Whatever the political headlines of the day, federal agencies continue to add new trucking regulations, adopt new forms, and extend or discontinue previous waivers and exemptions. In this series, “Trucking Things to Know Now,” PrePass provides quick updates on regulatory developments, often with links to more information.
Commerce says a truck-specific “connected vehicles” rule will come soon. The U.S. Department of Commerce, through its Industry and Security Bureau, proposed a ban on connected vehicle technology originating in or controlled by China (including Hong Kong), the Russian Federation, and other “foreign adversaries” (https://www.prepassalliance.org/balancing-privacy-and-security/). As PrePass noted, today’s advanced technology offers a future of improved road safety, but unless data protections are incorporated, competitors, marketers, litigators – and foreign adversaries — may take the opportunity to track truck routes and locations.
On January 16, 2025, Commerce published the final rule in the Federal Register (https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/01/16/2025-00592/securing-the-information-and-communications-technology-and-services-supply-chain-connected-vehicles) – and specifically excluded vehicles over 10,000 pounds gross weight from its provisions. Commerce acknowledged that commercial vehicles face the same threats from ICTS (Information and Communications Technology Services) originating in adversarial nations but said that the commercial sector is complicated and merits its own rule. Commerce intends to act “in the coming months.”
PrePass customer can relax: all PrePass technologies, software and data systems are produced and manufactured right here in America by trusted employees and partners. Similarly, PrePass protects customer identities, dates and times when their trucks utilize PrePass for weigh station bypass.
Oral fluids guidance posted. Since June 2023, employers may choose to use oral fluids testing for drugs and alcohol (https://www.prepassalliance.org/drug-and-alcohol-testing-update/). Now the USDOT has posted detailed guidance on the training of oral fluids collectors and the laboratories available to process specimens (Oral Fluid Collectors | US Department of Transportation).
ELDs Revoked by FMCSA – What To Do. Recently the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration revoked several Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs) from its approved list. In the U.S., ELD manufacturers self-certify that their devices meet FMCSA technical standards. When FMCSA discovers that an ELD does not comply or when the manufacturer discontinues an ELD, that make and model is removed from the FMCSA approved list. Motor carriers and drivers are directed to:
- Discontinue using the revoked ELD and revert to paper logs or logging software to record required hours of service (HOS) data; and
- Replace the revoked device with compliant ELDs from FMCSA’s Registered Devices List (ELD – ELD List) within 60 days.