WASHINGTON — The recent removal of numerous regulations by the U.S. Department of Transportation has sparked concerns among trucking industry experts regarding compliance and safety.
Among the 52 deregulatory measures impacting the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), and the Federal Highway Administration, most will likely be enacted after a 60-day comment period meant for public feedback.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy remarked in a press statement on Thursday, “Big government has proven to be a significant failure.” He elaborated, stating, “Under President Trump’s direction, my department is eliminating redundant and outdated regulations that impose unnecessary burdens, waste taxpayer money, and fail to maintain safety. These pragmatic changes will foster a more efficient government that better serves the needs of Americans.”
Out of the 20 actions initiated at FMCSA, two are finalized rules and 18 are proposed modifications or rescissions of current regulations.
P. Sean Garney, a trucking regulatory expert and co-director at Scopelitis Transportation Consulting, highlighted potential compliance issues with several FMCSA deregulatory measures. He found the idea of removing the requirement for truck drivers to keep a hard copy of the electronic logging device user manual on board reasonable. However, he noted that this only pertains to the user manual, and drivers must still have access to instructions for data transfer, malfunctions, and blank logs.
FMCSA is also proposing changes to the requirement for motor carriers and intermodal equipment providers to sign and return completed roadside inspection forms. Garney expressed concern that this will lead to confusion among carriers, as different states have varying requirements on this matter.
Safety Concerns
The deregulatory actions at FMCSA have raised alarms for the Truck Safety Coalition, an organization that advocates for truck crash victims. Executive Director Zach Cahalan noted that while some regulations may be outdated, the coalition is worried about the speed with which FMCSA is implementing these changes without adequately ensuring they won’t compromise safety. For instance, Cahalan criticized the proposed removal of the regulation requiring retroreflective sheeting on semitrailers manufactured before 1993, pointing out that FMCSA has not provided concrete evidence to support its claim that these trailers are no longer in use.
Regarding the ELD manual requirement’s elimination, he emphasized the importance of retaining ELD manuals in trucks, as not all drivers receive adequate training, which can lead to tragic outcomes. He reiterated that driver fatigue — a critical issue the ELD mandate aims to tackle — continues to be a leading cause of truck accidents, frequently cited by the NTSB.
