CDL Industry News
Regulatory changes, enforcement and industry developments that affect drivers and the people training to become one.
216 stories
- Federal RegisterRegulations
Notice: Commercial Driver's License Standards: Application for Exemption; Agri-Tech Aviation
FMCSA announces its decision to deny the application from Agri-Tech Aviation requesting an exemption to allow its commercial learner's permit (CLP) holders who have passed the commercial driver's license (CDL) skills test but not yet obtained a CDL license to drive its commercial motor vehicles (CMV) without being accompanied by a CDL holder in the passenger seat. FMCSA analyzed the application and public comments and determined there is insufficient basis to conclude the exemption would likely achieve a level of safety that is equivalent to, or greater than, the level that would be achieved a
Read the full story at Federal Register - Federal RegisterRegulations
Notice: Electronic Logging Device Requirements: Application for Exemption; Federation of Professional Truckers
FMCSA announces its decision to deny the application from the Federation of Professional Truckers (FOPT) requesting an exemption from the electronic logging device (ELD) requirements. FOPT requests an exemption to allow professional drivers the option to record their records of duty status (RODS) manually, instead of using an ELD. FMCSA analyzed the application and public comments and determined that the exemption would not achieve a level of safety that is equivalent to, or greater than, the level that would be achieved absent such exemption.
Drivers hoping to record their duty status manually instead of using an electronic logging device will not get that option, as FMCSA denied the Federation of Professional Truckers exemption request.
Read the full story at Federal Register - CDL LifeIndustry
Iowa commercial vehicle troopers halt motorist attempting to âpush another vehicle to Nebraskaâ
Iowa commercial vehicle troopers put the brakes on a passenger vehicle driverâs dangerous effort to push another vehicle on a busy interstate at a slow speed. On September 28, 2026, Iowa State Patrol...
Iowa troopers stopped a driver pushing another vehicle at slow speed on a busy interstate, a reminder that blocking lanes creates hazards for commercial drivers.
Read the full story at CDL Life - Transport TopicsIndustry
Trucking leaders get ready for MCE 2026 in Charlotte
ATA Chairman Greg Hodgen calls the annual Management Conference & Exhibition "invaluable for both professional growth and business success."
Trucking leaders see the Management Conference & Exhibition as a place for professional growth and business success.
Read the full story at Transport Topics - Transport TopicsIndustry
Trucking leaders get ready for MCE 2026 in Charlotte
ATA Chairman Greg Hodgen calls the annual Management Conference & Exhibition "invaluable for both professional growth and business success."
Trucking leaders say the Management Conference & Exhibition is invaluable for professional growth and business success, which matters if you are training to become a driver.
Read the full story at Transport Topics - CDL LifeRegulations
KY Governor signs emergency regulation to fast track CDLs for veterans & active duty military
The Kentucky Governor has signed an emergency regulation allowing veterans and active duty military to obtain a CDL more efficiently. The emergency regulation was signed on Tuesday, September 29th by...
Veterans and active duty military who drove large CMV adjacent vehicles can now get a CDL faster under a Kentucky emergency regulation that waives the written test.
Read the full story at CDL Life - Transport TopicsIndustry
Freight volume out of sync with portsâ import activity
âRetailers appear to be front-loading holiday inventory given tariff and shipping uncertainty, which shows up at the ports but not yet on the highway,â said James Roe of AlixPartners.
Retailers front-loading holiday inventory means port activity is up while freight volume on the highway lags, so expect uneven loads.
Read the full story at Transport Topics - CDL LifeIndustry
$6 million in cocaine found concealed in floor of empty semi trailer at New York border crossing
Authorities seized hundreds of pounds of cocaine worth approximately $6 million found concealed in the floor of an empty semi trailer at a New York border crossing. On September 22, 2026, a...
Read the full story at CDL Life - CDL LifeIndustry
Georgia suspends diesel excise tax, relaxes commercial vehicle weight restrictions
Georgia Governor Brian P. Kemp announced temporary measures intended to ease some of the pain from high gas and diesel fuel prices. Thirty Days Of Fuel Tax Relief In Georgia On September 28, 2026,...
Georgia drivers get thirty days of fuel tax relief and relaxed weight limits as Kemp cites global market volatility pushing diesel prices up.
Read the full story at CDL Life - CDL LifeSafety
ISP âhigh intensity enforcement projectâ yields 340 CMV violations & 59 OOS orders
A âhigh intensity enforcement projectâ by the Indiana State Police led to 59 total out of service orders for truck drivers and semi trucks. The blitz occurred between September 22nd and September...
Read the full story at CDL Life - CDL LifeRegulations
FMCSA denies groupâs request to allow truck drivers to use paper logbooks instead of ELDs
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) denied a groupâs request for relief from electronic logging device (ELD) requirements. On September 29, FMCSA announced its decision to deny an...
Drivers hoping to swap their electronic logging devices for paper logbooks will not get that option, as FMCSA denied the exemption request.
Read the full story at CDL Life - Transport TopicsLicensing
CBP pilot to test electronic truck export manifests
The Electronic Export Manifest truck cargo test will evaluate whether carriers can be required to submit electronic manifest information before cargo is loaded.
A pilot test will check whether carriers can be required to send electronic export manifest information before cargo is loaded.
Read the full story at Transport Topics - Transport TopicsRegulations
Perspective: America's trucking resurgence is underway
Trucking leaders, law enforcement and federal regulators have begun closing loopholes that allow fraudsters, unqualified drivers and noncompliant carriers into our industry.
Trucking leaders, law enforcement and federal regulators are closing loopholes that let fraudsters, unqualified drivers and noncompliant carriers into the industry.
Read the full story at Transport Topics - CDL LifeIndustry
Trucking industry leaders confirm what weâve known for weeks â The Oct. 1st trucker strike wonât happen
Leaders within the trucking industry have taken to the media this week to spread the truth about the alleged looming trucker strike that those of us familiar with this pattern already knew â itâs not...
Industry leaders say the rumored October 1st trucker strike is not going to happen, so keep working your normal schedule.
Read the full story at CDL Life - CDL LifeRegulations
Man arrested for taking $2,000+ worth of diesel from trucking companyâs private fueling station
A man was arrested after taking more than $2,000 worth of diesel from a local trucking companyâs private refueling station in upstate New York. 66-year-old Erwin Schober was charged with fourth...
A man faces grand larceny charges for taking diesel from a trucking company's private refueling station in upstate New York.
Read the full story at CDL Life - CDL LifeCarriers
Trucking company calls police after in-cab camera catches driver snorting white powder
A truck driver was arrested after his trucking company reported him to police for potentially doing cocaine inside of the truck. The incident happened at around 4:25 p.m. on Thursday, September 24th...
An in-cab camera led a trucking company to report a driver to police for suspected cocaine use at an Oregon rest area.
Read the full story at CDL Life - Transport TopicsIndustry
Truckingâs recovery continues to hinge on tighter capacity
The ATA For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index fell 0.5% from July to 112.7, down from 113.3. The index also declined 1.6% year over year.
Freight demand eased as the tonnage index slipped from July and fell below last year, so expect capacity to stay the key to any recovery.
Read the full story at Transport Topics - CDL LifeRegulations
Texas declares emergency for high fuel prices: Dyed-diesel restrictions suspended and truck weight limits increased
Texas Governor Greg Abbott issued an emergency proclamation due to high diesel prices, relaxing certain rules in hopes of bringing cost relief to truckers and farmers. On September 28, 2026, Abbott...
Texas suspended dyed diesel restrictions and raised truck weight limits to ease the cost of diesel that hit $5.90 per gallon.
Read the full story at CDL Life - Transport TopicsCarriers
AI is helping fleets automate routine tasks
Panelists stressed that while carriers that move early can gain a competitive advantage, workforce concerns remain a critical part of implementation.
Read the full story at Transport Topics - CDL LifeRegulations
Six family-owned trucking companies accuse CH Robinson & TQL of using chameleon carriers and pricing out compliant...
A group of six family-owner trucking companies filed a lawsuit against two of Americaâs largest freight brokers in Texas federal court late last week. The six companies filed a Racketeer Influenced...
Read the full story at CDL Life - CDL LifeCarriers
Firefighter recognized by company for bringing weaving commercial truck to safe stop on North Carolina highway
A volunteer firefighter is being recognized for taking action to bring a commercial truck to a safe stop after a possible medical emergency on U.S. 70 in North Carolina. On September 25, volunteer...
Read the full story at CDL Life - CDL LifeIndustry
Commercial vehicle driver arrested for DUI after close call at stop sign, CHP says
The California Highway Patrol (CHP) put the brakes on a truck driver for operating under the influence in the Modesto area. According to a September 26 release from CHPâs Modesto Division, a...
A CHP commercial vehicle officer stopped a big rig pulling doubles in the Modesto area after the driver failed to yield at a stop sign, and the driver was arrested for DUI.
Read the full story at CDL Life - CDL LifeCarriers
Thieves end up with 20 tons of sand used to simulate freight after stealing Nvidia branded trailers from autonomous...
Thieves in California ended up with loads of nothing but sand after stealing two Nvidia branded trailers from an autonomous trucking company in California. Workers at the PlusAI warehouse in Fremont,...
Thieves in California got only sand from two stolen Nvidia branded trailers, so drivers should know cargo may not match the trailer branding.
Read the full story at CDL Life - CDL LifeIndustry
More than $5 million in drugs seized during commercial vehicle stops on I-40 in Arkansas
The Arkansas Highway Police (AHP) made âtwo significant drug bustsâ during recent commercial vehicle traffic stops along I-40. On September 24, AHP detailed two recent drug seizures that occurred...
Commercial vehicle stops on I-40 in Arkansas led to two significant drug busts with police canine help, so drivers there should expect that kind of scrutiny.
Read the full story at CDL Life
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Each story links to the publication that reported it. For anything that affects your licence or your medical card, check the official FMCSA source before you act on it.