What Does 2026 Have in Store for Fleet Managers?

As we enter 2026, fleet safety personnel face a regulatory landscape that’s shifting from blanket mandates to targeted, data-driven oversight.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) plan to roll out a mix of deregulatory “clean-ups” and new safety initiatives, many of which will directly impact how fleets manage compliance, safety, and risk.

The following are among the key rulemakings to watch in 2026 and beyond.

Licensing standards

Though the effort has faced setbacks, the FMCSA is expected to continue strengthening the rules for non-domiciled commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs) and learners’ permits (CLPs), to ensure they are not issued to those ineligible to have them. Motor carriers using affected drivers will need to monitor the situation closely. The agency is also expected to:

• Remove more noncompliant entry-level driver training (ELDT) providers from its Training Provider Registry;
• Amend the ELDT rules to address sexual harassment and the safety of women drivers, pedestrians, and bicyclists;
• Ensure that all states finally get into compliance with the standards for processing electronic medical-exam information;
• Add some flexibility to the CDL knowledge- and skills-testing processes;
• Add a user fee to the CDL Information System (CDLIS), which may impact the cost of driving records; and
• Allow dual-status military technicians to qualify for the CDL licensing exception.

ELD rule revisions

The FMCSA is moving to eliminate the requirement for drivers to carry electronic logging device (ELD) user manuals in the cab, but is also planning some “technical modifications” and “streamlining” of the ELD rules. This could translate into the need for ELD hardware and/or software upgrades in the future.

Safety fitness standards

The FMCSA is considering a shift to a more data-driven safety rating system, using inspection, violation, and crash data for continuous oversight. This tectonic shift means the accuracy of carriers’ data will be more important than ever.

Drug & alcohol program modernization

The DOT is expected to finally allow electronic signatures and recordkeeping for its Part 40 testing rules, while the FMCSA plans updates to the Clearinghouse to improve error correction and consent procedures. In addition, fentanyl may be added to the drug testing panel, and hair testing guidelines may advance.

Registration system updates

The FMCSA hopes to continue with its transition to a fully Unified Registration System (URS) and elimination of MC numbers as an identifier. This will tighten controls against registration fraud and change procedures for granting, suspending, and revoking registration.

Equipment impacts

Several proposals will affect vehicle equipment. The DOT plans to require and/or standardize equipment performance for automatic emergency braking systems on heavy trucks. They also plan to remove the need for an operating license-plate lamp on the rear of a truck-tractor towing a trailer; rescind the requirement that rear-impact guards have a permanent certification label from the manufacturer; and update regulations to account for vehicles equipped with automated driving systems.

Rule clean-up

Finally, a wave of minor, targeted rule changes were proposed in early 2025 and will likely be finalized very soon. The changes will ease the requirements related to roadside inspection reports, railroad crossings, accident recordkeeping, the need to carry spare fuses, and the need for drivers to report violations to the state.

Preparing for what’s next

A clear theme in these rulemaking actions is “doing more with less” while transitioning to a data-driven, electronic future. As agencies refine compliance requirements, fleet managers will need to pay close attention to developments and adapt quickly to changes. And as enforcement gets smarter and compliance goes digital, motor carriers that are invested in an integrated, electronic fleet management system will have a competitive advantage when it comes to operational efficiency, change management, and risk exposure.