Industry News
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13 Luxury Coach Builders Ask to Keep Lap-Only Belts on Sideways Seats
Thirteen last-stage builders of upscale entertainer coaches have asked federal safety regulators to extend their existing relief from a crash-protection rule. The relief lets them fit sideways-facing seats with lap-only restraints rather than the combined lap-and-shoulder type the standard calls for. The agency has opened a public comment window on the requests.
Federal Panel Planned to Hash Out Future Truck and Car Light Rules
Federal vehicle safety regulators say they plan to assemble a group of stakeholders to work out proposed rules on lighting equipment for motor vehicles. The group would develop its recommendations through a consensus-driven process and hand them to the Transportation Secretary. Officials are asking the public for feedback on the idea and on who should sit on the panel.
Federal Agency Wants Feedback on Redesigned Spill and Release Report Form
The federal pipeline and hazmat safety regulator is asking the public to weigh in on a overhauled version of the paperwork carriers file after a dangerous-cargo mishap in transit. The agency plans to seek White House budget office clearance to modify the existing authorization for the form, adding some questions, clarifying others, and trimming or rearranging the rest. A sample of the new layout is posted for review on regulations.gov.
Tank Truck Builders Get New Pressure Vessel Rulebook Option
Federal hazmat regulators have approved a newer pressure-vessel engineering standard for building and maintaining certain tank trucks, super-cold portable tanks, and multi-unit rail tank cars. A companion national inspection standard was also approved to govern upkeep and repair of tanks made under the new rules, plus some existing tank trucks built to earlier ASME and federal requirements. The agency says the change lowers costs and gives industry more flexibility while keeping safety intact.
Federal Regulators Reject Push to Let Drivers Keep Paper Logs
The federal motor carrier safety agency has turned down a request from a trucker advocacy group seeking permission for drivers to keep handwritten duty-hour records rather than rely on electronic recorders. After reviewing the petition and feedback from the public, officials concluded that the proposed relief could not deliver safety results at least on par with those achieved under the existing mandate.
Steel Mill Haulers Get Longer Shifts Under Provisional Waiver
Federal regulators plan to extend and merge two earlier waivers for Cleveland-Cliffs Steel, the company formerly known as ArcelorMittal Indiana Harbor. The waivers cover relaxed shift limits for its in-house CDL drivers and equipment exceptions for its purpose-built coil haulers. The agency is taking public input on the interim extension.
FMCSA Study to Test Pausing the Clock on Truckers' 14-Hour Day
FMCSA plans to submit a new information collection request to OMB for a research study on letting truck drivers extend the 14-hour driving window by up to 3 hours of non-driving time. The pause would need to be taken at the location of cargo pickup or delivery. The agency is inviting public comment as part of the Paperwork Reduction Act process.
Federal Study to Test Looser Rest Rules on 256 Truckers
The federal motor carrier safety agency is preparing to ask the White House budget office to sign off on a data-gathering effort tied to a trial of more adaptable rest-period options for truck operators. Roughly 256 drivers will take part, with researchers comparing their alertness and on-road performance under today's driving-time rules versus under special exemptions that allow more freedom in dividing rest time in the bunk. The agency is also seeking public feedback on the proposal.
Alaska Truckers Get Another Year to Carry Paper Medical Cards
Federal regulators have granted a one-year provisional extension of relief that lets Alaska-licensed drivers with a commercial permit or license, along with their carriers, use a printed medical examiner's certificate as proof of medical qualification for as long as 60 days after it is issued. Alaska is the lone state that has yet to put the electronic medical certification integration rule into practice. Drivers licensed everywhere else, including Washington, D.C., can no longer treat the paper card as valid proof at all starting October 12, 2026.
Driverless Trucks Cleared to Swap Triangles for Roof Beacons
Federal regulators have approved a five-year waiver letting Aurora and other fleets running Level 4 self-driving trucks use roof-mounted flashing beacons instead of the usual roadside emergency gear. Carriers other than Aurora must notify FMCSA ahead of time to take advantage of it. The agency concluded the beacons should deliver safety results at least on par with what the existing rules provide.
Diesel Averages $6.179 Nationally; California Tops $8 While Lower Atlantic Stays Below $5.65
The 10/12/26 fuel price data shows U.S. on-highway diesel averaging $6.179 per gallon, about $1.85 above the $4.331 national average for regular gasoline. Regional diesel prices range from $5.645 in the Lower Atlantic to $8.091 in California. The data release does not include prior-period figures, so no week-over-week change is reported.
NHTSA Seeks More Comment on THOR-50M Crash Test Dummy Proposal, Including Spine and Face Foam Options
NHTSA has issued a supplemental notice to its September 2023 proposal to add the THOR 50th percentile adult male crash test dummy (THOR-50M) to its Part 572 regulations. The agency is asking for public comment on an additional spine configuration and an alternative to the dummy's face foam. It has also made additional supporting documents available.
Federal Pipeline Advisory Committee to Meet Virtually on Three Proposed Hazardous Liquid Safety Rules
The Technical Hazardous Liquid Pipeline Safety Standards Committee, also known as the Liquid Pipeline Advisory Committee (LPAC), will hold a public meeting virtually. The committee will discuss three notices of proposed rulemaking (NPRMs) covering hazardous liquid pipeline infrastructure. The topics are separate from trucking regulations but concern another mode of hazardous liquids transport.
DOT Hazmat Office Announces Receipt of Applications to Modify Special Permits
The Office of Hazardous Materials Safety has received applications to modify existing special permits issued under the Department of Transportation's Hazardous Materials Regulations. The notice follows the department's established procedures for applying for and processing special permits. The excerpt does not name the applicants, the permits, or the proposed changes.
DOT Hazmat Office Announces Decisions on Special Permit Applications
The Department of Transportation's Office of Hazardous Materials Safety has published a notice of actions on applications for special permits under the Hazardous Material Regulations. The office has granted or denied the applications described in the notice. The excerpt does not list the individual applicants or permit details.
Optional Form Lets Medical Examiners Check Drivers' Prescriptions
FMCSA is preparing to ask the White House Office of Management and Budget to sign off on continuing an optional form that medical examiners can send to a driver's prescribing clinician. The form helps the examiner understand why a drug was prescribed before deciding on a driver's medical certification. A single public comment arrived during the earlier 60-day review window.
DOT Safety Office Announces Receipt of New Hazardous Materials Special Permit Application
The Department of Transportation's Office of Hazardous Materials Safety has received a new application for a special permit under the Hazardous Material Regulations. The notice was issued under the established procedures for applying for and processing these permits. The excerpt does not include details of the application itself.
Federal Agency Extends Driving Privileges for 12 Deaf Truckers
The federal motor carrier safety regulator has decided to keep in place waivers for a dozen drivers who are deaf or have hearing loss. These waivers let them continue hauling freight and operating large commercial vehicles across state lines despite the standard auditory rule for interstate operators.
FMCSA Renews Hearing Exemptions for 20 Commercial Drivers
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has renewed exemptions from the federal hearing requirement for 20 commercial motor vehicle drivers. The drivers are deaf or hard of hearing. The renewals let them continue operating CMVs in interstate commerce.
FMCSA Receives 11 Applications for Hearing Exemptions From Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing CMV Drivers
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has received exemption applications from 11 individuals who want to drive commercial motor vehicles in interstate commerce without meeting the hearing requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations. The applicants are deaf or hard of hearing. If the agency grants the exemptions, they would be allowed to operate CMVs across state lines.