Court Schedules Arguments on FMCSA's New Hours of Service Rule on March 15, 2013
In 2023, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (“FMCSA”) under the Biden administration started accepting public comments about the many petitions for waiver that key stakeholders, including the California Attorney...more
After a truck accident in New Jersey, it’s easy to point the finger at the truck driver. What if the real cause of the accident runs deeper? Determining liability isn’t always straightforward, so uncovering the truth could be...more
On February 18, 2025, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (“FMCSA”) granted a request to reopen the comment period for its Broker Transparency Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (“NPRM”) originally published at 89 FR...more
The Autonomous Vehicle Industry Association on January 7 released a federal policy framework to accelerate the deployment and commercialization of autonomous vehicle technology and maintain the US leadership role in AV...more
Payment and collection practices are under renewed scrutiny in the transportation business. Legitimate providers and shippers are suffering from the growth of unlawful double brokering, insolvent service providers, and other...more
In January 2025, the Trump Administration will take office, and it is anticipated that President-Elect Donald J. Trump's second term will lead to significant regulatory changes generally. In his first term, President Trump...more
The regulatory environment is top of mind these days coupled with speculation over potential change. Any attention paid to our obligations for safe and lawful operation is positive as we strive for compliance by our companies...more
Motor carriers and private fleet operators need to weigh several critical factors when deciding where to register and plate their motor vehicles and equipment (trailers, flatbeds, tanker units, etc.). Selecting the right...more
Share on Twitter Print Share by Email Share Back to top Through 2024, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (“NHTSA” or the “Agency”) continued its efforts to improve safety statistics and reduce the number of...more
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (“FMCSA”) issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (“NPRM”) on November 20, 2024,titled Transparency in Property Broker Transactions (89 FR 91648). ...more
Traditionally, the bill of lading (“BOL”) is a basic transportation contract between shipper and carrier. It’s importance under today’s laws is established in the first sentence of the Carmack Amendment at 49 USC § 14706....more
A Department of Transportation (“DOT”) audit is something that all motor carriers dread. The potential for a Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (“FMCSA”) investigator can often have adverse consequences....more
To most Americans, the word “audit” conjures up a visceral fear of the IRS combing through their records and finances. However, to those in the motor carrier industry, “audit” means something much different, but no less...more
How'd that happen? An employer who terminated an employee after he took intermittent FMLA leave for diabetes won its case, and recently won again on appeal. According to both courts, the employee appeared to be trying to...more
As the summer Olympic Games are upon us, there will inevitably be instances of athletes being banned from the Games due to doping. The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) is the body governing American Olympic and Paralympic...more
For-hire and private motor carriers face unique compliance and operations challenges that many other business or company functions do not encounter. Operating commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) for your business, or as your...more
Autonomous, or self-driving, vehicles are not a new concept. Companies such as Mercedes Benz, BMW, and Tesla have reshaped the automobile industry by producing and selling autonomous vehicles equipped with the newest AI...more
Welcome to The On-Ramp, the newsletter published by Venable's Autonomous and Connected Mobility Team. The On-Ramp explores legal and policy developments in the world of autonomous vehicles, smart infrastructure, emerging...more
Big changes are in store for commercial driver’s license (CDL) holders who test positive for drugs or alcohol. In October 2021, FMCSA issued a final rule aimed to improve highway safety. Under the rule, CDL holders with drug...more
Public safety on the roadways is the chief objective of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs). Some safety and operations teams will from time to time encounter unique circumstances where strict compliance can...more
Courts have clearly established that a shipper cannot prevail in a freight claim against a carrier if an “Act of God” caused the freight loss or damage. The Act of God defense is an original, and one of the most...more
Double brokering has emerged as a hot topic in this era of supply chain fraud, hostage loads, and cargo theft. The term “double brokerage” is used sweepingly as a reference to a wide range of operational practices where the...more
Our economy depends on commercial trucking. In 2021, there were 13.86 million trucks registered, and they traveled a total of 327.48 billion miles in that year alone. In 2022, large trucks transported 72.6% of the total...more
Seyfarth Synopsis: On December 26, 2023, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (“FMCSA”) announced they would be accepting comments from the public in response to multiple petitions requesting waivers from the...more
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) on Nov. 16, 2023, issued a final rule that implements financial security requirements on brokers and freight forwarders. The rule, proposed earlier this year, should...more