FMCSA Updates – November 2025: Your Complete Guide to Regulatory Changes

As we approach the end of 2025, fleet operators are navigating one of the most significant regulatory transformation periods in recent trucking history. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has implemented sweeping changes throughout the year, with several major updates now fully in effect and others on the horizon.

Whether you manage a small regional fleet or oversee national operations, understanding these regulatory shifts isn't just about compliance—it's about maintaining operational efficiency and competitive advantage in an evolving landscape.

The Major Changes: What's Already Happened

1. The MC Number Phase-Out (Effective October 1, 2025)

Perhaps the most visible change of 2025, the FMCSA has eliminated Motor Carrier (MC) numbers entirely, transitioning all carriers to USDOT numbers as the sole identifier.1 This registration overhaul represents the agency's most significant administrative modernization in years.

What This Means for Carriers:

• All operating authority is now identified by USDOT numbers with suffixes indicating authority types

• Vehicle markings must be updated to display USDOT numbers

• Internal systems, documentation, and client communications need updating

• The new system aims to reduce fraud and streamline identification

Action Required: If you haven't already, audit all your vehicles, marketing materials, contracts, and documentation to ensure MC numbers have been completely replaced with your USDOT number.

2. Payment Method Changes (Effective September 30, 2025)

The FMCSA no longer accepts paper payments—checks or money orders—for any transactions. All payments must now be processed via debit or credit card, including recurring bills like insurance filing fees.

What This Means: Fleet managers need to establish electronic payment methods for all FMCSA-related transactions. For those with recurring payments, billing instructions should be available on monthly invoices.

3. Electronic Medical Certification Mandate (June 23, 2025 – With Extended Waiver)

Certified medical examiners must now electronically submit DOT physical exam results directly to the FMCSA's National Registry within 24 hours of the exam, which then transmits them to State Driver Licensing Agencies.

Current Status: The FMCSA issued a temporary waiver allowing interstate CDL holders and carriers to continue using paper copies of medical examiner certificates for up to 15 days after issuance. This waiver remains in effect until January 10, 2026.

Critical Reminder: Even with the paper waiver, drivers and fleet managers should verify that medical certifications are properly recorded electronically with their state DMV to avoid issues during inspections or license renewals. The best practice is pulling a Motor Vehicle Report to confirm proper recording.

4. Enhanced Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse Enforcement

As of November 18, 2024, State Driver Licensing Agencies are required to downgrade commercial driving privileges for drivers with a "prohibited" status in the FMCSA's Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse.

What This Means: Drivers cannot operate commercial vehicles until they complete the return-to-duty process. Fleet managers must conduct regular Clearinghouse queries to monitor driver status and maintain zero-tolerance policies regarding substance violations.

5. Speed Limiter Mandate Withdrawn (July 2025)

In a significant policy reversal, the FMCSA officially withdrew the controversial speed limiter rulemaking. The proposed rule would have required trucks over 26,000 pounds with electronic control units to have speed-limiting technology.

Impact: Fleets are no longer required to budget for the $500-$1,500 per vehicle installation costs or adjust schedules for longer transport times. However, individual carriers may still choose to implement speed limiting for safety and fuel efficiency reasons.

Deregulatory Actions: Streamlining Compliance

In May 2025, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced 52 deregulatory actions across the Federal Highway Administration, FMCSA, and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. These changes aim to eliminate or amend rules that don't enhance safety or duplicate existing regulations.

Key FMCSA Simplifications Include:

Simplified CDL Standards for Military Personnel Dual-status military technicians now qualify for the military exception from CDL training requirements, reducing costs and administrative burden.

Removal of CDL Self-Reporting Requirements With electronic exchange of violations between state licensing agencies implemented in 2024, drivers no longer need to self-report motor vehicle violations to their state.

Modified Accident Reporting Definitions The FMCSA now excludes diagnostic imaging like x-rays and CT scans from its definition of "medical treatment" when it comes to accident reporting, better aligning with the agency's 2022 guidance.

Electronic DVIR Submission Drivers can now submit Driver Vehicle Inspection Reports electronically, reducing paperwork burden.

ELD Manual Requirements Relaxed Drivers are no longer required to keep ELD operator manuals in their trucks, eliminating an unintended regulatory burden without compromising safety.

Ongoing Enforcement: English Language Proficiency

The FMCSA continues to enforce its long-standing regulation requiring commercial drivers to "read and speak the English language sufficiently to converse with the general public, understand highway traffic signs and signals, respond to official inquiries, and make entries on reports and records."

What's New: Enforcement guidelines are clearer in 2025, with non-compliant drivers being taken out of service on the spot rather than receiving warnings or citations.

Action Required: Fleets should determine objective guidelines for ensuring hired drivers meet proficiency standards and may need to provide language support or resources for current drivers.

ELD Updates and Compliance

The FMCSA removed two devices from its list of registered ELDs in July 2025: the WALKER ELD and SR ELD. Both devices failed to meet minimum FMCSA requirements.

Critical Check: If your fleet uses either of these devices, you must transition to compliant ELDs immediately to avoid violations.

The compliance deadline for ELD requirements on pre-2000 engines has been extended to June 2025, but that date has now passed and compliance is mandatory.

Looking Ahead: Proposed Changes and Pilot Programs

Safety Measurement System (SMS) Overhaul

The FMCSA continues refining its Safety Measurement System with several proposed changes:

• Combining the Controlled Substances and Alcohol BASIC with Unsafe Driving

• Splitting Vehicle Maintenance into two categories: general maintenance and driver-observed issues

• Increasing the utilization factor from 200,000 to 250,000 vehicle miles traveled per power unit

• Adjusting intervention thresholds

These changes aim to provide more accurate and actionable data for carriers while ensuring enforcement resources focus on companies with genuine safety concerns.

Crash Preventability Determination Program Expansion

The FMCSA expanded the Crash Preventability Determination Program (CPDP) to review additional crash types. Four new non-preventable categories have been added:

1. A motorist strikes the side of the truck while moving in the same direction

2. A motorist entering the highway from a private driveway or parking lot strikes the truck

3. A motorist loses control of their vehicle and strikes the truck

4. Video evidence points to a non-preventable incident, even outside CPDP categories

Crashes deemed "not preventable" are excluded from the Crash Indicator BASIC and noted in the Pre-Employment Screening Program, helping carriers maintain accurate safety records.

Hours of Service Pilot Programs

As part of the "Pro-Trucker Package" initiative, the FMCSA launched two HOS pilot programs to explore flexibility options that could improve driver quality of life while maintaining safety.

Broker Transparency and Financial Responsibility

The FMCSA extended the compliance date for broker and freight forwarder financial responsibility provisions to January 16, 2026.19 A second notice of proposed rulemaking on broker transparency is scheduled for 2026.

What Carriers Should Know: While these changes primarily affect brokers, they impact payment security and business relationships. The FMCSA requires freight brokers to carry a $75,000 surety bond or trust agreement to protect shippers.

What Fleet Managers Should Do Now

Immediate Actions

1. Complete MC Number Transition: Ensure all vehicles, documentation, and systems reflect USDOT numbers exclusively

2. Set Up Electronic Payments: Establish debit/credit card payment methods for all FMCSA transactions

3. Verify Medical Certifications: Pull Motor Vehicle Reports to confirm driver medical certifications are properly recorded electronically

4. Conduct Clearinghouse Queries: Perform regular checks to monitor driver status and maintain substance abuse compliance

5. Audit ELD Compliance: Verify your fleet isn't using the removed devices and all equipment meets current standards

Strategic Planning

1. Review Safety Scores: With SMS changes coming, understand your current BASIC scores and develop improvement strategies

2. Document Crash Preventability: Implement dash cam systems or other recording technology to document crash circumstances

3. Monitor Regulatory Updates: Assign someone to track FMCSA announcements and regulatory agenda changes

4. Invest in Compliance Technology: Modern fleet management systems can automate many compliance tracking requirements

5. Develop Training Programs: Ensure drivers understand English proficiency requirements, electronic medical certification processes, and substance abuse policies

The Bigger Picture: A Year of Transformation

2025 has been a watershed year for trucking regulation, characterized by a dual approach: modernizing outdated processes while eliminating unnecessary burdens. The elimination of MC numbers, transition to electronic medical certification, and payment modernization represent significant administrative improvements that ultimately benefit carriers.

Simultaneously, the withdrawal of the speed limiter mandate and 52 deregulatory actions signal a shift toward reducing regulatory burden without compromising safety. This balance—streamlining administration while maintaining safety standards—reflects an evolving approach to commercial vehicle regulation.

For fleet operators, these changes create both challenges and opportunities. Those who stay ahead of compliance requirements, invest in appropriate technology, and maintain proactive safety programs will find themselves better positioned competitively. Conversely, reactive approaches that wait until enforcement actions force change will face disruption, penalties, and operational inefficiencies.

Resources and Next Steps

Official FMCSA Resources:

FMCSA Website: www.fmcsa.dot.gov

Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse: clearinghouse.fmcsa.dot.gov

National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners: nationalregistry.fmcsa.dot.gov

FMCSA Contact Center: 1-800-832-5660

Compliance Best Practices:

Schedule quarterly compliance audits

Maintain updated driver qualification files

Implement automated compliance tracking systems

Document all training and policy communications

Stay engaged with industry associations for regulatory updates

Ready to Navigate These Changes?

Regulatory compliance doesn't have to be overwhelming. With the right guidance and systems in place, these changes can streamline your operations while maintaining the safety standards that protect your drivers, your business, and the public.

If you're looking for support in understanding how these FMCSA updates impact your specific operations, or if you need assistance with compliance strategies, let's connect.

Kevin Shockley ABS Sales Account Manager 📧 kshockley@abstagtitle.com

Whether you're managing vehicle title and registration compliance or navigating the broader regulatory landscape, staying informed and proactive is your best strategy for success.