The driver’s briefing
The points that matter. Then back to your day.
From the newsroom
Federal regulators have extended a waiver that lets certain railroad-linked drivers continue behind the wheel past two standard time limits when unexpected incidents arise. The renewed relief comes with a tighter list of qualifying situations and new reporting duties. FMCSA concluded the arrangement should deliver safety results at least on par with what would occur without it.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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