National Transportation Consultants News
Find out what’s happening with National Transportation Consultants, our partners, and our clients.
Rear Light Exemptions
Two truck light manufacturers have filed exemption requests with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). Both companies want the ability to equip commercial trucks and trailers with lights at the rear that flash and/or are amber in color. One system...
Trucking Litigation
The American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) has released a study titled “Trucking Litigation: A Forensic Analysis.” The sixty-page report discusses litigation trends and developing areas of concern. The content of this article is taken from the report. The...
Minimum Age Exemption
The American Trucking Associations (ATA) has petitioned the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) for a 5-year exemption to allow motor carriers that previously participated in the Agency’s Safe Driver Apprenticeship Pilot (SDAP) program, which ended on...
Warning Devices for Stopped Trucks
FMCSA Study on Warning Devices for Stopped Trucks: What to Know The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has announced a Study of Warning Devices for Stopped Commercial Motor Vehicles. According to FMCSA, “It is an experimental study that...
Electronic Medical Certification
FMCSA Electronic Medical Certification Rule Takes Effect The 2015 rule mandating electronic medical certifications became effective June 23, 2025. Yet, on that date, 13 states could not accept electronic submissions. Since then, the list has shrunk to nine...
CDL Drivers Under 21
The Safe Driver Apprenticeship Pilot Program began in 2022. This three-year program was designed to create an entry-level pathway for drivers aged 18, 19, and 20 to operate in interstate commerce. The program was capped at 3,000 drivers, but in 2024, only three dozen...
New ELD Vetting Process
When Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs) were mandated, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) set up an on-line list of registered devices. Each manufacturer was required to self-certify their device’s compliance with the regulations prior to posting...
National Hazardous Material Route Registry
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration maintains a web-based registry of National Hazardous Materials Routes by State. For each state, you have the option of viewing the information in an Excel spreadsheet or as a PDF. These files list the designated and...
AI Truck Inspections
The state of Arkansas has contracted with Quarterhill to install sensor-based and AI technologies that will be used to automate some truck inspection functions. The $2.7 million project will be deployed on I-40 at Lehi and on I-55 at Marion. These systems include:...
Driver Qualification File Audit Requirements and Common Errors
Driver Qualification (DQ) files are mandatory for all commercial drivers operating under FMCSA regulations. These files prove each driver is legally and medically fit to drive. When auditors arrive, these are the first documents they check. Incomplete or inaccurate...