Regulatory Update – July 7, 2025

July 7, 2025

Update on Relevant U.S. Regulations

FMCSA Requests Comments on Revisions to DataQs Requirements
On July 1, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA)  comments on proposed revisions to the DataQs requirements for Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program grant funding in response to comments and announced a 60-day comment period. FMCSA also addressed comments received in response to the agency’s Federal Register notice titled, “Appeal Process: Requests for Data Review.” Comments are due by Sept. 2.

PHMSA Requests Comments on Adoption of U.S. DOT SP 14175
On July 1, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA)  comments on the notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) adopting the provisions of U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) special permit (SP) 14175 into the hazardous materials regulations (HMR) to authorize a 10-year requalification period when using the ultrasonic examination testing method for U.S. DOT specification 3A and 3AA used for flammable and non-flammable, nonpoisonous gas service. Comments are due by Sept. 2.

PHMSA Requests Comments on Adoption of U.S. DOT SP 21287
On July 1, PHMSA  comments on the NPRM adopting the provisions of U.S. DOT SP 21287 into the HMRs to streamline the transportation of small refrigerating machines that contain limited quantities of certain flammable gases. Comments are due by Sept. 2.

PHMSA Requests Comments on Adoption of U.S. DOT SP 21379
On July 1, PHMSA  comments on the NPRM adopting the provisions of U.S. DOT SP 21379 into the HMRs to streamline the transportation of large refrigerating machines filled with flammable gases. Comments are due by Sept. 2.

PHMSA Requests Comments on Adoption of U.S. DOT SP 21478
On July 1, PHMSA  comments on the NPRM adopting the provisions of U.S. DOT SP 21478 into the HMRs authorizing intermediate bulk containers containing a residue of a certain hazardous materials to be transported without shipping papers, placards and motor vehicle marking of the UN identification number subject to additional operational controls. Comments are due by Sept. 2.

PHMSA Requests Comments on Adoption of U.S. DOT SPs 12412 and 11646
On July 1, PHMSA  comments on the NPRM adopting the provisions of U.S. DOT SPs 12412 and 11646 into the HMRs which would eliminate the need for special permit renewal requests. Comments are due by Sept. 2.

PHMSA Requests Comments on Expanding FCA Authority
On July 1, PHMSA  comments on the NPRM proposing to expand the Fireworks Certification Agency’s (FCA) authority to approve fireworks constructed to the American Pyrotechnics Association (APA) 87-A standard to include those fireworks constructed to the APA 87-1B and APA 87-1C standards. Comments are due by Sept. 2.

PHMSA Requests Comments on Special Permits and Approval Renewals
On July 1, PHMSA  comments on the NPRM proposing to allow a grantee to file an application to renew a special permit or approval any time before its expiration date rather than requiring the application to be filed 60 days in advance. Comments are due by Sept. 2.

PHMSA Requests Comments on Training Requirements for Farmers
On July 1, PHMSA  comments on the NPRM proposing to adjust the exceptions for in-depth security training requirements for farmers by raising the dollar amount of the exception threshold to account for inflation. Comments are due by Sept. 2.

PHMSA Requests Comments on Special Permit Packagings
On July 1, PHMSA  comments on the NPRM proposing to revise the HMRs to allow for the continued use of packagings authorized under a manufacturing special permit for duration of the useful life of the package. Comments are due by Sept. 2.

PHMSA Requests Comments on Domestic Aerosol Shippers
On July 1, PHMSA  comments on the NPRM proposing to update the definition of an aerosol. Comments are due by Sept. 2.

PHMSA Requests Comments on Amending the MOT Exceptions
On July 1, PHMSA  comments on the NPRM proposing to amend the materials of trade (MOT) exceptions to allow for the transportation of increased quantities of lithium batteries. Comments are due by Sept. 2.

PHMSA Requests Comments on Reduced-Sized Markings
On July 1, PHMSA  comments on the NPRM proposing to allow for a reduced-sized marking for limited-quantity shipments of hazardous materials. Comments are due by Sept. 2.

PHMSA Requests Comments on Allowing Electronic Certificate of Registration
On July 1, PHMSA  comments on the NPRM proposing to revise the hazardous materials program procedures to allow motor and vessel carriers the option to carry their PHMSA certificate of registration in electronic form. Comments are due by Sept. 2.

PHMSA Requests Comments on Allowing Electronic Copies of Emergency Response Information
On July 1, PHMSA  comments on the NPRM proposing to revise the HMRs to provide domestic motor carriers the option to maintain electronic copies of emergency response information rather than requiring a hard copy printed on paper. Comments are due by Sept. 2.

PHMSA Requests Comments on Removing List of EPA Hazardous Substances
On July 1, PHMSA  comments on the NPRM proposing to revise the HMRs to remove redundant pages contained in an appendix that repeats references already listed in U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations. Comments are due by Sept. 2.

U.S. DOT Announces Meeting of U.S. DOT Advisory Board
On June 30, the U.S. DOT  a public meeting of the U.S. DOT Advisory Board. The meeting will take place on July 16, and virtual participation is available.

FMCSA Requests Comments on Transportation of Household Goods; Consumer Protection ICR
On June 25, FMCSA  comments on the Transportation of Household Goods; Consumer Protection information collection request (ICR), which applies to household goods motor carriers who are procured by the public to transport their household goods. Comments are due by July 25.

Update on Exemptions

FMCSA Provisionally Renews Virginia DMV Exemption from SPE, Requests Comments
On July 7, FMCSA  its decision to provisionally renew the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) exemption on behalf of truck and bus drivers who are licensed in the Commonwealth of Virginia and need a skill performance evaluation (SPE) certificate from FMCSA to operate commercial motor vehicles (CMV) in interstate commerce. The exemption enables interstate CMV drivers who are licensed in Virginia and are subject to the federal SPE requirements to continue to fulfill the federal requirements with a state-issued SPE and to operate CMVs in interstate commerce anywhere in the U.S. The exemption is effective July 8, 2025, through July 7, 2030. Comments are due by Aug. 6

FMCSA Requests Comments on CloudTrucks Exemption Application
On July 1, FMCSA  comments on an application from CloudTrucks LLC for an exemption from certain requirements of the application for employment regulations. Comments are due by July 31.

FMCSA Requests Comments on Massachusetts State Police Exemption Application
On July 1, FMCSA  comments on an application from the Massachusetts State Police for an exemption to conduct modified commercial driver’s license skills test exams on the island of Martha’s Vineyard. Comments are due by July 31.

FMCSA Requests Comments on Protein Transport HOS Exemption Application
On July 1, FMCSA  comments on an application from Protein Transport of Indiana LLC (Protein Transport) for an exemption to allow it to operate under the agricultural operations provision in the hours-of-service (HOS) rules which provides regulatory relief from the requirements for drivers transporting certain agricultural commodities within a 150 air-mile radius from the source of the agricultural commodities. Comments are due by July 31.

FMCSA Requests Comments on NPGA HOS Exemption Application
On July 1, FMCSA  comments on an application from the National Propane Gas Association (NPGA) for an exemption from various HOS requirements between Dec. 15 and March 15 each year to allow drivers to drive up to 12 hours per day and be on duty up to 15 hours per day, without weekly limits, and to replace the 34-hour restart with a 24-hour restart with prior notice by NPGA to FMCSA. Comments are due by July 31.

FMCSA Requests Comments on IANA Exemption Application
On July 1, FMCSA  comments on an application from the Intermodal Association of North America (IANA) to renew its exemption from the training requirements for individuals certified to conduct periodic inspections and qualified brake system inspections. The exemption allows individuals who have completed a training program consistent with the recommended practices developed by IANA to be considered qualified for the respective inspection programs. Comments are due by July 31.

FMCSA Grants APA Independence Day HOS/ELD Exemption
On June 26, FMCSA  its decision to renew exemptions from certain HOS regulations for 44 APA member companies during designated Independence Day periods. The exemptions allow drivers of these companies to exclude off-duty and sleeper berth time of any length from the calculation of the 14-hour limit and to use paper records of duty status in lieu of electronic logging devices (ELD). The exemptions are effective for the period June 28 through July 8, each year from 2025 through 2029.

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 Announces ‘Supporting America’s Truck Drivers’ Package
On June 27, FMCSA  a  of new initiatives, pilot programs and regulatory updates designed to benefit America’s truck drivers. Initiatives include expanding truck parking and improving safety, providing regulatory relief and flexibility, studying hours-of-service impact via pilot programs, and modernizing driver resources and data systems.