The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration took steps toward creation of a new registration system. In a notice that was published in the Federal Register on Friday, April 19, FMCSA requested approval from the White House Office of Management and Budget for a new information collection request involving its new registration system. The agency plans to replace its Unified Registration System with a new online version named FMCSA Registration. “The new system will allow all persons required to register under the agency’s commercial or safety jurisdiction to do so online,” FMCSA wrote in the ..read more

A continuing topic of debate at statehouses around the country is highway protests. Federal legislation also covers the topic. The issue continues to draw headlines. In the past week, highway protests have blocked traffic in large cities including Chicago, Miami, New York City, San Francisco and Seattle. There are at least a half-dozen states that have taken action in recent years to adopt rules to deter highway protests. South Dakota and Tennessee were the first to act to address concerns about people blocking busy roadways. The South Dakota law set the punishment for standing on a highway to ..read more

Truckers traveling along the Ohio Turnpike may have noticed some recent changes to the state’s toll roads. On April 10, the Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission launched its new “modernized” toll collection system. The new system will feature “a combination of open-road tolling lanes for E-ZPass customers and a gated exit system for non-E-ZPass customers,” according to the commission. “The new toll collection system – featuring open-road tolling – will continue to stimulate economic activity and growth across our 241-mile Ohio Turnpike, which is designated as Interstate 80, I-90 and I-7 ..read more

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has granted a petition from the Transportation Intermediaries Association regarding training requirements for freight forwarders and brokers. According to FMCSA’s website, the petition for rulemaking has been closed and a letter notifying TIA that it had been granted was sent on March 11. A notice of approval still has not been published in the Federal Register. In June 2023, TIA petitioned the agency for a rulemaking to implement and enforce existing provisions related to experience and training requirements for brokers and freight forwarders to ..read more

The Michigan Department of Transportation is closing eastbound Interstate 496 and the southbound U.S. Highway 127 ramps to Trowbridge Road for bridge demolition. MDOT said in a news release that the closure in Ingham County will begin at 6 a.m. on Saturday, April 20 and is expected to end by 6 a.m. on Sunday, April 21. This bridge work is part of the $205 million “Rebuilding Michigan” program centered on U.S. 127/I-496 from Interstate 96 to I-496, an important route for commuters, commercial vehicles and tourists. “The investment strategy is aimed at fixes that result in longer, useful lives a ..read more

Results of a survey conducted by Trucker Path reveal that in addition to truck parking, truckers expect certain amenities when looking for a truck stop. According to Trucker Path, more than 86% of survey respondents want abundant truck parking at truck stops. Truckers also want clean showers and restaurants. The top-desired truck stop amenities are: Abundant truck parking (86%) Clean showers (67.5%) On-site restaurant (47%) Healthy/fresh food selection (41%) 24/7 truck maintenance services (29%) High-speed diesel pumps (27%) Wi-Fi (22%) Laundry (20%) Driver lounge area (15%) Pet friendly (13 ..read more

A new Michigan law is intended to address “flaws” in how the state sets local roadway speed limits. Michigan law states that an engineering and safety study must be conducted to modify a speed limit. Additionally, speeds on state and local roads must be rounded up to the nearest multiple of 5 mph of the 85th-percentile standard. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has signed into law a bill to update how the state observes the 85th-percentile speed rule – the speed at or below which 85% of vehicles travel in free-flowing traffic. House lawmakers approved the bill on a 100-10 vote. The Senate followed suit b ..read more

A new Wisconsin law authorizes the creation of a commercial driver training grant program in the state. Gov. Tony Evers signed into law the bill creating a tuition reimbursement program for students working toward their CDL. Previously SB271, the new law requires the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development to establish and administer the grant program. One provision in the new rule specifies that a CDL training provider must satisfy entry-level driver training requirements established by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Sen. Eric Wimberger, R-Green Bay, was behind the bil ..read more

A new report highlighting the state of the autonomous vehicle industry reveals that although autonomous vehicles are logging more miles, government policies continue to slow down progress. In its inaugural State of AV report, the Autonomous Vehicle Industry Association gives a glimpse of how things are going in the world of autonomous vehicles. It reports things are going well for the most part but could be better with clearer policies at the state and federal levels. “It is awe-inspiring to see the progress autonomous vehicles are making in the United States,” Autonomous Vehicle Industry Asso ..read more

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration will have its annual Safety Research Forum later this month. The virtual meetings are scheduled for 1 to 4 p.m. Eastern April 24 and April 25. Truck drivers and other stakeholders can register for the forum here. “The event will focus primarily on the work being performed by FMCSA’s Office of Research, with staff members presenting short summaries of some of their most interesting and important projects,” the agency wrote. The April 24 presentations will feature FMCSA’s Analysis Division and new Crash Data Analytics Division. FMCSA’s Applied Rese ..read more