Trucking news and briefs for Friday, Feb. 6, 2026:
- Would you trade total HOS compliance on paper for an ELD-mandate exemption? New trucking org petitions FMCSA for ELD relief long sought by many owner-ops.
- FMCSA wants feedback on request to allow paper medical cards until new electronic system fully implemented.
- MATS concert lineup set -- see who's performing.
FMCSA considering request to exempt drivers from ELDs
The Federation of Professional Truckers (FOPT) petitioned the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration for an exemption from the electronic logging device requirements. FOPT was established in September 2025 "to restore professionalism, accountability, and fairness to the trucking industry," according to the organization's website.
If granted, the exemption would apply to “FOPT members and any other professional driver choosing to participate,” a Federal Register notice said.
In its request, FOPT said it’s a “nonprofit advocacy organization whose members are professional drivers and small carriers operating across the United States.” The group is requesting an exemption from the ELD requirement in 49 Code of Federal Regulations 395.8 to allow covered drivers to record their record of duty status (RODS) manually with a paper logbook, rather than with an ELD.
FOPT argued that paper logs remain enforceable and are understood by enforcement officers nationwide, and that small carriers face disproportionate financial burdens from the ELD requirements.
The group added that “[t]echnical limitations and frequent malfunctions highlight the continued necessity of paper alternatives,” and that Executive Order 12866, issued by President Bill Clinton in 1993, requires agencies to avoid unnecessary regulatory burdens when reasonable alternatives exist.
To ensure the same level of safety as operating with an ELD, FOPT said it would provide its members education to ensure accuracy in paper logs completion, adding that participating carriers would conduct random internal audits, and violators found would be excluded "from the exemption program.”
FMCSA will accept public comments on the request beginning Monday, Feb. 9. Comments can be filed for 30 days at www.regulations.gov by searching Docket No. FMCSA-2025-1282.
[Related: What if you didn't need 10 after 11 or 14 in the HOS? This owner aims to find out]
FMCSA requests input on allowing paper medical cards until electronic med cert rule fully implemented
The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance has requested that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration provide guidance to enforcement officials related to the ongoing implementation of the agency’s Medical Examiner's Certification Integration (NRII) final rule.
With eight states still yet to fully implement the final rule, FMCSA has issued waivers that allow CDL holders to rely on a paper copy of the medical examiner’s certificate as proof of the driver’s medical certification for up to 60 days after the date the certificate was issued. The latest waiver is effective through April 10.
The NRII rule, as reported, requires states to implement an electronic process for medical certification -- with examiners transmitting exam results to FMCSA via the National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners and FMCSA transmitting the results to state driver’s licensing agencies to post to the driver’s motor vehicle record (MVR).
States yet to implement the required systems: Alaska, California, Kentucky, Louisiana, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York and Oklahoma.
Given states still not in compliance, CVSA said motor carriers “have faced challenges in uneven NRII implementation,” leading to additional costs and administrative burdens.
Even though CVSA’s request was for guidance, FMCSA is treating it as an application for exemption from the applicable regulations to allow motor carriers and drivers to continue to rely on a paper copy of the driver’s MEC as proof of the driver’s medical certification for 60 days from the date the certificate was issued. If granted, the exemption would allow motor carriers and drivers the same flexibility as the current waiver while waiting for all states to complete NRII implementation.
FMCSA is accepting comments on the request here through March 9.
[Related: FMCSA again extends truckers' post-exam paper medical card use]
Free MATS concert lineup set
Overdrive contributor and trucker-songwriter Long Haul Paul is one of three artists lined up to perform at the annual Friday night concert at the Mid-America Trucking Show in Louisville, Kentucky. MATS will be held March 26-28.
Joining Long Haul Paul at the Friday night event will be Mark Ware and Frank Foster.
Known to Overdrive readers for his long-running Faces of the Road series of profiles and oral histories, and huge contributions to the Overdrive Radio podcast series, Long Haul Paul Marhoefer has earned a big presence in the trucking music scene. His songwriting charts the trials and tribulations of trucking life and business, with well-known tracks from “Thirty Weight Coffee” to “You Were a Good Hand” and many, many more.
Also on the bill at MATS is a former fire chief turned country-rock powerhouse, Mark Ware. The performer delivers a blend of Southern soul and gritty storytelling. Known for emotional hits like “Six Feet Away” and the powerful anthem “Hidden Bruises,” his music strikes a chord with anyone who knows the value of hard work and resilience.
The event’s headliner, Frank Foster, is an independent Southern rocker who is a former oilfield worker. His hits include “Blue Collar Boys” and more.
The free Friday concert is sponsored by the Bennett Family of Companies. Free tickets will be available in their booth, No. 39201, during MATS show hours Thursday and Friday, March 26 and 27.
[Related: Documenting the 'Faces of the Road' with Long Haul Paul]
