January 10, 2026 Kliment Grozdanoski

U.S. Trucking Updates for 2026: Regulations, Trends, and the Stuff You Actually Need to Know

Trucking in 2026 is basically the same mission as always: move freight, stay legal, avoid nonsense. The difference is the “nonsense” is getting more organized, more digital, and more enforced.

Here’s the short, practical update.

1) Broker transparency is still in play (not final yet)

FMCSA has a proposed rule to modernize broker transaction record rules (49 CFR 371.3). The comment period was even reopened in early 2025, and the topic is still active in the regulatory pipeline. Translation: this fight is not over, and it could eventually change how easily carriers can request broker records.

2) Federal speed limiter mandate: withdrawn

The long-running federal speed limiter rulemaking got officially withdrawn in July 2025. So no new federal governor mandate is coming out of that specific rulemaking right now.

3) Clearinghouse II: “prohibited” can mean CDL downgrade

This one is real-world serious. As of November 18, 2024, CDL drivers in “prohibited” status in the FMCSA Clearinghouse can lose or be denied CDL/CLP privileges until Return-to-Duty is completed. Owner-ops: this is a parking ticket you do not want.

4) DOT random testing rates for 2026: unchanged

For FMCSA-regulated drivers, the DOT minimum random drug testing rate remains 50% for 2026 (with alcohol at 10%). If you think “random” means “rare,” the spreadsheet disagrees.

5) FMCSA registration is tightening with identity verification

Starting April 2025, FMCSA began incorporating identity verification into the Unified Registration System (URS) for new applicants. Good for cutting fraud. Annoying for legitimate folks who just want to get authority and get rolling.

6) Non-domiciled CDL rule: published, then paused

FMCSA published an interim final rule in September 2025 to restrict non-domiciled CDL/CLP issuance for foreign-domiciled individuals. Then a court issued an administrative stay in November 2025, preventing it from taking effect (for now). So the situation is “rule exists, but it is paused.”

7) Emissions policy: Phase 3 is final, but politics are trying to bulldoze it

EPA finalized heavy-duty GHG Phase 3 standards (starting model year 2027), but there have been moves to roll back GHG authority and even congressional efforts aimed at nullifying the rule. The practical takeaway for fleets: expect uncertainty in new-truck tech, pricing, and compliance over the next few years.

8) Cargo theft and fraud: still ugly

CargoNet reported 884 theft incidents in Q2 2025 (up 13% year-over-year) and 772 events in Q3 2025 across the U.S. and Canada. If you move high-value loads or run new broker lanes, “verify first” is not paranoia, it’s survival.

9) Truck parking: still a national problem

Jason’s Law survey work continues to document the parking shortage and its safety and compliance impact. If you plan parking late, you end up parking stupid. Nobody wants that.

Quick “Do This Now” Checklist

Keep your rate cons, accessorials, and detention notes organized. It helps today and it will help even more if broker transparency tightens later.
If you have any Clearinghouse risk, handle it early. “I’ll deal with it later” can become “I’m not driving.”
Verify new brokers and dispatch contacts. Fraud is not slowing down.
Secure your gear at stops and yards. Flatbed stuff walks off fast.
Plan parking earlier than you want to. The alternative is worse.

Sources (for further reading)

Filed in: trucking life

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