Being a fast-evolving business sector, the trucking industry deals with new regulations yearly. Most of these updates reflect the new operational reality of the delivery services and are aimed at adapting to technological advancements, rising environmental concerns, and responding to market growth.
While the majority of new rules are crucial for keeping the trucking industry safe and effective, many companies respond to them negatively due to their complexity and uncertainty. In order to provide a clearer understanding of the new regulations, we’ll explain how they may impact the future of the industry and provide step-by-step instructions to implement new rules into your operational routine effectively.
Suggested Regulatory Changes
Automatic Emergency Braking Systems (AEB)
Outline:
Preventing more than 19,000 road crashes and around 155 fatalities – this is an impressive example of how powerful regulatory changes may be. The abovementioned figures illustrate the expected results from equipping heavy trucks with an AEB system.
Initiated by FMCSA, the rule of mandatory use of the AEB system was introduced in 2024. While the final approval of the law is still on the way, many experts expect its enforcement in spring 2025.
The new law will oblige commercial vehicles – classes 3 to 8 – to be equipped with a properly working AEB system. As a knock on effect for the trucking industry, the truckers will have up to 3 years for modification of their 3 to 6-class vehicles, or up to 4 years if they own vehicles of 7 or 8 classes.
Financial Costs:
Depending on the size and model of a truck, AEB system installation may cost from $1,500 to $3,000 per vehicle.
Steps to Take:
- Check the compliance of your vehicles with standard AEB systems and prepare them for future upgrade.
- Inform your employees about the importance of the AEB system and cases when it can be used.
Speed Restrictions
Outline:
With the increasing number of heavy trucks on the road, FMCSA has introduced several safety solutions aimed at stricter speed control of heavy vehicles. While the new speed limits are still under discussion, the use of electronic speed governors is more likely to become the next obligation for commercial vehicles.
Financial costs:
Speed governor equipment and its installation costs between $500 – $1,500 per vehicle. In the case of speed limits being decreased, it may also lead to additional expenses connected to longer delivery times.
Steps to Take:
- Update your awareness about FMCSA speed requirements regularly to be ready for the timely adjustment of operational schedules and routes.
- Equip some of your vehicles with speed governors, providing truckers with an opportunity to test new equipment.
Upgraded Crush Preventability Determination Program (CPDP)
Outline:
As the road situation becomes more challenging, FMCSA has decided to expand the list of non-preventable crashes, protecting commercial drivers from unfair penalties in those cases when the dangerous situation was not provoked by them.
This year, four new crush categories were recognized as non-preventable:
- When a motorist strikes a CMV (commercial motor vehicle) on a side while two vehicles move in the same direction.
- When a CMV is struck by a motorist driving from a parking zone or private line.
- When the crash was caused by another driver’s control loss on a vehicle.
- When there is video evidence showing the sequence of events – applicable even for those cases that are not recognized as CPDP category.
Benefits of the Update:
- More objective evaluation
New categories ensure a more accurate and objective evaluation of a driver’s actions and behavior, which helps to improve justice for commercial drivers. - Enhanced Data Accuracy
With a more detailed understanding of crash causes, FMCSA can recognize drivers with dangerous driving habits and those truckers who simply became victims of circumstances. - Increased Job Satisfaction
Getting fair legal protection in those cases when truck drivers were not responsible for creating the emergency on the road decreases anxiety levels and boosts job satisfaction among truckers.
Financial costs:
There are no direct expenses associated with the new regulation. However, the expected changes may cause a moderate drop in liability insurance premiums as road safety will probably become significantly improved.
Steps to take:
- Analyze previous road accidents and recorded safety issues to develop a better understanding of which cases may be categorized as non-preventable due to the new CPDP updates.
- Make sure you have a well-organized system for documenting important details of each road incident, including video records.
- Change the protocols that you usually use for disputing road crushes, making sure they include renewed CPDP data.
Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse Updates
Outline:
Last year, the Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse initiated stricter regulations that considered cancellation of CDL for those drivers who tested positive for drugs or alcohol.
Financial Costs:
Additional costs may be associated with regular testing held by Clearinghouse representatives and educating truckers about health and professional risks connected to the use of restricted substances.
Steps to Take:
- Make regular tests and check-ups a part of your operational routine to control employees and enhance the security of transportation processes.
- Establish an inner policy that would stimulate truckers to keep a healthier lifestyle while restricting using or keeping drugs or alcohol during working hours.
Abolition of the MC Numbers
Outline:
MC numbers shall be replaced by USDOTs by October 2025 as a part of a big change aimed at creating a simpler and faster vehicle registration process. In addition, such updates will allow the creation of a unified system for tracking safety records, inspections, and performance data.
Financial Costs:
Re-arranging documents and records may lead to some minimal spends. However, such expenses will be fully compensated by a simpler and more transparent process of vehicle registration.
Steps to Take:
- Start by rearranging your monitoring and recording practices, using USDOT numbers of the trucks, and renewing licenses and documents.
- Explain to truckers why MC number abolition is an important step towards a more convenient record system.
Advanced Clear Fleets (ACF) and Zero Emission Vehicles (ZEV) Updates in California
California has obliged all commercial trucks operating through the state to have ZEV status by 2035. While the update applies to one state only, similar regulations are expected in other big states within the next few years.
Financial Costs:
The cost of a new electric truck varies between $150,000 and $300,000 per vehicle. While shifting to ZEVs may be an unrealistic task for many businesses, the amount of grants and incentives for covering the costs of eco-friendly vehicles makes the situation more optimistic.
Steps to take:
- Set long-term goals for a smoother shift to hybrid or electric trucks if you plan to operate in California.
- Search and apply for private and governmental support programs to receive funds that cover spending on commercial ZEVs.
Changes on Cross-Border Tariffs
Outline:
An executive order signed in February 2025 imposed a 25% tariff on goods transported from Canada and Mexico. It also set a 10% tariff on Canadian energy exports. New tariffs took effect in the spring of 2025, making a huge impact on the industry.
Consequences:
- Increased Delivery Costs
Additional tariffs have raised rates of full truckload services, making them hit a two-year record. Freight services became 18% more expensive for dry truck delivery and 35% – for refrigerated truck transporting. - Operational Difficulties
Unpredictable changes became a hard turn for companies with developed cross-border infrastructure, e.g., Canadian Pacific Kansas City with its rail network connecting the US, Canada, and Mexico.
Steps to Take:
- Check information on tariffs regularly, so you have time for necessary re-arrangements in the case of new critical changes that might impact the trucking industry.
- Team up with custom brokers who can assist with the classification of transported goods and the calculation of full truckload services considering new tariff changes.
- Adjust your supply chains and routes to minimize tariff costs.
- Negotiate new pricing policies with your partners and clients.
- Monitor how other businesses face similar challenges to adopt best-working solutions.
Postponed Implementation of Crucial Regulations
As implementation of new rules and requirements usually takes time, these requirements were introduced in 2024 but came into force in 2025 which will have an impact on the trucking industry:
- CMV Speed Governors: coming into force in May 2025;
- AEB System in Heavy Trucks: take effect in January 2025;
- Physical Qualification Standards (PQS) for truckers with epileptic conditions: going into action in June 2025;
- Pre-2000 Engines ELD Requirements: becoming operative in June 2025.
Steps to Take:
- Re-arrange your documents to meet new regulations.
- Equip your vehicles with the required technology.
- Take a proactive position to be ready for new upcoming changes.
- Check information about new and planned changes to have time for preparation.
Maintaining Compliance in 2025
Staying compliant is a crucial condition for long-term operation for transporting companies and those drivers who are seeking stable trucking jobs in Fayetteville, NC, or other US states.
Steps to Take
- Monitor FMCSA changes in rules and regulations to be aware of the newly implemented and planned laws.
- Increase technology leverage to make your operations better controlled and more transparent.
- Follow industry news to prepare for new challenges and opportunities.
Conclusion:
The fast development of the trucking industry requires rapid changes in laws and regulations. While new advancements and updates create some temporary obstacles for stable work and lead to unplanned expenses, they also offer long-term benefits like a simpler registration process, enhanced road safety, minimized carbon imprint, etc. Being aware of the new implementations and maintaining compliance is the correct step towards business success and development.
