Safety Information and Updates

In late June 2025, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) unveiled a sweeping "Pro-Trucker" package under the Trump administration, addressing several long-standing concerns from professional drivers. The changes signal a move toward infrastructure investment, regulatory relief, and modernization.

One major challenge for truckers has been the lack of legal, safe parking. Nearly 40% of drivers report spending over an hour daily searching for parking, which translates to billions in lost productivity and additional safety risks. To address this, the DOT is allocating more than $275 million in grants to expand parking nationwide. Florida will be the first beneficiary, with $180 million earmarked to add 917 new truck parking spots along the I-4 corridor in Volusia, Seminole, and Osceola counties fleetowner.com+6fmcsa.dot.gov+6overdriveonline.com+6.

Another anticipated change is the withdrawal of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and NHTSA’s proposed mandate requiring speed-limiting devices on heavy trucks. Supporters argue that mandatory limiters could disrupt traffic flow, potentially creating hazards. DOT Secretary Sean Duffy described the proposed mandate as lacking “a sufficiently clear and compelling safety justification” overdriveonline.com+7overdriveonline.com+7livenowfox.com+7. Advocates cite improved fuel efficiency and safety from voluntary use of speed limiters, which larger fleets already adopt, but maintain that mandating them federally could be counterproductive truckinginfo.com.

The package also includes several administrative and digital upgrades:

· A modern, mobile-friendly overhaul of FMCSA’s DataQs system and the customer complaint database to streamline dispute resolution and reduce outdated paperwork fleetowner.com+3trucksafe.com+3fccr.co+3.

· Removal of roughly 1,800 words of redundant or obsolete regulations—such as archaic labeling requirements, unnecessary manuals, and obsolete references to “water carriers” fmcsa.dot.gov+1freightwaves.com+1.

DOT is launching pilot programs to test greater flexibility in hours-of-service (HOS) regulations, like split sleeper-berth time and paused duty periods—aimed at reducing fatigue without compromising safety cdllife.com+4truckinginfo.com+4en.wikipedia.org+4. Additionally, FMCSA will strengthen enforcement against “double-brokering” fraud and conduct audits of non-domiciled CDL holders to crack down on safety and qualification concerns freightpulse.us+10overdriveonline.com+10freightwaves.com+10.

This package reflects a shift toward a more deregulation-focused, trucker-centric approach—investing in infrastructure and digital resources while easing blanket mandates. For fleets and owner-operators, it offers potential cost savings, better operational flexibility, and safer rest options. However, the broader impact on road safety, fuel efficiency, and emissions—especially in light of separate EPA initiatives pushing for cleaner heavy-duty vehicles—remains to be seen.

On May 2, 2023 the Department of Transportation (DOT) published a final rule in the Federal Register authorizing oral fluid testing as a method of conducting DOT controlled drug tests.  This amended rule became effective on June 1st.  

While the rule is now in effect, carriers shouldn’t rush out and start utilizing oral fluid testing as part of their DOT controlled drug testing process just yet.  For an employer to implement oral fluid testing, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) must first certify at least two laboratories to conduct the testing.  Unfortunately, this has not been done yet.  

According to a June 1st article by Jason Cannon, chief editor of the Commercial Carrier Journal, the National Drug Screening President, Joe Reilly recently said, “no labs have even applied for HHS approval yet.  I met with all of them last week and all said late 2023 or early 2024 before they expect to be approved and operational with oral fluid testing,”

Once labs do get approved, and the process of using oral fluid for DOT tests can start, there will be several key advantages.  Perhaps the biggest of which is that it is significantly more difficult, if not impossible to “cheat”.  Many experienced drug users are routinely ready or prepared to be selected for a DOT test with either synthetic or borrowed urine that they substitute for their own in order to “pass” the test.  Because the oral fluid test occurs directly in the presence of the tester, who physically swabs the cheek of the person being tested, cheating is virtually impossible, unlike with urine tests which are most often done behind closed doors to protect people’s privacy.  

This brings up another huge advantage.  Oral fluid testing can be done virtually anywhere with no need for an actual restroom.  Satellite locations that might not have a restroom can still be used for oral fluid testing, as long as there is some location for the person being tested to meet the person conducting the test.    Additionally, oral fluid testing virtually eliminates the issue of a “shy-bladder” for those who might not be able to produce enough of a urine sample to be tested.  

There are a few things to consider before implementing oral fluid testing.  While the rule was passed allowing the practice, it doesn’t necessarily mean it has to replace previous methods of testing.  While there are some distinct advantages, blood and urine testing are still accurate and reliable testing methods, and the regulations do not mandate one method over the other, and carriers are not required to pick one method or the other.  Carriers have the choice of which method of testing to use each time a test is needed.  This being said, if a carrier does choose to move forward with oral fluid testing, it’s advisable to update your controlled drug and alcohol testing policy to be consistent with current regulations and practices involving this type of testing.  

On January 6, 2020, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) instituted a “clearinghouse”, or online database where information about commercial driver’s license (CDL) holder’s drug and alcohol violations are maintained. (For a refresher on the Cleaninghouse, go here: FMCSA Clearinghouse )

Despite having a secure online repository providing real-time information about CDL holder’s drug and alcohol violations, potential new employers have still been required to perform inquiries to all DOT regulated former employers where the prospective employee performed a safety sensitive function within the previous three years. Soon this will no longer be the case.

Effective January 6, 2023, the Clearinghouse will turn three years old. This means that for the first time ever, there will finally be three years of information contained in the Clearinghouse, so prospective employers will no longer be required to perform the drug and alcohol portion of the previous employer inquiry. Great news, right? Not so much. Unfortunately, while the Clearinghouse will satisfy the drug and alcohol portion of employment verifications required by 49 CFR §391.23(e), prospective employers will still be required to satisfy the requirements of 49 CFR §391.23(d) pertaining to accident information.

So what does this mean? As an employer of a new CDL driver, you will still be required to perform the previous employer inquiry to any employer the driver worked for as a CDL driver in the past three years. You won’t HAVE to inquire about their drug and alcohol history, but you will have to ask about any DOT recordable crashes they were involved in. Similarly, as a previous employer of a driver who may have left to seek employment elsewhere, you will no longer be required to provide information about the former employee’s drug and alcohol history, but you will still be required to provide answers about their recordable accident history.

While nothing prevents former or prospective employers from continuing to ask for, or continuing to provide drug and alcohol information, the only real change is that this information will no longer be required. Inquiries will still need to be made, and responses will still need to be given. The only change is to exactly what is required to be asked for, and what is required to be provided.  

IFor more information on the clearinghouse and specific requirements, check their site here: https://clearinghouse.fmcsa.dot.gov/