October, 2026

FEDERAL MOTOR CARRIER SAFETY ADMINISTRATION - FMCSA

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is in the proposal stage of changing its regulations to require all commercial vehicles traveling between states to be equipped with electronic identification technology. This technology would need to wirelessly transmit a unique ID number to federal or state enforcement officers. The primary aim of this proposed rule is to focus on carriers with safety issues. Given the limited number of inspectors available to monitor safety compliance and the increasing number of trucks on the road, implementing this regulation, if it receives approval, would take several years.

The CDL Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse became operational on January 6, 2020. Both drivers and carriers are obligated to enroll in the Clearinghouse. Drivers are required to grant permission to each carrier to conduct queries. Carriers must conduct pre-employment screenings for drivers before hiring and perform annual checks thereafter. Written consent from the driver is necessary for accessing the reports, and all queries must be documented in the driver's qualification file. If you require assistance in meeting these obligations, please reach out to our office. Carriers are facing penalties for failing to comply with these regulations.

A Non-domiciled Commercial Driver's License (CDL) is a CDL granted to individuals whose permanent residence is outside the U.S. or in another state, enabling them to drive commercially within the U.S. The DOT implemented an emergency rule that significantly tightened the criteria for obtaining these licenses. It now requires specific employment-based visas and mandatory federal immigration status verification via the SAVE system. The rule also restricts the license validity to one year or until the visa expires, whichever comes first, and mandates in-person renewals. The FMCSA estimated the pool of non-domiciled CDL holders at around 194,000 to 200,000 drivers

INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE - IRS

The IRS will not impose a penalty when dyed diesel fuel is sold for use or used on highways. The tax relief is retroactive to Oct. 1. Some states are not allowing the use of dyed diesel fuel even though the federal government is allowing it. (See IFTA below for additional information)

Vehicle carriers and owners are eligible to receive a credit for the remaining months for any vehicle that has been sold or damaged. You may submit this request only after the tax year ends (June 30th) for any vehicle where the credit was not used toward a new vehicle within that year. The new owner of the vehicle is responsible for paying their own taxes. Taxes must be paid starting from the date the vehicle is first used. To claim the IRS credit, we require details about the vehicle, the purchaser's name, and the sale or destruction date.

UNIFIED CARRIER REGISTRATION PLAN - UCR

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is continuing to update its Unified Registration System (URS) with a revamped online registration system. The system has simplified the registration process, streamlined identification, improved the user experience, and incorporated enhanced verification tools to help stop fraud.

Registration for UCR 2027 is now open for submissions and payments. All carriers, including for-hire and private carriers, as well as brokers, freight forwarders, and leasing companies, are required to pay the registration fee.

UCR fees for 2027

Fleet size	Fee
0-2 (or Brokers/Freight Forwarders/Leasing Companies)	$55
3-5	$167
6-20	$333
21-100	$1,163
101-1,000	$5,548
1,001 and above	$54,165
An extra administration fee of $1.25 is applied to each filing.

COMPLIANCE, SAFETY, AND ACCOUNTABILITY - CSA

Carriers can reach out to our office to verify CSA status and review and dispute any erroneous violations. Errors in accidents can also be corrected, and such incidents can be removed from the CSA score calculation if they meet the criteria for being unpreventable.

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine has suggested replacing the current CSA system within the next two years with a method based on "item response theory," also known as latent trait theory. Issues to be addressed include not considering crashes that are not the carrier’s fault. The FMCSA is in the process of updating its CSA formulas and system according to this proposal. There is no set date for the implementation of the new CSA system. We will keep you informed about the changes and the timing of the revised system.

FEDERAL MOTOR CARRIER SAFETY ADMINISTRATION - FMCSA

Drivers renewing their state driver's licenses need an additional document to remain compliant. All interstate CDL holders and applicants must submit proof of their medical certification to their home state's licensing agency. This proof is required at the time of renewal. Any new medical card must be submitted to the state agency within the year to keep their CDL valid. The Motor Vehicle Record should be obtained 15 days after the medical exam to ensure the exam is recorded on the CDL.

We offer an Electronic Log Policy for carriers who want the electronic logging regulations documented for their drivers, including a section on ELD Disciplinary Action. Drivers are required to read and sign the policy. Contact our office for more details.

Experiencing issues with your ELDs or ELD support? Reach out to our office, and we can provide you with reliable ELD devices and customer support from our team.

Employers and drivers should be aware that 49 CFR Part 40 does not permit the use of Schedule I drugs, such as marijuana, under any circumstances. A doctor's recommendation for medical marijuana or the use of a CBD product does not constitute a valid medical reason for a laboratory-confirmed marijuana-positive result. Positive drug tests make up over 80% of the total violations reported in the Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse since January 6, 2020. According to the April 2022 Clearinghouse monthly report, marijuana has been found in nearly half of all drug tests reported in the Clearinghouse (negative test results are not included). Because using CBD products might result in a positive drug test, USDOT-regulated CDL drivers should be cautious when deciding whether to use CBD products.

Interstate Fuel Tax Agreement - IFTA

Carriers using red-dyed fuel on public roads must keep very accurate records for each vehicle with the date of purchase and the number of gallons purchased in each state. There will not be any state tax on this fuel, and the purchases must be listed on the IFTA return as tax-exempt. States that impose a tax on diesel fuel: the tax will be paid on the IFTA return instead of at the pump. Each state will have to issue its own order if they want to exempt taxes on dyed diesel used on public highways.

For carriers that we do their IFTA fuel taxes, we must be notified of the red-dyed fuel use, and we will need your red-dyed fuel records to complete the 4th quarter 2026 tax return.

GeotabGO Focus Plus Dash Camera

We now offer the Geotab GO Focus Plus, an AI-powered dash camera designed for fleet management. It delivers real-time video and contextual data for proactive driver coaching. The device employs on-board edge AI to identify risky behaviors such as tailgating and distracted driving, providing immediate in-cab voice alerts for drivers and highlighting critical events with video for fleet managers to review and address. This system enhances safety by enabling drivers to correct their behaviors and giving managers actionable insights to foster a stronger safety culture within the fleet. Contact our office for details.

Illinois

A scheduled fuel tax rate increase has been delayed, freezing rates through December 31, 2026.

Indiana

The gasoline use tax and gasoline excise tax suspension runs through November 4, 2026. This covers gasoline only, with no general diesel relief.

North Carolina

The legislature suspended the 41-cent motor fuel tax on both gasoline and diesel through November 30, 2026, passed in a special session on October 7.

Ohio

Effective October 4, 2026, to January 2, 2027, a temporary 90-day suspension of Ohio’s 38.5 cents state tax on gasoline and 47 cents on diesel is in effect.