Trump Administration Vs. Trucking Regulations
If you thought the first Trump Administration from 2017 was intense in cutting regulations, the second Trump Administration kicks it into hyperdrive.
Like Argentina Prime Minister Javier Millei raising a chainsaw in defiance towards the red tape, Trump’s second Administration is ordered to slash 10 regulations for every new one added, a quintuple increase from his first term.
Here are the current standings of some of the most contentious topics in the trucking industry, and where they stand as of late 2025.
Speed Limiters
During the Biden Administration, it seemed the topic of speed limiters on trucks, in the name of fuel efficiency, environmentalism, and safety, was being brought to the table at least once a year.
Under President 47, speed limiter’s opposition has won a temporary reprieve as the topic was officially shelved for the duration of the term.
In the Federal Register, the Department of Transportation stated there was not enough evidence to support the idea that it would decrease crashes, compared to crashes caused by other vehicles ramming into speed-limited trucks.
This is not to say that the topic of speed limiters is finished once and for all, but that the topic is at least iced until 2029.
Independent Contractor Vs. Employee
California AB-5 may be alive and kicking in the trucking industry (despite it not applying to the very businesses it was originally intended to curb), but attempts to do the same on the federal level have been stopped, similarly to the debate on speed limiters.
The Trump Department of Labor says it will rescind the 2024 rule that was currently going through the system. Another win until at least 2029.
Railroad Crossings
Here is one that does not make the news quite as often as the two above. Normally certain commercial vehicles such as those carrying passengers or hazardous materials are required by law to make a complete stop before crossing railroad tracks, even when there is no sign of a train for miles.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration wants to balance safety with effectiveness, and posted in the Federal Register to allow these vehicles to continue without stopping if there are safeguards in place that are not activated, such as crossing gates that are in the upward position, bringing them closer in line with rules for normal 4-wheel vehicles. These trucks are still expected to stop if there are no safety indicators, however.
Conclusion
The trucking industry is having safety regulations put on hold, and in some cases, even being rolled back, in a way that is attempting to balance safety with efficiency.
It certainly will be interesting to see how the trucking landscape looks in 2028 at the end of President Trump’s second term.
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