Scopelitis
From a regulatory standpoint, 2025 was not defined by sweeping new trucking rules but instead by how the federal government chose to act: deregulating selectively, enforcing aggressively, and increasingly using safety as justification for broader objectives.
Those three dynamics explain far more about the year than any single rulemaking — and they set the stage for what carriers should expect in 2026.
Deregulation: Real, but Narrow
The Trump Administration made deregulation an operating principle in 2025 by issuing its 10-1 deregulatory executive order just 10 days into the President’s second term. FMCSA and other regulatory agencies quickly followed suit. In the case of FMCSA, rather than pursuing controversial rollbacks, the agency focused on updating federal regulations to meet the reality of trucking in 2025, potentially reducing administrative burden without reopening core safety debates.
Proposals addressed issues such as the definition of a DOT Accident, electronic documentation, outdated certification requirements, and limited reporting obligations. The relief is targeted and modest. Carriers should view deregulation as margin improvement, not a wholesale shift in compliance expectations.
Enforcement: Where the Pressure Shifted
While rulemaking slowed, enforcement accelerated.
FMCSA significantly increased scrutiny of electronic logging devices, removing nearly 30 ELDs from the registry and rolling out stronger vetting aimed at fraud, white-labeling, and tampered systems. State strike forces reinforced that focus, uncovering widespread manipulation of records of duty status, including the use of ghost drivers and altered logs.
Entry-level driver training enforcement followed the same trajectory. Thousands of training providers were removed from the Training Provider Registry, with many more flagged for noncompliance. CDL mills are now a clear enforcement priority.
The takeaway for carriers is simple: fewer new rules did not mean more tolerance. In many areas, enforcement expectations tightened, laying bare the monumental task of policing the trucking industry’s vendors as well as its motor carriers and the contribution of self-certification regimes to ongoing fraud.
Safety as Justification for Other Objectives
Some of the most disruptive developments of 2025 were framed as safety initiatives but were likely driven by broader policy goals. Restrictions on non-domiciled CDLs and renewed emphasis on English Language Proficiency enforcement were advanced under a safety rationale, while also aligning with a broader immigration enforcement strategy. State responses were uneven, litigation followed quickly, and some issues remain unresolved. This heightened scrutiny is already affecting roadside enforcement, investigations, and driver availability.
What to Expect in 2026
The environment in 2026 is likely to be a continuation of 2025, with potentially higher stakes.
Deregulation will continue, but primarily through narrow, low-risk changes. Carriers should not expect broad relief from core safety and compliance obligations. These deregulatory moves could also make way for some additional regulations under the 10-1 EO. After all, FMCSA has some unfinished business to tend to in the form of its Safety Fitness Determination rulemakings and actions on automated driving, ELD specifications/certification, and automatic emergency braking.
Enforcement will remain the primary policy tool highlighted by greater use of data-driven targeting, technology-enabled inspections, and intensified oversight of ELDs and driver training providers. To this end, CSA reform may come to fruition, and efforts to tie CSA data more directly to carrier safety ratings may continue. At the same time, FMCSA faces a structural reality: regulating a growing industry with limited staff and imperfect data. That reality favors automation, prioritization, and scalable enforcement models.
Finally, the debate will continue on the efficacy of broader immigration related proposals in improving motor carrier safety through reduced crashes.
Bottom Line
For carriers, the lesson from 2025 is clear. Regulatory relief and enforcement pressure are not opposites — they are complementary tools. This year, success will depend less on tracking new rules and more on managing enforcement exposure, data quality, and operational discipline.
