The year 2025 brought intense political battles, a historic 43-day government shutdown, and sweeping attempts by the Trump administration to reverse Biden-era transportation policies. Yet despite the turbulence, highway safety emerged as one of the year’s strongest areas of progress, driven by aggressive federal oversight, new leadership at FMCSA, and a renewed crackdown on fraudulent CDL training programs.
A Federal Crackdown on CDL Mills and Unsafe Training Programs
Highway safety became a top priority for Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, who focused on rooting out fraudulent CDL schools, noncompliant training programs, and illegally issued CDLs. His approach aligned with President Trump’s emphasis on immigration enforcement and concerns over unqualified drivers operating heavy trucks and buses.
Key actions included:
- Removing nearly 3,000 CDL training providers from FMCSA’s Training Provider Registry
- Launching nationwide audits of non-domiciled CDLs, uncovering widespread issues in states like New York
- Pressuring states to revoke licenses issued to noncitizens whose work permits had expired
- Intensifying enforcement of English language proficiency standards
FMCSA Administrator Derek Barrs, confirmed by the Senate in October, quickly became the public face of this enforcement push. He highlighted “grossly unacceptable deviations” from federal CDL rules, especially in New York, where more than half of reviewed licenses were issued improperly.
Industry groups supported the effort. ATA President Chris Spear praised DOT for confronting “CDL mills” and strengthening vetting for training providers and electronic logging devices. ATA and OOIDA both argued that unsafe training programs have long endangered drivers and the motoring public.
Legislative Pressure to Improve CDL Standards
Members of Congress introduced bills requiring:
- CDL testing be conducted only in English
- Mandatory behind-the-wheel training hours
- Disqualification of drivers who fail English proficiency standards
Lawmakers such as Sen. Tom Cotton, Rep. Andy Barr, and Sen. Cynthia Lummis urged DOT to use its rulemaking authority to tighten CDL requirements even before legislation is passed.
Funding Challenges and the 2026 Budget Outlook
Despite progress on safety, major challenges emerged with federal transportation funding:
- Congress failed to pass 2026 appropriations on time, pushing decisions into early 2026
- A late January deadline looms, threatening another partial shutdown
- Funding proposals include $927 million for FMCSA and $200 million for truck parking expansion, a major industry priority
Political tensions remained high after the 2025 shutdown and disputes over government funding, social programs, and emissions policies.
Regulatory Shifts and Truck Emissions Policy
EPA signaled it would maintain 2027 implementation for stricter NOx standards but may adjust program requirements to reduce costs. ATA had requested a four-year delay, citing burdens on fleets during a weak freight economy. EPA responded by announcing a reevaluation but declined to postpone the start date.
New Leadership and Long-Term Policy Vision
FMCSA Administrator Derek Barrs and other newly confirmed DOT leaders are expected to guide infrastructure planning, emissions policy, and safety enforcement through 2026 and beyond.
Rep. Sam Graves, chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, also previewed work on a long-term highway bill. He emphasized preparing for the next 20 years of emerging technologies — including autonomous trucks — rather than reacting to past challenges.
ATA’s new chairman Greg Hodgen underscored that rebuilding America’s deteriorating highways must be central to future legislation. He also noted gaps in the Highway Trust Fund, especially as electric vehicles contribute less to fuel-tax revenue.
A Mixed Year — but Safety Stood Out
While 2025 saw political gridlock, tariff uncertainties, and economic strain for many carriers, highway safety policymaking advanced more rapidly than in previous years. With stricter CDL oversight, aggressive enforcement of training standards, and new FMCSA leadership, the administration pushed highway safety into the national spotlight — a rare bright spot in a turbulent year for transportation.
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