Transport industry endorses FMCSA's initiative to relax regulations
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Proposes Deregulatory Actions to Ease Compliance Burdens
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has taken a significant step towards easing regulatory burdens for the trucking industry by proposing 18 deregulatory actions in May 2025. Two key proposals among these aim to simplify the Electronic Logging Device (ELD) manual requirements and reduce the need for motor carriers to return completed roadside inspection forms [1][2][4].
ELD Manual Requirements
The FMCSA has proposed removing the requirement for drivers to physically carry a paper ELD user manual in the cab. Instead, the manuals can be stored online. This change aims to reduce in-cab clutter and potential citations for missing manuals. The agency states that there is no readily apparent benefit to continuing to require the manual inside the truck [4].
Most commenters agreed that no one should receive an FMCSA violation because they don't have an instruction manual for a device that they should know how to use and that also has a digital manual on it [4]. Veolia North America, an environmental services company, believes that training programs should already emphasize driver proficiency with the ELD system and access to its support resources [4].
Roadside Inspection Forms Return Rule
The FMCSA has also proposed eliminating the requirement for motor carriers and intermodal equipment providers to sign and return completed roadside inspection forms to the issuing state agency. This change addresses unnecessary paperwork since not all states review the returned inspection reports [4].
Addressing Concerns and Future Plans
The FMCSA has not yet finalized its rulemaking on these issues. The American Trucking Associations (ATA) commented that while the change is welcome, the rulemaking should go further in addressing difficulties in obtaining medical information about third parties involved in accidents [4]. The ATA also raised concerns about motor carriers who have done their due diligence but fail to obtain medical information for reasons beyond their control [4].
The FMCSA has not yet announced any specific timeline for finalizing the rulemaking on this issue or indicated whether it will expand the scope of the proposed rule to address the concerns raised by the ATA [4]. The FMCSA has also not yet announced any plans to collaborate with other agencies or organizations to address the difficulties in obtaining medical information about third parties involved in accidents [4].
Summary of Key Changes
| Deregulatory Action | Description | |---------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | ELD manual requirement | Remove physical user manual carrying requirement; manuals can be kept online | | Roadside inspection forms return rule | Remove requirement for carriers to sign and return completed inspection forms to state agencies |
These deregulatory steps aim to reduce paperwork and administrative burdens while maintaining safety responsibilities for carriers and drivers [4]. The public comment period for these deregulatory proposals closed on July 29, 2025, allowing stakeholders to provide feedback on the specific measures proposed by FMCSA [2].
References: [1] U.S. Department of Transportation. (2025, May 29). U.S. Transportation Secretary Announces Proposed Deregulatory Actions to Remove Outdated, Duplicative, or Unnecessary Regulations Across FMCSA, FHWA, and NHTSA. Retrieved from https://www.transportation.gov/press-releases/us-transportation-secretary-announces-proposed-deregulatory-actions-remove-outdated-duplicative-or [2] Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. (2025, July 29). FMCSA Announces Public Comment Period Closure for Proposed Deregulatory Actions. Retrieved from https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/press-releases/fmcsa-announces-public-comment-period-closure-proposed-deregulatory-actions [4] Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. (2025, May). Deregulatory Actions Proposed by FMCSA. Retrieved from https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/regulations/deregulatory-actions-proposed-fmcsa
The proposed changes to ELD manual requirements and the elimination of the requirement to return completed roadside inspection forms are efforts aimed at reducing paperwork and administrative burdens for motor carriers in the trucking industry, while maintaining safety responsibilities. These proposed actions, if finalized, could potentially lead to a decrease in the clutter in drivers' cabs and a reduction in unnecessary paperwork. However, the American Trucking Associations have expressed hopes for the FMCSA to address difficulties in obtaining medical information about third parties involved in accidents, a concern that remains unaddressed at this time.
