FMCSA said scammers have begun impersonating the Motus application and sending messages claiming that an off-cycle profile update requires immediate attention. The emails direct recipients to websites that resemble the federal registration portal but are not operated by the agency.

FMCSA Identifies Four Fake Motus Websites

The legitimate Motus registration system is available at motus.dot.gov. FMCSA identified four fraudulent addresses connected to the scam:

• dot.motusdatasboard.com
• dot.motusdatadesk.com
• dot.motuswebdeck.com
• dot.motusfunction.com

None of the four addresses use a .gov domain.

The fraudulent emails have used the subject line “Notice of Required Off-Cycle Update- Motus email” and include a button labeled “New MOTUS Portal.” Clicking the button sends recipients to an outside website rather than the official federal system.

FMCSA also noted that the agency refers to the system as “Motus,” while the fraudulent messages use “MOTUS” in all capital letters.

Scam Appears During the Motus Transition

FMCSA launched Motus on May 19 as its new USDOT registration system for motor carriers, brokers, and other regulated businesses. The platform is being introduced as part of a broader modernization of the agency’s registration process and uses Login.gov for access.

The scam surfaced while FMCSA was already making temporary changes to registration enforcement during the transition.

On September 10, the agency temporarily suspended enforcement of biennial-update requirements and paused USDOT number deactivations for missed filings due after June 1. Additional guidance is expected as FMCSA continues work related to the Motus rollout.

Those temporary changes make it especially important for companies to verify unexpected registration messages rather than assuming an email demanding an immediate update reflects a new federal requirement.

Check the Address Before Entering Registration Information

FMCSA is urging recipients to check website addresses carefully before responding to registration notices or entering company information. The official Motus website uses the federal .gov domain, while the four sites identified in the scam do not.

Anyone who receives a suspicious message should avoid clicking its links or entering information through the website it provides. Registration questions can be directed to FMCSA at 1-800-832-5660.

Suspected fraud can also be reported to the Federal Trade Commission or the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center, while local law enforcement and state attorneys general accept fraud reports as well.

The TDUSA editorial team creates practical, driver-focused content covering trucking news, industry updates, safety, regulations, and career information for professional truck drivers across the United States. Each article is built to reflect real-world experience, industry developments, and information drivers can use on and off the road.

Last Updated: September 18, 2026

Source: Freightwaves

The post FMCSA Warns Trucking Companies About Fake Motus Registration Websites appeared first on Truck Drivers USA.

The agency conducted pre-tests between April and July 2026 using small groups of commercial drivers in Minnesota, Ohio, Virginia and Wisconsin. According to the FMCSA, the evaluations tested data collection methods, participation requirements, and study procedures before the programs expanded in 2027. Drivers who participated in the six-week pre-test received $600.

Flexible Sleeper Berth Pilot Program

One pilot program will evaluate an alternative approach to the required 10 hours of off-duty time. Under the Flexible Sleeper Berth Pilot Program, participating drivers will be allowed to divide their required 10 consecutive hours off duty into any two qualifying periods, provided the total equals at least 10 hours and one of those periods includes a minimum of five consecutive hours in the sleeper berth.

FMCSA will use the results to determine whether giving drivers greater flexibility in scheduling their rest periods can be done while maintaining highway safety.

Split Duty Period Pilot Program

The second pilot program focuses on the 14-hour driving window by allowing participating drivers to pause that clock for up to three hours each day during qualifying non-driving periods. Eligible time may include off-duty periods, sleeper berth time, or certain on-duty periods spent waiting at pickup or delivery locations.

According to FMCSA, the study will evaluate whether this added flexibility helps drivers better manage delays caused by traffic congestion, severe weather and detention at shipping and receiving facilities without reducing safety. The agency also said it will monitor shipper practices throughout the pilot to help ensure the additional flexibility does not lead to driver exploitation.

Full Pilot Program Scheduled for 2027

FMCSA is now reviewing information collected during the pre-test phase to refine study procedures before the full pilot programs begin next year. The expanded study will include 256 drivers in each pilot program, for a total of 512 participants, with selected drivers taking part for four months.

Drivers who complete all study requirements may earn up to $1,600, and commercial drivers and motor carriers interested in participating can submit their contact information to pilots@dot.gov for future consideration.

The results of both pilot programs are expected to provide FMCSA with additional data as it evaluates potential changes to future Hours of Service regulations.

The TDUSA editorial team creates practical, driver-focused content covering trucking news, industry updates, safety, regulations, and career information for professional truck drivers across the United States. Each article is built to reflect real-world experience, industry developments, and information drivers can use on and off the road.

Last Updated: September 2, 2026

Source: Commercial Carrier Journal

The post FMCSA Prepares Hours of Service Pilot Programs for Expanded Driver Testing in 2027 appeared first on Truck Drivers USA.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) reports that nearly 900 people are killed in work zone crashes each year, with commercial motor vehicles involved in more than one-third of those fatal crashes. Long stopping distances, large blind spots, and restricted maneuverability make construction zones especially challenging for professional drivers.

Start Preparing Before You Reach the Work Zone

The safest way through a construction zone often begins before the truck is even moving.

Checking your route before leaving can help identify long-term lane closures, major highway projects, or detours that may save both time and frustration. Even if avoiding the construction isn’t possible, knowing where delays are likely to occur gives you more time to prepare mentally instead of reacting at the last minute. FMCSA recommends researching routes ahead of time and using alternate routes whenever practical.

Slow Down Before Traffic Forces You To

Construction zones have a way of changing quickly. Traffic moving at highway speed can suddenly compress into a long line of stopped vehicles, especially around curves or hills where visibility is limited.

Reducing your speed before reaching the backup gives you more time to recognize brake lights, read temporary signs, and respond smoothly if traffic comes to a stop. Waiting until you’re surrounded by barrels and brake lights often leaves few good options for a fully loaded truck. FMCSA advises commercial drivers to obey reduced speed limits and slow down before entering active work zones.

Leave More Following Distance Than Normal

Passenger vehicles can usually stop much faster than a tractor-trailer, and many motorists underestimate how much room a loaded truck needs to come to a controlled stop.

Leaving extra space ahead of your truck creates valuable reaction time if traffic slows unexpectedly. It also reduces the likelihood of hard braking, which can increase the risk of cargo shifting or rear-end collisions. FMCSA identifies rear-end crashes as one of the most common types of work zone crashes and recommends increasing following distance throughout construction areas.

Look Far Beyond the Vehicle in Front of You

Construction zones reward drivers who scan ahead instead of focusing only on the next car.

Watching traffic several vehicles ahead makes it easier to spot slowing traffic, flaggers, lane closures, and equipment entering the roadway before they become immediate hazards. FMCSA encourages commercial drivers to continuously scan ahead for changing traffic conditions, especially in work zones where traffic patterns may shift with little warning.

Merge Early Instead of Waiting Until the Last Second

When signs indicate a lane closure ahead, moving into the open lane early usually creates a smoother transition than trying to merge at the taper.

Last-second lane changes increase the chances of encountering vehicles hidden in blind spots or drivers attempting the same maneuver. Planning your merge while traffic is still flowing gives everyone around you more time to react safely. FMCSA recommends moving into the open lane as soon as practical while remaining aware of surrounding traffic.

Stay Alert for More Than Just Traffic

The roadway isn’t the only thing changing inside a construction zone.

Workers may be operating only a few feet from live traffic, construction equipment can enter the roadway unexpectedly, and temporary barriers may limit available escape routes. Remaining focused until you’ve completely cleared the work zone helps reduce the temptation to relax too early, particularly on longer construction projects where conditions can change multiple times. OSHA and FMCSA both emphasize maintaining awareness of workers, equipment, and changing traffic patterns throughout active work zones.

Put Distractions Away Until You’re Through

A glance at a phone, dispatch message, or GPS might seem harmless on an open highway, but construction zones leave little time to recover from a moment of inattention.

Temporary lane markings, reduced lane widths and slowing traffic require constant attention. FMCSA specifically advises drivers to avoid distractions such as phones, eating, adjusting the radio or interacting with navigation systems while traveling through work zones.

Treat Every Work Zone Like It’s Active

Not every construction zone has workers visible along the shoulder, but that doesn’t mean conditions are normal.

Temporary pavement edges, uneven surfaces, narrowed shoulders and changing lane alignments can still affect how a truck handles. Approaching every work zone with the same level of caution helps eliminate assumptions that often lead to preventable crashes.

Construction projects are temporary, but the decisions made while driving through them can have lasting consequences. Slowing down, leaving extra space, and staying focused won’t eliminate every hazard, but they remain some of the most effective ways truck drivers can protect themselves, road crews, and everyone else sharing the highway.

The TDUSA editorial team creates practical, driver-focused content covering trucking news, industry updates, safety, regulations, and career information for professional truck drivers across the United States. Each article is built to reflect real-world experience, industry developments, and information drivers can use on and off the road.

Last Updated: August 24, 2026

The post Construction Zone Safety for Truck Drivers: 8 Ways to Stay Safe When the Lanes Get Tight appeared first on Truck Drivers USA.

FMCSA published the proposed rule on Aug. 10, seeking to formally incorporate the out-of-service consequence into the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations. The agency said the change would create a consistent national enforcement standard for a driver qualification requirement that has existed for decades.

The proposal is open for public comment through Oct. 9.

Proposal Would Standardize Enforcement

Federal regulations already require commercial drivers operating in interstate commerce to read and speak English sufficiently to converse with the public, understand highway traffic signs and signals, respond to official inquiries and complete reports and records.

According to FMCSA, the proposal would not create a new qualification standard. Instead, it would establish a uniform enforcement mechanism by allowing drivers who do not meet the English language proficiency requirement to be placed out of service during roadside inspections.

The agency said the change is intended to eliminate inconsistencies in how the existing requirement is enforced from one jurisdiction to another.

CVTA Says English Proficiency Is a Safety Issue

In announcing its support, the Commercial Vehicle Training Association said the proposal reinforces a long-standing safety requirement rather than introducing a new obligation for drivers.

The association said commercial drivers must be able to read highway signs, communicate with law enforcement officers during inspections and interact effectively with the public while operating commercial vehicles.

“English proficiency is one of the standards that makes commercial driving a profession, and it is a matter of safety, not politics,” the association said in a statement.

CVTA also noted that English language proficiency has been part of the federal commercial driver qualification standards since 1937.

Training Programs Already Teach the Standard

The association said its member schools already prepare entry-level drivers to meet the federal English language proficiency requirement as part of their training programs.

CVTA said formally placing the out-of-service provision into federal regulations would provide greater consistency for training providers and carriers by ensuring the requirement is applied uniformly across the country.

The organization added that the proposal aligns with the standards already expected of drivers entering interstate commercial trucking.

Public Comment Period Remains Open

CVTA said it plans to submit comments supporting the proposal and encouraged its members to participate in the federal rulemaking process.

FMCSA is accepting public comments on the proposed rule through Oct. 9, 2026, before determining whether to adopt the changes.

The TDUSA editorial team creates practical, driver-focused content covering trucking news, industry updates, safety, regulations, and career information for professional truck drivers across the United States. Each article is built to reflect real-world experience, industry developments, and information drivers can use on and off the road.

Last Updated: August 24, 2026

Source: The Trucker

The post CVTA Backs FMCSA Proposal to Strengthen English Proficiency Enforcement for Truck Drivers appeared first on Truck Drivers USA.

Stay Ahead of the Storm, Not Inside It

Checking the forecast before leaving is only part of the job because storms rarely stay on schedule. Weather radar, state 511 systems and DOT traffic cameras provide updates throughout the day, making them valuable tools during fuel stops and meal breaks. Spending a few minutes reviewing current conditions can help you avoid road closures, flash flooding, wildfire smoke, chain restrictions or wind advisories that weren’t part of the morning forecast.

Read Traffic Before You Read the Road

Passenger vehicles often reveal changing road conditions before they’re obvious from the driver’s seat. Cars increasing their following distance, brake lights appearing farther ahead than normal, or drivers making repeated steering corrections usually indicate that traction or visibility is beginning to deteriorate. Recognizing those changes early gives you time to ease off the throttle gradually instead of reacting after traffic has already slowed.

Leave Yourself an Exit Instead of Following the Crowd

Heavy traffic during severe weather has a way of compressing quickly, especially around construction zones, major interchanges, and areas where visibility is limited. Protecting the space in front of your truck is important, but so is avoiding situations where you’re boxed in on both sides with nowhere to go if another driver loses control. Maintaining room around the truck whenever traffic allows gives you more options if conditions change unexpectedly.

Expect the Highway to Change from Mile to Mile

The pavement beneath your tires may not behave the same way for the entire trip. Open stretches of interstate can expose trailers to stronger crosswinds than nearby wooded areas, bridges often become slick before the surrounding highway, and low-lying sections are more likely to collect standing water during heavy rainfall. Treating every section of road as if it will handle exactly like the last one is a mistake that experienced drivers learn to avoid.

Let the Load Influence Your Decisions

The way a truck responds during severe weather depends partly on what’s in the trailer. Empty trailers and lighter loads are generally more susceptible to strong crosswinds, while heavier loads require considerably more distance to slow safely on wet or icy pavement. Adjusting your speed, following distance, and steering inputs to match the load you’re hauling produces a much more predictable truck than driving every load the same way.

Visibility Matters in Every Direction

Looking through heavy rain or blowing snow is only part of the challenge. Spray from surrounding traffic can make mirrors harder to use, dirt thrown onto the windshield can reduce visibility even further, and vehicles approaching from behind may have just as much difficulty seeing your truck. Clean mirrors, functioning wipers, and working lights become even more important once conditions begin deteriorating because they’re often the only connection between you and the traffic around you.

Permit Yourself to Change the Plan

Schedules don’t improve road conditions, and appointment times don’t make storms less dangerous. Pulling into a rest area, truck stop, or safe parking location while a line of severe weather passes is sometimes the most professional decision a driver can make. Experienced drivers understand that protecting themselves, their equipment and everyone sharing the highway will always outweigh trying to make up lost time in unsafe conditions.

Storms will always be part of trucking, but they don’t have to become emergencies. Paying attention to changing traffic patterns, gathering updated road information throughout the day, adjusting your driving to match both the conditions and your load, and recognizing when the safest choice is to wait are habits that serve professional drivers long after the forecast clears.

The TDUSA editorial team creates practical, driver-focused content covering trucking news, industry updates, safety, regulations, and career information for professional truck drivers across the United States. Each article is built to reflect real-world experience, industry developments, and information drivers can use on and off the road.

Last Updated: August 18, 2026

The post Driving Tips for Truck Drivers During Severe Weather appeared first on Truck Drivers USA.

According to TCN, the updated website includes revised brochures, new videos and improvements to its ROI calculator, allowing users to estimate potential costs and benefits based on their own truck or fleet information.

Updated Resources Focus on Advanced Safety Technologies

The TechCelerate Now program provides research and educational materials covering a variety of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) used in commercial trucks. These technologies are designed to assist drivers and may include systems such as automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, and adaptive cruise control.

The updated website now features a five-minute overview video along with three shorter videos intended to explain the purpose and operation of various ADAS technologies. TCN has also refreshed two informational brochures covering both the safety benefits and potential operational considerations associated with adopting onboard safety systems.

Printed copies of the brochures are also available upon request for industry meetings and educational events.

ROI Calculator Receives New Features

One of the most significant updates is an enhanced ROI calculator that allows users to enter information about their trucks or fleets to estimate the potential financial impact of adding specific safety technologies.

According to TCN, the calculator uses cost and safety data associated with individual ADAS technologies to generate customized estimates based on the information entered by the user. The tool is intended to help motor carriers and owner-operators compare potential technology investments using their own operating data.

Government and Industry Partnership

TechCelerate Now is a collaborative initiative involving government agencies and trucking industry organizations. Participating partners include the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), the American Trucking Associations’ Technology & Maintenance Council (TMC), the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) and the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) Foundation.

Additional information, including the updated brochures, videos and ROI calculator, is available here.

The TDUSA editorial team creates practical, driver-focused content covering trucking news, industry updates, safety, regulations, and career information for professional truck drivers across the United States. Each article is built to reflect real-world experience, industry developments, and information drivers can use on and off the road.

Last Updated: August 12, 2026

Source: The Trucker

Image Source: TCN

The post TechCelerate Now Updates Website with New Truck Safety Technology Resources appeared first on Truck Drivers USA.

According to the agency, carriers must discontinue using the revoked devices and install a registered replacement by Oct. 6, 2026. Until then, drivers should use paper records of duty status or compliant logging software to document hours of service while transitioning to a new ELD.

Five ELDs Removed from FMCSA’s Registry

The following devices have been revoked:

• Provider: UZB2USA INC
  Device: Moonlight ELD
  Model: MRS
  ELD ID: MRS255
• Provider: HGRS
  Device: HGRS ELD
  Model: HGR
  ELD ID: HRS169
• Provider: HGRS
  Device: Highest ELD
  Model: HIG4ES
  ELD ID: HIG385
• Provider: Truckford ELD
  Device: Truckford ELD
  Model: TRS
• ELD ID: TRS263
  Provider: Spark Technologies Inc.
  Device: Sparkle ELD
  Model: PT40SIM
  ELD ID: SPARK6

FMCSA said carriers using any of these devices must transition to an ELD that remains on the agency’s registered device list.

What Drivers and Carriers Need to Know

FMCSA is allowing a 60-day transition period for affected carriers.

During that time, enforcement personnel have been advised not to cite drivers using the revoked devices for failing to use a registered ELD or for not having an electronic record of duty status. Instead, drivers should be prepared to present paper logs, logging software, or the revoked ELD’s display as supporting documentation for hours-of-service records.

Beginning Oct. 7, 2026, drivers who continue using one of the revoked ELDs may be cited for operating without a compliant electronic logging device and could be placed out of service.

FMCSA Continues ELD Enforcement

The five revocations bring the total number of ELDs removed from FMCSA’s registry since January 2025 to 95.

The latest action also comes as industry groups continue raising concerns about so-called “white-labeled” ELDs, in which nearly identical devices are marketed under multiple brand names.

Joe Ohr, chief operating officer of the National Motor Freight Traffic Association (NMFTA), has been researching what he refers to as “chameleon ELDs.” He has previously said that if one white-labeled device is found to be noncompliant, all related versions should be reviewed or removed to prevent hours-of-service violations.

FMCSA has indicated it will restore any revoked device to the registered ELD list if the provider corrects the deficiencies identified during the agency’s review.

The TDUSA editorial team creates practical, driver-focused content covering trucking news, industry updates, safety, regulations, and career information for professional truck drivers across the United States. Each article is built to reflect real-world experience, industry developments, and information drivers can use on and off the road.

Last Updated: August 11, 2026

Source: Overdrive

The post FMCSA Revokes Five Electronic Logging Devices, Gives Carriers 60 Days to Comply appeared first on Truck Drivers USA.

The event brought together 32 women from 14 states representing motor carriers, suppliers, and other transportation businesses for three days of meetings with members of Congress, congressional staff, and federal officials.

According to ATA, the discussions centered on policies affecting professional truck drivers, freight transportation, and the industry’s long-term workforce.

Truck Parking Remained a Key Topic

One of the primary issues raised during meetings on Capitol Hill was the continued shortage of safe truck parking.

Women In Motion members also encouraged lawmakers to support a long-term surface transportation reauthorization bill, protect independent contractor opportunities, improve restroom access for truck drivers, and address staged vehicle crashes that contribute to rising insurance costs throughout the trucking industry.

The group also discussed the importance of continued investment in transportation infrastructure and regulatory policies that support freight movement across the country.

Meetings Included Federal Agencies and Members of Congress

The council’s schedule included a regulatory briefing from Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Administrator Derek Barrs and a meeting with Acting Department of Labor Secretary Keith Sonderling.

Members also met individually with lawmakers, including Senators Joni Ernst of Iowa, Todd Young of Indiana, and John Boozman of Arkansas, along with Representatives Adelita Grijalva of Arizona, Steve Womack of Arkansas, and Mike Collins of Georgia.

Cait Hone, director of Women In Motion, said bringing industry professionals directly into discussions with policymakers gives lawmakers a better understanding of the challenges facing trucking.

“Our members brought real-world perspectives to Capitol Hill and highlighted practical solutions that would boost safety, strengthen the workforce, and support an industry that Americans depend on every day,” Hone said.

Annual Advocacy Event Continues to Grow

This year marked the third Call on Washington organized by Women In Motion.

ATA said the annual event gives women from across the trucking industry an opportunity to speak directly with elected officials about issues affecting carriers, professional drivers, and businesses that support the freight industry.

Women In Motion was established by ATA to encourage leadership and professional development for women working throughout trucking. Its membership includes truck drivers, technicians, human resources professionals, executives, suppliers, and other industry professionals.

The TDUSA editorial team creates practical, driver-focused content covering trucking news, industry updates, safety, regulations, and career information for professional truck drivers across the United States. Each article is built to reflect real-world experience, industry developments, and information drivers can use on and off the road.

Last Updated: July 24, 2026

Source: The Trucker

Image Source: ATA

The post ATA Women In Motion Takes Truck Parking and Driver Issues to Capitol Hill appeared first on Truck Drivers USA.

New Hampshire Attorney General John M. Formella announced that the state’s Department of Justice is partnering with the National Traffic Law Center, the New Hampshire Department of Safety, and other traffic safety partners on the initiative, which is intended to improve highway safety.

Program Focuses on CDL Conviction Reporting

The state is participating in a $7.9 million pilot project funded by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).

According to the attorney general’s office, the program is intended to increase awareness of federal and state prohibitions against masking commercial driver convictions, improve the accuracy of commercial driver conviction reporting, and help ensure disqualified commercial drivers are removed from the nation’s roadways.

Statewide Working Group to Lead the Initiative

As part of the program, the New Hampshire Department of Justice will lead a statewide working group made up of representatives from agencies involved in investigating, prosecuting, adjudicating, licensing, and tracking commercial driver offenses.

The group will focus on:

• Providing education and training for prosecutors, law enforcement officers, judges, clerks, and traffic safety professionals on federal and state CDL requirements, including anti-masking laws.
• Improving statewide compliance with federal reporting requirements.
• Developing a state implementation plan to ensure the accurate and timely transfer of information from roadside enforcement through the conviction reporting process.

Attorney General Highlights Highway Safety

Formella said the partnership is intended to strengthen coordination among prosecutors, law enforcement, the courts, and state and federal partners responsible for enforcing commercial driver’s license laws.

“Traffic safety is public safety,” Formella said. “This partnership will strengthen coordination among prosecutors, law enforcement, the courts, and our state and federal partners to ensure that commercial driver’s license laws are enforced consistently and accurately.”

The TDUSA editorial team creates practical, driver-focused content covering trucking news, industry updates, safety, regulations, and career information for professional truck drivers across the United States. Each article is built to reflect real-world experience, industry developments, and information drivers can use on and off the road.

Last Updated: July 17, 2026

Source: Truckers News

The post New Hampshire Selected for FMCSA Pilot Program to Strengthen CDL Enforcement appeared first on Truck Drivers USA.

According to FMCSA, the devices failed to comply with the standards established in 49 CFR Part 395, Appendix A to Subpart B. They have now been added to the agency’s Revoked Devices List.

The revoked ELDs are:

Motor carriers using one of these devices have 60 days to replace it with a compliant ELD. During the transition period, drivers must use paper records of duty status or compliant logging software to record their hours of service until a replacement device is installed.

The replacement deadline for the revoked devices is Sept. 8, 2026.

Drivers who continue using one of the revoked ELDs after that date may be cited for failing to maintain a required record of duty status under 49 CFR 395.8(a)(1). FMCSA also noted that those violations may result in drivers being placed out of service under the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s Out-of-Service Criteria.

While a revoked device can return to FMCSA’s Registered Devices List if its provider corrects the identified deficiencies and demonstrates compliance with federal requirements, the agency is encouraging carriers to replace affected devices rather than wait for a possible reinstatement.

Motor carriers can verify whether an ELD remains compliant by reviewing FMCSA’s current Registered Devices List and Revoked Devices List before purchasing or installing a replacement device.

The TDUSA editorial team creates practical, driver focused content covering trucking news, industry updates, safety, regulations, and career information for professional truck drivers across the United States. Each article is built to reflect real world experience, industry developments, and information drivers can use on and off the road.

Last Updated: July 14, 2026

Source: Truckers News

The post FMCSA Revokes 10 More Electronic Logging Devices appeared first on Truck Drivers USA.