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Policy Watch • Nov 18, 2025

FMCSA Finalizes National Speed Limiter Mandate

After three years of debate, FMCSA confirmed it will require Class 7-8 trucks equipped with electronically controlled engines to cap speeds at 68 mph. Existing units must be reprogrammed within 18 months, while new production trucks must ship compliant beginning July 2026.

• Carriers must maintain tamper-proof calibration records for every VIN.
• Roadside inspections will query ECM data, adding a new out-of-service condition.
• Speed exception waivers apply only to permitted oversize hauls traveling under escort.

Tercel Logistic is advising fleets to pair limiter settings with updated driver incentive plans to maintain ETA accuracy while avoiding fatigue brought on by longer drive cycles.

Compliance Insight • Nov 12, 2025

Safety Measurement System Refresh Reshapes CSA Scores

FMCSA’s long-awaited Safety Measurement System overhaul introduces carrier-size peer groupings, expands violation severities, and surfaces on-road trends weekly. Carriers now see percentile shifts sooner, giving less time between a spike and a potential focused audit.

Key additions include a carrier exposure adjustment, better crash indicator weighting, and authority to combine related BASICs for expedited interventions. Fleets with seasonal lanes should review their data queues weekly to dispute incorrect geocoding before it impacts percentile standings.

Our compliance desk is providing SMS watchlists so dispatch can pair higher-risk tractors with seasoned drivers until the new normal stabilizes.

Driver Fitness • Nov 4, 2025

Clearinghouse Notifications Trigger Faster Return-to-Duty Actions

FMCSA aligned the Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse with NTSB recommendations by shortening the response window when a positive test is logged. Employers now have 24 hours (down from 72) to sideline affected drivers and launch a Substance Abuse Professional referral.

• Annual query fees remain unchanged, but non-compliance fines increase to $6,500.
• Drivers who fail to complete the return-to-duty process within 60 days risk permanent Clearinghouse notes viewable by all carriers.
• FMCSA will pilot automated reminders that ping both employers and drivers once a violation posts.

Dispatch leaders should refresh their escalation trees so after-hours supervisors can respond within the new timeline and keep freight flowing without exposure.

Tech Compliance • Oct 28, 2025

ELD Recertification Audits Target Aging Hardware

FMCSA notified registered ELD vendors that they must undergo third-party validation on firmware, tamper detection, and data export protocols. Devices that miss the 2026 deadline will be delisted, forcing carriers to swap hardware during peak season.

• Carriers should request attestation letters from providers before renewing multi-year leases.
• Field upgrades require proof that drivers received updated training acknowledgements.
• FMCSA will publish a quarterly “at-risk” vendor bulletin so fleets can plan migrations.

Our dispatch office is piloting dual-platform testing so trucks can flip to a backup device if revocations hit during critical shipments.

Market Integrity • Oct 21, 2025

Broker Bond Floor Climbs to $150,000

Responding to record double-brokering losses, FMCSA is doubling the minimum surety requirement. High-claim brokers must post collateral within six months, while clean operators have a 12-month ramp.

Expect tighter credit underwriting, more frequent trust filings, and new notification rules when a broker’s claim ratio exceeds 15% of their bond.

Tercel Logistic is reviewing partner lists and asking brokers to share proof of compliance so our carriers aren’t stranded with unpaid loads.

Innovation Watch • Oct 10, 2025

Autonomous Freight Pilots Must Deploy Safety Escorts

FMCSA expanded the Level 4 truck pilot program but now requires dual chase vehicles, redundant braking verification, and satellite telemetry that streams to federal monitors in near real time.

• Routes above 150 miles need pre-cleared staging sites every 60 miles for manual intervention.
• Remote operators must hold CDL-A credentials and complete new simulator training.
• Carriers must log disengagements within 30 minutes or risk having their test permit paused.

These added guardrails raise costs, but they also bring clarity for fleets exploring autonomy while protecting the reputation of early adopters.