The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration on Monday, June 22, finalized three regulatory amendments proposed last year as part of the Trump administration’s effort to cull “burdensome” regulations.
In May 2025, FMCSA proposed 18 changes to existing regulations. In February, the agency finalized 12 of the 18 changes. With the publication of three final rules Monday, that total is now at 15.
The three regulations finalized Monday:
- Rescinding the requirement that a copy of the ELD operator’s manual is kept in the vehicle
- Ending the requirement that CDL holders self-report motor vehicle violations to their state of domicile
- Revising the requirement that motor carriers and intermodal equipment providers sign and return a completed roadside inspection form to the issuing state agency
In removing the ELD operator’s manual requirement, FMCSA said it received 18 comments in support of its proposal, four in opposition and two that were not applicable to the proposal.
A majority of the commenters supporting the proposal, FMCSA said, indicating that keeping the user’s manual in the truck doesn’t provide a safety benefit. Additionally, they noted that ELDs often have an electronic version of the manual built into the device.
Those in opposition to the change said keeping the manual in the truck isn’t a major burden, adding that drivers and law enforcement often do not know how to access the electronic version of the manual.
FMCSA said the availability of electronic versions of the manual make keeping a paper copy redundant. Additionally, for any ELD that doesn’t have an electronic version built in, FMCSA has copies of manuals of all self-certified ELDs on its Registered Devices list.
In removing the requirement that drivers self-report violations to their home state, FMCSA noted that with the implementation of the exclusive electronic exchange (EEE) of violations between state drivers licensing agencies (SDLAs) in 2024, self-reporting is no longer necessary.
Of eight commenters on the proposal, only one -- the National Association of Pupil Transport (NAPT) -- didn’t outright support the proposal. NAPT was concerned that some states continue to rely on self-reporting despite the EEE mandate.
FMCSA advised that CDL holders continue to check and comply with the requirements of their state of domicile, adding that “nothing in this rule absolves a CDL holder from having to comply with a state requirement if that requirement exists.”
Finally, regarding the requirement to sign and return completed roadside inspection forms to issuing state agencies, FMCSA said it’s “aware that not all issuing state agencies require the return of these reports, and that requiring motor carriers and intermodal equipment providers to submit these reports to a state that does not require, or even request, the return of the form creates an unnecessary burden.”
With the change, completed forms will only be returned to those states that request them.
All eight commenters on the proposal supported the effort, though the North American Transportation Consultants (NATC) suggested that FMCSA publish a list of those states that require the return of the completed roadside inspection report. FMCSA declined to compile the list, however, and encouraged motor carriers to continue to check and comply with the requirements of the states in which they operate.
[Related: FMCSA finalizes removal, amendment of 12 of 18 ‘burdensome’ regs previously identified]
