Trucking news and briefs for Monday, Aug. 31, 2026:
- Trucking registration fees on the rise.
- Fire risk prompts recall.
- FMCSA gives large fleet another exemption for driver trainees.
FMCSA moves forward with increasing 2027 UCR fees
Following its proposal earlier this year to increase fees for the Unified Carrier Registration (UCR) Plan and Agreement, the agency published in the Federal Register on Sept. 1 finalizing its proposed increase.
Under FMCSA’s final rule, UCR fees are increasing by 20% over the fee structure adopted for 2025 and retained for 2026. Depending on fleet size, the increase is anywhere from $9 to $9,329.
Even though the fees for registration year 2027 are increased, they are still less than those in effect during registration years 2019 through 2022.
In finalizing the increase, FMCSA responded to comments received when the proposal was introduced in April. Some commenters opposed UCR fees in general, questioned the purpose behind establishing the UCR fees or the current use of UCR fees, or stated they did not know what UCR fees are used for.
FMCSA’s response clarified that its hands are tied when it comes to UCR fees, as the UCR plan and the requirement to assess fees to be collected were established by Congress and codified in statute, so neither FMCSA nor the UCR Board have the discretion to stop collecting fees.
The fees, by statute, are used by states for motor carrier safety programs and enforcement, or the administration of the UCR Plan and UCR Agreement.
Several commenters also cited the cost of doing business, including increased fuel, maintenance, insurance, and compliance costs, in opposing the increase.
FMCSA acknowledged “that the transportation industry faces numerous economic pressures,” but said it “has reviewed the Board’s proposal and determined that it is necessary to increase fees for the 2027 registration year to cover the States’ statutory entitlements so they can maintain these essential safety operations, as well as to fund the UCR Plan’s reasonable administrative costs.”
Fire risk prompts recall of Kenworth, Peterbilt trucks
Paccar is recalling certain Peterbilt and Kenworth trucks due to an issue with the seat assemblies that could cause a short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the recall includes approximately 811 model year 2027 Kenworth T680, T880 and W990 trucks, and 2027 Peterbilt 567, 579 and 589 trucks.
In the affected units, the seat ventilation harness may be missing heat-shrink, which can result in a short circuit.
Dealers will replace the harnesses, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed Oct. 20. Owners can contact Peterbilt's customer service at 1-940-591-4220 or Kenworth's customer service at 1-425-828-5888. PACCAR's number for this recall is 25PACE. NHTSA’s recall number is 26V-544.
Covenant gets renewal of pre-CDL team-driving waiver
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has renewed an exemption for Landair Transport (doing business as Covenant Logistics) that allows commercial learner’s permit holders who have passed the CDL skills test to operate without a CDL holder in the front seat. FMCSA first granted the exemption in 2024.
As with other similar exemptions granted to C.R. England, CRST, and other fleets, the waiver allows CLP holders who have passed the CDL skills test but not yet returned to their home state to obtain their CDL to essentially drive in team operations with another driver in the truck, but not necessarily in the passenger seat as required by federal regulations.
In renewing the waiver, FMCSA said it received 10 comments on the renewal request, eight of which were in opposition to granting the renewal. Most comments in opposition alluded to the CLP holders lacking experience and being safer when being observed by a CDL holder who is on-duty and in the front seat.
FMCSA argued, however, that “CLP holders who have passed the CDL skills test are eligible to obtain a CDL without further training.” Since these drivers have passed the skills test, the only step remaining to drive a commercial vehicle without supervision is to return to their state of domicile and retrieve their physical CDL.
“If these CLP holders had obtained their training and CLPs in their state of domicile, they could immediately obtain their CDL at the in-State SDLA and immediately begin driving a CMV without any on-board supervision,” FMCSA added.
Covenant’s renewed exemption is effective for five years through July 30, 2031.
