WASHINGTON — The Trump administration has extended the timeline for several potential regulations impacting the trucking sector to 2026, including a second proposed rule targeting suspected price gouging by freight brokers.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) issued the first notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) regarding broker transparency in November 2024, following requests from the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association and the Small Business in Transportation Coalition (SBTC). This has generated over 5,000 comments, and after a request by SBTC, the comment period was reopened earlier this year, garnering an additional 2,000 comments.
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s latest regulatory agenda from the Office of Management and Budget indicates that FMCSA plans to release a second broker transparency NPRM in May 2026.
Moreover, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration will delay the consideration of a rule requiring side-guard equipment on trailers and semitrailers until at least January 2026. This aim is to reduce injuries and fatalities in collisions with vehicles.
The advanced notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPRM) regarding side underride guards, which concluded in July 2023, has been classified as “analyzing comments” and will remain so until at least January 2026. The discussion has sparked controversy, aligning safety advocates, who highlight life-saving potential, against the trucking industry and manufacturers concerned about costs and the effectiveness of the equipment.
The current agenda also shows that a joint FMCSA-NHTSA final rule on Automatic Emergency Brakes for heavy trucks, expected to be released in January, will now be revised as a supplemental proposed rule set for December publication.
Removed from FMCSA’s agenda is the heavy-truck speed limiter rule, which was announced to be canceled by the Trump administration in June. Other ongoing rulemakings on FMCSA’s agenda have also been rescheduled to May 2026.
Pre-rule stage
New entrant safety assurance process implementation has been pushed back from June 2025.
Minimum training requirements for entry-level commercial motor vehicle operators have been delayed from December 2024.
Proposed rule stage
Regulations for motor carriers operating Automated Driving Systems-equipped vehicles have been postponed from December 2024.
Clearinghouse implementation revisions, including controlled substances and alcohol testing, have been rescheduled from March 2025.
Revisions to Electronic Logging Devices have been moved from June 2025.
Safety fitness procedures are similarly delayed from June 2025.
Final Rule Stage
Amendments to commercial driver’s license requirements, intended to provide more flexibility for testing procedures post-skill test, have been delayed from June 2025.
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The article is originally published on FreightWaves.
