Yes, tariffs dominate the headlines, but there’s more shaping trucking right now. Here are 5 developments that matter:  

1. The federal speed limiter proposal on all heavy-duty commercial vehicles over 26,000 pounds has been scrapped by the FMCSA as of July 24. Per a 2022 study, many fleets currently use limiters. However, the nationwide requirement of the limiter was controversial to many, as it would have potentially mandated a single speed limit for tractor-trailers anywhere in the U.S. 

2. FedEx Freight, the largest LTL carrier in North America, delayed enforcing changes to the National Motor Freight Classification (NMFC) for 150 days. The new classification system for less-than-truckload freight went into effect for most carriers and shippers in the sector on July 19. Despite this notable delay, the National Motor Freight Traffic Association (NMFTA) is pleased with how the industry has implemented the standards thus far.  

3. The EPA issued new guidance that changes how Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) systems operate on new trucks starting in the 2027 model year. Currently, DEF systems are designed to de-rate the engine and slow trucks down when DEF fluid is low or a sensor fails. When those sensors fail, a trucker can slow to a crawl while still having the mandated exhaust fluid on board.  

As Adam Wingfield wrote in FreightWaves, this new rule “is like giving you a spare key to your own truck. It’s not going to stop the door from jamming in the first place, but it might save you from breaking the window just to get moving again.” 

4. More than 1,200 professional drivers have been placed out-of-service since enforcement of English-language proficiency requirements began on June 25. While the rules are official Department of Transportation policy, Overdrive found that enforcement and OOS violations have varied significantly by state and/or region. Transflo covered the changes and how carriers should respond in June. 

5. Rule changes on ELD fraud and personal conveyance appear imminent. The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance is reportedly preparing a bulletin to fight ELD fraud and tampering. Additionally, the organization asked Congress to restrict personal conveyance by drivers after seeing more examples of “abuse and misuse.” Earlier this summer, Transflo’s compliance experts, Scott Stofer and Nate Rose, teamed up with Jill Maschmeier, the Director of Safety and Compliance at National Carriers, for a webinar where both personal conveyance and ELD rules were discussed. Watch the webinar here.