Regulatory Update – February 20, 2026

February 20, 2026

Update on Relevant U.S. Regulations

FMCSA Issues Final Rule on Exception for Military Personnel from Certain CDL Standards
On Feb. 19, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA)  a final rule amending the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSR) to allow dual-status military technicians to qualify for the exception for certain military personnel from commercial driver’s license (CDL) standards. The final rule is effective March 23.

FMCSA Issues Final Rule on Electronic Driver Vehicle Inspection Reports
On Feb. 19, FMCSA  a final rule clarifying the requirement to complete a driver vehicle inspection report, which may be completed electronically. The final rule is effective March 23.

FMCSA Issues Final Rule on Auxiliary Fuel Tanks
On Feb. 19, FMCSA  a final rule to amend fuel tank requirements by adding an exception to the prohibition on gravity and syphon feeds for auxiliary pumps with a nominal fuel tank capacity of not more than 5 gallons mounted on the trailer chassis frame or trailer bed, for purposes other than operation of the motor vehicle, that are operated only when the motor vehicle is not in motion. The final rule is effective March 23.

FMCSA Issues Final Rule on Brakes for Portable Conveyors
On Feb. 19, FMCSA  a final rule adding an exception for portable conveyors used in aggregate industry operations, and manufactured before 2010, from the requirement that each commercial motor vehicle (CMV) be equipped with brakes acting on all wheels, provided certain conditions are satisfied. The final rule is effective March 23.

FMCSA Issues Final Rule Removing the Rear Impact Guard Labeling Requirement
On Feb. 19, FMCSA  a final rule removing the requirement that the rear impact guard be permanently marked or labeled with a certification from the impact guard manufacturer as required by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) applicable Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS). This final rule is in response to a petition for rulemaking from CVSA. The final rule is effective March 23.

FMCSA Issues Final Rule Removing the Fuel Tank Overfill Restriction
On Feb. 19, FMCSA  a final rule removing the requirement in the FMCSRs that a liquid fuel tank manufactured on or after Jan. 1, 1973, be designed and constructed so that it cannot be filled, in a normal filling operation, with a quantity of fuel that exceeds 95% of the tank’s liquid capacity. This final rule is in response to a petition for rulemaking from CVSA. The final rule is effective March 23.

FMCSA Issues Final Rule on License Plate Lamps
On Feb. 19, FMCSA  a final rule amending the FMCSRs to add an exception from the lamp and reflective device requirements for license plate lamps on the rear of truck tractors while towing a trailer. The final rule is effective March 23.

FMCSA Issues Final Rule on Liquid-Burning Flares
On Feb. 19, FMCSA  a final rule amending the rules for emergency equipment on CMVs to remove the references to liquid-burning flares from the warning device requirements in the FMCSRs. The final rule is effective March 23.

FMCSA Issues Final Rule on Spare Fuses
On Feb. 19, FMCSA  a final rule amending the emergency equipment rules to remove the requirement for CMVs to be equipped with at least one spare fuse for each type and size of fuse needed for the operation of the CMV. The final rule is effective March 23.

FMCSA Issues Final Rule on Tire Load Markings
On Feb. 19, FMCSA  a final rule to amend the requirements for CMV tires, clarifying the FMCSRs do not require tire load restriction markings on the sidewalls of the tires. The final rule is effective March 23.

FMCSA Issues Final Rule Removing Legacy Vision Standard Provision
On Feb. 19, FMCSA  a final rule amending the FMCSRs to remove the legacy provision under the physical qualification standards for interstate drivers operating under the vision waiver study program administered from 1992 through 1994 and the vision exemption program operated from 1998 through 2022. The final rule is effective March 23.

FMCSA Issues Final Rule Removing References to ‘Water Carriers’
On Feb. 19, FMCSA  a final rule removing references to “water carriers” in the FMCSRs. The final rule is effective March 23.

PHMSA Publishes Updates on Special Permits
On Feb. 17, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA)  a notice of actions on special permit applications. Comments are due by March 19.

FMCSA Issues Final Rule Related to Non-Domiciled CDLs
On Feb. 13, FMCSA  the federal regulations for state driver’s licensing agencies issuing CDLs to non-domiciled individuals. The final rule reaffirms, with minor changes, an interim final rule published Sept. 29, 2025, limiting eligibility for non-domiciled commercial learner’s permits and CDLs for foreign-domiciled individuals to those who hold specific, verifiable employment-based nonimmigrant status.

PHMSA Requests Comments on Harmonization with International Standards NPRM
On Feb. 10, PHMSA  comments on the Harmonization with International Standards notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM). The NPRM adopts certain international regulations and standards related to proper shipping names, hazard classes, packing groups, special provisions, packaging authorizations, air transport quantity limitations and vessel stowage requirements, and is intended to maintain consistency with the latest international standards and regulations. Comments are due by April 13.

PHMSA Extends Comment Period on Preemption Application from Exxon Mobil Corp.
On Feb. 10, PHMSA  the comment period on Exxon Mobil Corp.’s application for an administrative determination as to whether the federal hazardous material transportation law preempts certain state common law tort claims against it regarding the marking, employee training, loading and unloading, and hazardous material classification for gasoline transported by cargo tank motor vehicle. Comments are now due on March 23.

NHTSA Announces Meeting on Automated Vehicle Safety
On Feb. 9, NHTSA  that it will host an in-person meeting on automated vehicle safety to provide updates on ongoing vehicle automation activities across NHTSA and receive specific input on potential actions, including potential future guidance on the safe domestic development, testing and deployment of vehicles equipped with automated driving systems (ADS). The meeting will take place on March 10, and  is required.

Update on Exemptions

FMCSA Requests Comments on Truck-Lite Co. LLC Pulsating Warning Lamps Exemption Application
On Feb. 18, FMCSA  comments on an application for exemption submitted by Truck-Lite Co. LLC to allow motor carriers to install auxiliary amber brake-activated pulsating warning lamps on the rear of commercial trucks and trailers in addition to the steady-burning brake lamps required by the FMCSRs. Comments are due by March 20.

FMCSA Requests Comments on Liberty Bulk Transport LLC Intellistop Exemption Application
On Feb. 10, FMCSA  comments on an application submitted by Liberty Bulk Transport LLC for an exemption from the requirement that lighting devices be steady burning. The exemption would allow the company to operate CMVs equipped with a module manufactured by Intellistop Inc. which pulses the rear clearance, identification and brake lamps from low-level lighting intensity to high-level lighting intensity four times in two seconds when the brakes are applied. Comments are due by March 12.

FMCSA Requests Comments on FOPT ELD Exemption Application
On Feb. 9, FMCSA  comments on an application from the Federation of Professional Truckers (FOPT) for an exemption from the electronic logging device (ELD) requirements, which would allow professional drivers the option to record their records of duty status manually instead of using an ELD. Comments are due by March 11.

FMCSA Requests Comments on Grote RCW Exemption Application
On Feb. 9, FMCSA  comments on an application from Grote Industries LLC (Grote) for an exemption from the requirement that exterior lighting devices on CMVs be steady burning. The exemption would allow motor carriers to operate CMVs equipped with auxiliary rear or side lamps that flash or strobe when controlled by Grote’s rear-end collision warning (RCW) system. Comments are due by March 11.

CVSA Active Exemption Tracker
CVSA maintains a  issued by FMCSA. The exemption tracker can be found at www.cvsa.org under the “Inspections” tab at the top of the page.

Other Items of Interest

FMCSA Publishes FAQ on Final Rule Related to Non-Domiciled CDLs
On Feb. 18, FMCSA  answers to FAQ on the  related to non-domiciled CDLs that was issued on Feb. 13.

FMCSA Removes Nine Devices from List of Registered ELDs
On Feb. 12, FMCSA  the following ELDs from its list of registered ELDs and placed them on the revoked ELDs list due to the providers’ failure to meet the minimum requirements established in Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations Part 395, Subpart B, Appendix A.

  • GTS ELD by Global Telecommunication Services Inc. (ELD Identifier: GTS18A)
  • UTRUCKIN by UTRUCKIN Inc. (ELD Identifier: UTRUCK)
  • ELD365 ELOG by ELD365 (ELD Identifier: ELD365)
  • IRONMAN ELD by IRONMAN ELD (ELD Identifier: IRM881)
  • FACTOR ELD by HOST ELD LLC (f/k/a FACTOR ELD) (ELD Identifier: FRELD1)
  • AirELD by Aireld Technologies (ELD Identifier: ARELD1)
  • Air ELD by Aireld Technologies (ELD Identifier: ARELD2)
  • AirELD by Aireld Technologies (ELD Identifier: ARELD3)
  • AirELD by Aire Technologies (ELD Identifier: ARELD4)

Motor carriers and drivers were instructed to discontinue using the revoked devices listed above and revert to paper logs or other logging software to record required hours-of-service data. The revoked ELDs must be replaced with compliant ELDs from the registered ELDs list before April 14.

Motor carriers and drivers that use the revoked ELDs listed above on or after April 14, will be in violation of § 395.8(a)(1) – No Record of Duty Status and will be placed out of service in accordance with CVSA’s North American Standard Out-of-Service Criteria.