Plus: FMCSA tightens ELD oversight | ATA pushes for veteran pathways
Deep audits of non-domicile CDLs are raising tough questions about licensing integrity, and it is hitting a nerve across the industry. When the system wobbles, every carrier feels it.
We have plenty more on tap, from recalls to winter convoys to changes in tech and training.
But first, check out this dashcam video from an icy situation this week in Idaho. Drive safely.
Opening doors. At a House hearing, ATA pushed Congress to expand training and cut red tape so more veterans can step into trucking careers.
Light issues. Volvo trucks and Mack trucks are being recalled due to headlight issues.
Cooling off. The trailer leasing industry still shows some growth, but the pace is definitely slowing down.
Just for fun: Drivers are on the road for hours at a time and see a lot of things on the road. This driver claims he spotted Bigfoot.
4,500
The number of truck driver schools the government has placed on notice due to potential noncompliance for not meeting training rules.
Source: DC Velocity
TEAC unveils plan to fight fraudulent industry actors
Fed-up trucking leaders from around the country are banding together to fight frivolous lawsuits and illegal operators who thrive on the margins through fraud and manipulation.
The Trucking Association Executive Council has developed a seven-point action plan to promote CDL integrity, cross-border integrity, non-domiciled CDL reform and other trucking issues that it feels need immediate attention.
Why this matters: "When carriers and drivers who follow safety rules and invest in driver training compete against operators who cut every corner, the bad guys win and everybody else loses. These reforms protect American jobs and save lives," said John Esparza, president/CEO of the Texas Trucking Association. Get more details (The Trucker)
LICENSE AUDIT: Colorado is reviewing more than 1,700 non-domicile CDLs after USDOT flagged systemic noncompliance tied to crashes involving drivers who couldn’t read English road signs.
TREE TIME: This year’s Capitol Christmas Tree, a 53-foot red fir, arrived in D.C. after a cross-country ride on a Kenworth T680.
SIGN IGNORED: A flatbed driver in Texas pays the price for brushing off a warning sign.
HANGING CAB: Firefighters pull a driver to safety after his truck dangled off a West Virginia bridge for five hours.
FMCSA retools ELD vetting process
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is revamping its vetting process for electronic logging devices. Owner-operators had complained that a lack of oversight by the FMCSA paved the way for inferior ELDs to get to the market, allowing companies to do things such as edit data.
Why this matters: This move strengthens oversight, supports drivers using compliant ELDs and helps ensure everyone is operating under the same standards. (FreightWaves)
What were the best truck tech innovations of 2025?
Commercial Truck Trader wrapped up the most significant truck tech gains for the year and ranked real-time route planning at the top of the list. Also near the top: cloud-based TMS and telematics
Why this matters: New tech is reshaping how trucks and fleets operate. Keeping pace helps carriers stay efficient, competitive and ready for what’s next.
Get more details. (Commercial Truck Trader)
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The Inside Lane is curated and written by Alan Schmadtke and edited by Bianca Prieto.
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