October, 2025

FEDERAL MOTOR CARRIER SERVICE ADMINISTRATION - FMCSA

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is continuing to update its Unified Registration System (URS) with a revamped online registration system. The new system will: Simplify the registration process, Streamline identification, Improve the user experience, and Incorporate enhanced verification tools to help stop fraud.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is 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. A 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. In September 2025, 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. There are approximately 60,000 active non-domiciled CDLs.

INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE - IRS

Vehicle carriers and owners are eligible to receive a credit for the remaining months for any vehicle that has been sold or damaged. This request can only be submitted after the conclusion of the tax year (June 30th) for any vehicle where the credit was not utilized towards 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

Registration for UCR 2026 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.

The 2026 UCR rates are:

Number of Trucks Fee

0-2 $46

3-5 $138

6-20 $276

21-100 $963

1001-1000 $4,592

1001+ $44,836

An extra administration fee of $1.25 is applied to each filing.

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.