With 2025 underway and a new government in power, the trucking industry is gearing up for a serious shakeup. Over the coming weeks and months, you can expect a series of new regulatory changes that promise challenge and opportunity in equal measure.
For both drivers and fleet managers, it’s imperative that you familiarize yourself with the new rules as quickly as possible. That’s why we’ve put together a list of all the changes you can expect this year, what they mean, and how to prepare for them.
Trucking Regulations in 2025: Key Takeaways
Regulators have tabled several proposals for the year ahead, with motions designed to enhance road safety and sustainability. You’ll find a quick at-a-glance breakdown of the possible legislation below.
- AEB systems – new braking system for new heavy trucks
- Speed Limiters – new speed limits for heavy trucks
- ELD expansion – fitting pre-2000 vehicles with ELDs
- CPDP expansion – new crash categories
- Drug and alcohol compliance – drivers with violations to have licenses revoked
- MC number elimination – USDOT numbers to be used as new vehicle identifier
- California ACF rule – electric vehicles to be rolled out
- SMS changes – rule changes for the SMS
In this guide:
- Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) Systems
- Speed Limiters
- Electronic Logging Device (ELD) Expansion
- Expanded Crash Preventability Determination Program (CPDP)
- Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse Compliance
- Motor Carrier (MC) Number Elimination
- California’s Advanced Clean Fleets (ACFs) Rule
- Safety Management System (SMS) Changes
Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) Systems
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), in partnership with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), hopes to mandate AEB systems in new heavy trucks, with potential changes expected in early 2025.
If the regulation is passed, Class 3 to 6 heavy trucks will be required to integrate AEB. Existing trucks within these parameters will have three years in which to be retrofitted with it. Class 7 to 8 vehicles will be required to do the same thing, but they will have a four-year window to be retrofitted.
What does this mean for you?
Installing AEB systems can cost anything between $1,500 and $3,000 per vehicle, so it’s vital for fleet managers to make sure there’s room in the budget for this proposal. You should make sure that any new purchases are AEB-compliant, otherwise you’ll need to have them retrofitted at a later date.
You should also make sure your operators are trained on handling vehicles with AEB systems installed. This way, you avoid any potential mishaps when they’re on the road, which might incur additional insurance costs.
Speed Limiters
The FMCSA plans to table a proposal in May 2025 that would introduce speed limits for heavy trucks. At this stage, most of the details are to be decided, but it’s thought that electronic speed governors will be mandated in trucks that weigh more than 26,000 pounds.
This proposal has sparked debate within the trucking community. The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA), for instance, opposes the rule on the basis of disrupted traffic and the potential for increased crashes.
What does this mean for you?
If the proposal is written into law, expect speed governor installation fees of between $500 and $1,500 per vehicle. You might also incur extra costs due to the knock-on effects of adjusting your operational schedules. For instance, extra fuel costs or increased downtime.
It’s important to make sure you’ve factored this into your fleet budget. You may also want to consider testing speed limiters in some areas to assess their impact on your fleet.
Electronic Logging Device (ELD) Expansion
Rules around ELDs could be set to change this year. For instance, there are suggestions that pre-2000 vehicles could be subject to ELD mandates. Other possibilities include measures to address ELD malfunctions, device removal processes, and technical specifications. At the time of writing, the exact details remain unclear.
What does this mean for you?
These proposals could have a range of impacts. For example, you may need to fit some of your older vehicles with ELDs, which will likely incur an installation fee. What’s more, you will have to train your drivers on ELDs, which takes time.
The proposal to expand ELD rollout has not proved universally popular, with the OOIDA, in particular, arguing that it violates drivers’ Fourth Amendment privileges. Be prepared to meet opposition.
Expanded Crash Preventability Determination Program (CPDP)
The CPDP will be expanded to include four new crash categories. These are:
- A motorist operating in the same direction struck the commercial motor vehicle (CMV) on the side.
- The CMV was struck because another motorist entered the roadway from a private driveway or parking lot.
- The CMV was struck because another motorist lost control of their vehicle.
- Any other type of crash outside the CPDP categories if there is video depicting the sequence of events.
What does this mean for you?
These extra categories could impact your insurance premiums. If your safety scores improve, for instance, you will enjoy a long-term financial reprieve.
To find out, you should conduct a thorough review of past vehicle accidents. This will allow you to identify incidents that might fall under the new categories, thus allowing you to raise disputes that you previously might not have been able to.
Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse Compliance
In November 2024, the FMCSA mandated that all drivers with violations in the Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse would have their commercial driving licenses (CDLs) revoked. Drivers whose status has been deemed “prohibited” must complete the return-to-duty process to get their licenses back.
What does this mean for you?
It’s vital to implement rigid screening checks for your new hires. A study from American Addiction Centers found that US truck drivers had the highest frequency of positive alcohol tests in the world, with more than 72,000 taken off the road for failing drug tests since 2020.
In another study, drivers reported that pressure to “deliver cargo on time, unpredictable weather conditions, loneliness, and depression” contributed towards their drug abuse. To help mitigate this risk, it might be a good idea to think about the demands that you’re placing on your operators.
Motor Carrier (MC) Number Elimination
The FMCSA is in the process of eliminating MC Numbers and hopes to be finished by October 2025. In its place, US Department of Transportation (USDOT) numbers will be used as the sole identifier for motor carriers.
What does this mean for you?
This transition will require some administrative effort and cost on your part. For example, you’ll need to update relevant documentation and communicate the changes to your clients. You should also make sure to educate your staff on the transition to avoid any potential misunderstandings.
California’s Advanced Clean Fleets (ACF) Rule
California recently passed an ACF regulation mandating that drayage fleets can only acquire zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) going forward. It’s likely that other states will look to follow suit, with New York and New Jersey thought to be pursuing the same objective.
What does this mean for you?
Fleet electrification costs a lot in the short term – new electric trucks typically cost in the region of $150,000 to $300,000. However, there are grants available to offset some of these costs, and you will make significant savings in the long term with regard to fuel consumption, idling, and more.
Safety Measurement System (SMS) Changes
The FMCSA is introducing some key changes to the SMS to bolster road safety and make it easier to monitor compliance. To begin with, the body has reorganized its compliance categories to better reflect its safety priorities. “Controlled Substances/Alcohol” violations now fall under “Unsafe Driving,” for instance.
Additionally, the group plans to consolidate current individual violations, which stand at over 2,000, into around 100 violation groups. Finally, the existing severity scale will be replaced with a more streamlined version, for the sake of ease.
What does this mean for you?
These changes will affect how you monitor the safety of your fleet, train your drivers, and keep on top of compliance.
Looking Ahead
While it’s generally accepted that President Trump will wield a light touch with regards to regulation, it’s still important to keep abreast of all the latest developments in the logistics regulatory environment, with new considerations and motions arising on a routine basis. While it can be daunting to think about the impact these proposals will have on everyday operations, as well as your bottom line, there’s no need to panic.
By getting ahead of these upcoming changes, you will endure a temporary setback but long-term rewards. Ultimately, all of the changes outlined above are designed to improve sustainability and road safety, the two most priceless components of the logistics industry.