truckers under the age of 21 still cannot haul freight via semi-truck across state lines. The FMCSA wants to give […]
In the early hours of Thursday, August 27th, Hurricane Laura hit the eastern Gulf Coast of the United States. It first hit land in Louisiana, eventually touching Texas, Arkansas, and Alabama. A category 4 hurricane, Laura has winds reaching 150 MPH but not quite reaching the 156 MPH needed to be a category 5 like […]
It is a secret to absolutely nobody that there has been a pandemic for the past six months or so. The federal government, especially the White House, has been making efforts to reduce not only the health effects of COVID-19, but the secondary collateral effects on the economy as well. This scenario the world finds […]
The United States government operates as an agreement between 50 individual states, as well as the country as a whole, called the federal level. The states help the federal, and the federal helps the states, whenever assistance is needed. On Wednesday, August 19th, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) announced that it would be […]
Three months ago, the Owner-Operator Independent Driver Association (OOIDA) petitioned the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), requesting new regulations and/or increased enforcement of current ones. Now, the FMCSA is opening comments to the public allowing them to submit their thoughts. The Story So Far Current rules state that records of brokered transactions must be […]
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration state of emergency has been extended for another month. This is the fifth extension, set to last until September 14th, but may be extended yet again.Changes MadeYou can read the declaration in full on the FMCSA declaration’s webpage. In summary, the exemption for hours-of-service has been extended, with a […]
The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance, normally having their International Roadcheck in June, scheduled it this year for May 5th to 7th. Later, it was postponed until further notice as a result of a certain worldwide pandemic. Now, the CVSA has decided that the pandemic has cooled down enough where having the event to improve safety […]
If you are a trucker that keeps track of anything related to regulations, you know about the FMCSA’s ELD Mandate. As of December 2019, all non-exempt trucks (exempt trucks including ones that tow other cars, among others) are required to have a compliant electronic logging device (ELD) to track various factors of driving data. The […]
Here is something we do not get to write about very often; TopMark Funding finances passenger vehicles as well as cargo vehicles.The U.S. Department of Transportation announced on July 15th that it is removing some old regulations in a cost-saving effort.“This rule will remove outdated and overly burdensome reporting requirements on commercial buses that don’t […]
Operation Safe Driver Week is now upon us. While law enforcement such as highway patrol and the DOT as a whole will be extra careful to track driving habits of commercial vehicles. Come the 20th of July, there is a chance we will all be back to normal levels of enforcement, as if the week […]
The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s (CVSA) Operation Safe Driver Week is soon upon us. Law enforcement officials are going to be extra wary of commercial vehicles on America’s roadways. To avoid a ticket, or worse, a license suspension, follow these rules to keep bears off your tail. An Ounce of Prevention The key to surviving […]
You might remember us writing about the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) delaying the International Roadcheck due to the coronavirus. The CVSA has decided to not let COVID-19 get in the way of its next event, however: Operation Safe Driver Week.Operation Safe Driver WeekThe CVSA describes the event as a time where “law enforcement agencies […]
On Tuesday, June 23rd, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration chief Jim Mullen said his agency is looking into potential violations regarding rate transparency among brokers. The statement comes from the FMCSA’s session at the Truckload Carrier’s Association’s Virtual Safety and Security Meeting. The event was moved online due to the coronavirus pandemic. The “Changes” We […]
President Donald J. Trump signed Executive Order No. 13924,85 FR 31353 on May 19th, 2020. This directed federal agencies such as the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to take action in fighting not just the coronavirus pandemic, but the economic damages resulting from the pandemic as well. The trucks are essentially the blood cells that […]
President Donald J. Trump signed Executive Order No. 13924,85 FR 31353 on May 19th, 2020. This directed federal agencies, including the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, to take action in fighting not just the coronavirus pandemic, but the economic damages resulting from the pandemic as well. One way the FMCSA took action was to suspend […]
The Federal Motor Carriers Safety Administration (FMCSA), in a new step to combat the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on the economy, is modifying a regulation regarding drugs. No, truckers will not be allowed to drive while smoking marijuana without being added to the Clearinghouse. The Change Normally when hiring a company driver, the company must perform […]
On March 13th, the Hours-of-Service suspension was to last until April 12th. It was then extended to May 15th, then June 15th, and now the Federal Motor Carriers Safety Administration extends it once again to July 14th. The Applicable Shipments Not all trucks on the road get the privilege of ignoring hours-of-service until the job […]
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has been in the news a lot lately, and the news surrounding them only gets longer as time goes on. On May 19th, the Owner-Operator Independent Driver Association (OOIDA) filed a petition with the FMCSA to demand new regulations that improve broker transparency. The Problem Owner-Operators are starting […]
When the Federal Motor Carriers Safety Administration (FMCSA) authorized Groendyke Transport to use pulsating amber brake lights next to the standard red ones on tanker trucks, they probably did not expect rear-end collisions to drop over 33%. That is exactly what happened, and now safety experts at the FMCSA are deliberating on making it the […]
It might be hard to remember with the coronavirus pandemic suspension (which was recently extended another month to mid-June) that the FMCSA has been planning reform to its hours-of-service regulations. Now the final rule has been published. Despite nobody outside of the FMCSA truly knowing what was going to be in it, it turned out […]
The Federal Motor Carriers Safety Administration has announced an extension to the hours-of-service suspension. It was first declared on March 13th and originally extended from April 12th to May 15th, and is being extended again to June 14th. The Applicable Shipments Not all trucks on the road get the privilege of ignoring hours-of-service until the […]
By The FMCSA Friday, May 1, 2020 The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is assisting in the distribution of one million protective masks to the nation’s commercial truck drivers. FMCSA has been working with states, industry stakeholders, and motor carriers to distribute one million protective face masks for truckers which were provided by the […]
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Wednesday, April 8 extended its national emergency declaration to May 15. Originally enacted March 13, the declaration provides relief from hours of service regulations for drivers responding to the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak. The original declaration was to expire Sunday, April 12. The agency said the extension also covers liquefied gases to […]
Recently the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) announced for the first time in history national suspension of certain Hours of Service regulations. This was in response to the coronavirus State of Emergency. This Wednesday on March 18th, the FMCSA has expanded the suspensions further. “Under Secretary Chao’s leadership, FMCSA is providing additional regulatory relief […]
Suspensions of Hours of Service (HOS) regulations are nothing new to the trucking industry, just recently there were two declared in Alabama and Tennessee. What is new is that the FMCSA has announced a nationwide suspension on HOS regulations in regards to commercial vehicle drivers hauling emergency relief across the entire country. The National Emergency […]
If you have been following trucker news for a while now, you almost certainly have heard that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has sent paperwork regarding changing Hours of Service regulations to the White House. We at TopMark Funding have been hesitant to write an article detailing this news, because here is the […]
In a move that had truckers across the nation rejoicing, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) announced on February 13th, 2020 that it would be lowering registration fees for motor carriers starting with registration year 2020 and continuing for the foreseeable future. Unified Carrier Registration Plan The Unified Carrier Registration (UCR) Plan is no […]
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) works hard to use the power of technology to increase transportation industry safety nationwide, but sometimes their speed of implementation falls short of expectation. The implementation of this rule has been pushed back two years from February 7th, 2020 to 2022. What is the Entry-Level Driver Training Rule? […]
Just when you thought the FMCSA was done regulating, they toss on even more regulations. This time it’s with the FMCSA Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse. The website is loaded with information on the new database, and you really should go there if you want to obtain a full understanding of the program. For those who […]
With changes in technology come changes in regulation. The trucking industry is no different. By December 2019, all non-exempt trucks must have an ELD certified by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). In this article, we will talk about ELDs, their purpose, exemptions, and more important information. What is an ELD? An Electronic Logging […]
What do drivers need to think about their personal conveyance time? And how does ELD laws effect that time? Well, they’re being told not to overthink. Which is a good thing. Personal conveyance time is time that a driver is spent traveling to a location to rest, moving a truck during off-duty time if it’s […]
There’s a new federal rule out there that’s making waves in the commercial trucking industry. The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, FMCSA, first proposed the rule in 2014. Even then, it was met with controversy. The law requires that anyone driving a commercial truck must use an electronic logging device, or an […]
