Regulatory Update – January 23, 2026

January 23, 2026

Update on Relevant U.S. Regulations

NHTSA Requests Comments on GTR for Automated Driving Systems
On Jan. 23, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)  comments on the proposed global technical regulation (GTR) for automated driving systems by the United Nations Working Party on Automated/Autonomous and Connected Vehicles. NHTSA is seeking public comment on the draft GTR to help inform the U.S. government’s position. Comments are due by Feb. 23.

FMCSA Requests Nominations to MCSAC
On Jan. 22, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA)  nominations for membership to serve on the Motor Carrier Safety Advisory Committee (MCSAC), which provides advice and recommendations to the secretary of transportation through the administrator of FMCSA about needs, objectives, plans, approaches, content and accomplishments of the motor carrier safety programs carried out by the administration and motor carrier safety regulations. Nominations are due by Feb. 23.

FMCSA Requests Nominations to Medical Review Board
On Jan. 22, FMCSA  nominations for membership to serve on the Medical Review Board, which provides scientific advice to the secretary of transportation through the administrator of FMCSA on medical issues, including the physical qualification requirements for commercial motor vehicle (CMV) operators. Nominations are due by Feb. 23.

FMCSA Requests Comments on Marking of Self-Propelled CMVs and Intermodal Equipment ICR
On Jan. 21, FMCSA  comments on the Marking of Self-Propelled CMVs and Intermodal Equipment information collection request (ICR), which will allow FMCSA to continue documenting the time and resources associated with the CMV marking regulations. Comments are due by March 23.

PHMSA Publishes Updates on Special Permits
On Jan. 16, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) published updates on special permit applications:

NHTSA Publishes Final Rule on Anti-Ejection Glazing for Bus Portals
On Jan. 15, NHTSA  a final rule updating Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 217a, Anti-Ejection Glazing for Bus Portals, which revises the minimum size requirement for applicable portals, adds a figure to illustrate a daylight opening periphery and clarifies the target location for edge impact tests. The final rule is effective Jan. 15, and the compliance date of this final rule is Oct. 30, 2027.

PHMSA Publishes Final Rule Amending HMR
On Jan. 14, PHMSA  a final rule adopting several amendments to the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR) associated with the safe transportation of hazardous materials. The final rule is effective Feb. 13.

Update on Exemptions

FMCSA Requests Comments on CMW Exemption Renewal
On Jan. 16, FMCSA  comments on an application from Charles Machine Works Inc. (CMW) seeking renewal of a five-year exemption that would allow CMW’s CMVs to be equipped with certain auxiliary equipment to use gravity-fed or siphon-fed fuel systems when the auxiliary equipment is operated only while the CMV is stationary. Comments are due by Feb. 17.

FMCSA Renews Virginia DMV Exemption from the Skills Performance Evaluation
On Jan. 12, FMCSA  the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) exemption on behalf of truck and bus drivers who are licensed in Virginia and need a skill performance evaluation (SPE) certificate from FMCSA to operate CMVs in interstate commerce. The exemption enables interstate CMV drivers who are licensed in Virginia and are subject to federal SPE requirements to continue to fulfill the federal requirements with a state-issued SPE and operate CMVs in interstate commerce anywhere in the U.S.. The exemption is effective Jan. 8 through July 8, 2027.

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 Removes Four Devices from List of Registered ELDs
On Jan. 13, FMCSA has  the following electronic logging devices (ELD) 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.

The following revoked ELDs must be replaced with compliant ELDs from the registered ELDs list before March 15.

  • State Elog by STATE ELOG LLC (ELD Identifier: STE384)
  • STATE ELOGS 2 by STATE ELOG LLC (ELD Identifier: STE384)
  • NOTE: PremierRide Logs by PREMIERRIDE LOGS (ELD Identifier: PRD391) was revoked; however it was reinstated as of Jan. 23 and is now listed on the list of registered ELDs.
  • NOTE: DSG Elogs by DSG TRACKING LLC (ELD Identifier: DSGEL1) was revoked; however it was reinstated as of Jan. 15 and is now listed on the list of registered ELDs.

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.

Motor carriers and drivers that use the revoked ELDs listed above on or after March 15 dates 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.