Update on Relevant U.S. Regulations

UCR Announces Upcoming Finance Subcommittee Meeting
On Sept. 25, the Unified Carrier Registration Plan (UCR) announced an upcoming meeting of its finance subcommittee. The meeting will take place on Sept. 30, and advance registration is required.

UCR Announces Upcoming Education and Training Subcommittee Meeting
On Sept. 25, UCR announced an upcoming meeting of its education and training subcommittee. The meeting will take place on Oct. 1, and advance registration is required.

U.S. DOT Publishes the Unified Agenda of Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions
On Sept. 22, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) published the Unified Agenda of Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions, which is a semiannual summary of current, projected and completed rulemakings, as well as reviews of existing regulations and the agency’s planned regulatory activity for the next 12 months.

FMCSA Requests Comments on Pilot Program on Split Sleeper Berth Time
On Sept. 17, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) requested comments on a proposed pilot program to evaluate allowing drivers to split time spent in the sleeper berth. Comments are due by Nov. 17.

FMCSA Requests Comments on Pilot Program on Split Duty Period
On Sept. 17, FMCSA requested comments on a proposed pilot program to evaluate allowing participating commercial motor vehicle drivers to extend their 14-hour driving window by taking one off-duty, sleeper berth or on-duty/not driving period of no less than 30 minutes and no more than three hours. Comments are due by Nov. 17.

Update on Exemptions

FMCSA Grants USCHI CDL Exemption Renewal
On Sept. 26, FMCSA announced its final decision to renew the exemption granted to U.S. Custom Harvesters Inc. (USCHI) from the intrastate restriction (“K”) on commercial driver’s licenses (CDL) for custom harvester drivers operating in interstate commerce for a five-year period. This exemption is effective from Oct. 3, 2025, through Oct. 3, 2030.

FMCSA Grants IANA Qualified Inspector Exemption Renewal
On Sept. 23, FMCSA announced its final decision to renew Intermodal Association of North America’s (IANA) request for 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 intermodal recommended practices developed by IANA to be considered qualified for the respective inspection programs. This renewed exemption is effective from Aug. 18, 2025, through Aug. 17, 2030.

CVSA Active Exemption Tracker
CVSA maintains a list of active exemptions 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 Launches First Phase of National Consumer Complaint Database Modernization
On Sept. 24, FMCSA launched the first phase of the National Consumer Complaint Database (NCCDB) modernization, which should improve navigation and enhance the tool’s functionality. Phase two of the modernization effort will introduce additional functionality, performance improvements and a new name for the database.

FMCSA Removes Robinhood ELD from List of Registered ELDs
On Sept. 19, FMCSA removed from its list of registered electronic logging devices (ELD) the Robinhood ELD (Identifier: RHD481) and placed it on the revoked ELDs list due to the provider’s failure to meet the minimum requirements established in Part 395, Subpart B, Appendix A.

Motor carriers and drivers were instructed to discontinue using the revoked device listed above and revert to paper logs or other logging software to record required hours-of-service data. The revoked ELD must be replaced with a compliant ELD from the registered ELDs list before Nov 18.

Motor carriers and drivers that use the revoked ELD listed above on or after Nov. 18 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.

U.S. Senate Confirms Administrators for FHWA, NHTSA and PHMSA
On Sept. 18, the U.S. Senate confirmed the following individuals as administrators for the U.S. DOT: Sean McMaster as the 22nd administrator of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Jonathan Morrison as the 17th administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Paul Roberti as the sixth administrator of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA).