In order to help keep the fleet industry better-informed, GPS Insight hosted FleetOwner’s recent Webcast, Looking Back to See Ahead, A Trucking Perspective on Government Action in 2022 and What it Means for 2023. The webinar featured Sean Garney, the co-director at Scopelitis Transportation Consulting, a leading voice on federal fleet and transportation issues.
Sean spent over a decade with the American Trucking Association, representing the industry before Congress, federal regulators and other key stakeholders as an expert on key issues such as hours of service, electronic logging devices and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) safety and administration program. He focused on recent actions in Washington and how they will impact the industry now, and in the years ahead.
TL; DR
- Fleet compliance in 2026 requires organized ELD, HOS, DVIR, maintenance, driver qualification, and drug testing records.
- The ELD mandate remains active for most drivers who must maintain Records of Duty Status.
- Hours-of-service compliance is still one of the biggest risk areas for commercial fleets.
- DOT drug and alcohol testing rules require ongoing driver checks, documentation, and Clearinghouse monitoring.
- Fleets can reduce audit risk by managing compliance daily instead of waiting for a DOT review.
I’m Just a Bill – Government 101
Sean began with a brief refresher course on who does what in our nation’s capital and how it impacts the fleet industry. As you know, Congress makes the laws and the Executive Branch—the president and assorted departments—implement them through rulemaking and enforcement.
He noted that, over much of the last ten years, Congress has been increasingly divided, which has made it difficult to get important things done. As a result, Congress has only acted in times of crisis, so little has been done to address some major issues facing the nation as a whole and the industry specifically.
Sean also discussed key issues such as new research, task forces and advisory committees affecting transportation and fleets underway.
One particularly controversial item under review is new ways to fund the Highway Transportation Fund. Policymakers are discussing transitioning from something that taxes each gallon of fuel to something that taxes each mile driven. While this is a less efficient way to track and to collect funds for the Highway Trust Fund, it is an option because Congress has been very hesitant to raising gas and diesel taxes to pay for roads and bridges. A “user-fee” doesn’t receive the same amount of public outcry and is, therefore, easier to increase than a broad-based tax.
Meanwhile, the Truck Leasing Task Force is designed to provide education for lease drivers on beneficial and fair leasing agreements. There has been growing concern that some truck leasing programs that are less fair to drivers, and they’re looking for ways to provide owner operators or independent contractors additional information on how to evaluate those leases, how to understand what they might do to your net compensation, and more.
Finally, vehicles and technology, especially with the rise of safety technology, are a top issue for national policymakers. The brave new world of self-driving vehicles and large truck crash causation are prime candidates for a deep review. FMCSA is already looking at helping us understand the genesis of crashes. Driver pay and apprenticeship opportunities are also on Congress’ agenda. Things like driver assist technology and automated vehicle technology, like automatic emergency braking, and underride protection requirements need rulemaking to develop standards.
What Federal Regulations Apply to Commercial Fleet Operators in 2026?
Commercial fleet operators may need to comply with several federal rule categories, depending on vehicle weight, cargo, passenger operations, interstate activity, CDL requirements, and business type.
The most important federal compliance areas include:
- FMCSA Safety Regulations
FMCSA rules cover commercial motor vehicle safety, driver qualifications, hours of service, vehicle inspections, maintenance, drug and alcohol testing, and safety management controls.
- Hours of Service
Hours-of-service rules limit how long drivers can drive and work before taking required breaks or off-duty time. FMCSA states that HOS rules are designed to keep drivers awake and alert by limiting driving and on-duty time.
- ELD Mandate
The ELD rule requires many drivers who keep Records of Duty Status to use electronic logging devices that synchronize with the vehicle engine to record driving time.
- Drug and Alcohol Testing
CDL and CLP drivers covered by FMCSA’s drug and alcohol testing program are subject to testing rules and Clearinghouse checks. The Clearinghouse gives employers and government agencies access to violation information for covered drivers.
- Driver Qualification Rules
Fleets must maintain driver qualification files that show drivers are properly licensed, medically qualified, and eligible to operate regulated commercial vehicles.
- Vehicle Inspection and Maintenance Rules
Carriers must inspect, repair, and maintain vehicles so they remain safe to operate. DVIRs, roadside inspection results, maintenance history, and defect correction records all support compliance.
- CSA and SMS Monitoring
FMCSA’s Safety Measurement System uses safety data to help prioritize carriers for monitoring, roadside inspections, and interventions. FMCSA notes that SMS data is used by the agency and enforcement community.
- New Entrant Safety Assurance
New carriers entering interstate commerce are monitored during an initial 18-month period, and many must complete a safety audit. FMCSA states that motor carriers must undergo a safety audit within the first 12 months of operations to complete the New Entrant Program.
FMCSA Hours-of-Service Rules 2026
Hours-of-service rules are among the most important compliance requirements for regulated commercial drivers. They set limits on driving time, on-duty time, required breaks, and weekly work cycles.
FMCSA HOS Summary for Property-Carrying Drivers
| Rule | 2026 Requirement |
| 11-hour driving limit | Driver may drive a maximum of 11 hours after 10 consecutive hours off duty |
| 14-hour limit | Driver may not drive beyond the 14th consecutive hour after coming on duty after 10 consecutive hours off duty |
| 30-minute break | Driver must take a 30-minute break after 8 cumulative hours of driving without a qualifying interruption |
| Sleeper berth | Drivers may use qualifying sleeper berth periods under FMCSA rules |
| 60/70-hour limit | Driver may not drive after 60 hours on duty in 7 days or 70 hours on duty in 8 days, depending on carrier schedule |
| 34-hour restart | Drivers may restart a 7/8-day period after at least 34 consecutive hours off duty |
FMCSA’s published summary confirms the major property-carrying driver limits, including the 11-hour driving limit, 14-hour window, 30-minute break rule, and 60/70-hour limits.
Why HOS Compliance Matters
HOS violations can lead to roadside citations, out-of-service orders, audit findings, CSA score impact, and greater enforcement attention. More importantly, fatigue-related risk can affect drivers, customers, cargo, vehicles, and the public.
Fleet managers should monitor:
- Drivers approaching daily driving limits
- Drivers approaching weekly cycle limits
- Missed or late breaks
- Unassigned driving time
- Edits to logs
- Yard move and personal conveyance use
- Malfunctions or missing ELD data
- Supporting documents that match duty status records
Pro Tip: Review HOS exceptions before applying them. Short-haul, adverse driving conditions, sleeper berth, and other exceptions can be useful, but they must be documented correctly and used only when the driver and trip qualify.
Watch the Webcast On-demand:
