In a major move to streamline the regulatory landscape for the trucking industry, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) announced a proposal to eliminate or revise nearly two dozen federal trucking regulations. These changes, part of the department’s broader initiative called “Unleashing Prosperity Through Deregulation,” aim to ease burdens on truckers, reduce compliance costs, and eliminate obsolete rules that no longer contribute to road safety.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy emphasized the need for these reforms in a May 29 statement, asserting that, “Big government has been a big failure.” He added, “We’re slashing duplicative and outdated regulations that waste taxpayer dollars and do not improve safety.”
Key Regulations on the Chopping Block
Among the notable changes in the proposal are:
- Eliminating certification labeling on rear-impact guards, which are required on trucks to protect motorists in rear-end collisions.
- Removing self-reporting requirements for CDL holders regarding motor vehicle violations, aiming to reduce redundancy since violations are already tracked through centralized systems.
- Exempting truck tractors from license plate lamp requirements when towing a trailer.
- Ending load restriction marking requirements on tire sidewalls, reflecting updated manufacturing and compliance standards.
- Rescinding requirements for ELD operator manuals and vendor lists, reducing paperwork for drivers and carriers.
- Revising accident reporting terms such as “medical treatment” to align with current FMCSA guidance.
- Eliminating the need to return completed roadside inspection forms to issuing state agencies.
- Removing retroreflective sheeting mandates on trailers, as most already meet visibility standards voluntarily.
While many may appear minor, the DOT estimates these changes will collectively remove over 73,000 words from the Federal Register. Officials say this demonstrates the agency’s commitment to trimming excessive regulations that offer little safety value.
Broader Political Context
The proposal follows a recent executive order from President Donald Trump focused on English language proficiency for commercial drivers and enhanced scrutiny of non-resident CDL holders. The administration’s deregulatory momentum is building on a “10-for-1” rule — for every new regulation proposed, ten existing ones must be reviewed for repeal. This is a more aggressive strategy compared to the “2-for-1” rule of the first Trump term.
DOT is actively soliciting feedback from truckers, small businesses, and industry associations to identify additional regulations for elimination or simplification. This collaborative approach aims to ensure that remaining regulations are legally sound, relevant, and effective without imposing unnecessary burdens.
As the DOT moves forward with these reforms, industry stakeholders are encouraged to participate in the discussion to help shape a more practical and efficient regulatory environment for American trucking.
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