Whatever the political headlines of the day, federal agencies continue to add new trucking regulations, adopt new forms, and extend or discontinue previous waivers and exemptions. In this series, “Trucking Things to Know Now,” PrePass provides quick updates on regulatory developments, often with links to more information.

Spring 2022 Edition of Unified Regulatory Agenda. Predicting the regulatory future is fraught with peril. However, we can turn to the Unified Agenda of Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions and see what federal regulatory agencies have in their plans. We can also go to Regulations.gov for the latest docket filing or comment on any rulemaking. More importantly, all federal regulation rises from the political environment of Washington, DC. Our form of government puts a premium on what Congress and the administration will accept – particularly in an election year, even a mid-term election year.

Glancing at the regulatory plate of the trucking-related regulatory agencies – the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) – as listed in the Spring Edition of the Unified Regulatory Agenda, the rulemaking menu is very full. And, truth be told, the recent PrePass webinar,”7 Trucking Regulations That Will Change Your World,” provided accurate predictions.

Here is a look at upcoming rulemakings.

Oral Fluids Drug Testing. The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) is in the Final Rule stage on the specific steps USDOT agencies, such as FMCSA, must follow to allow oral fluids in place of urine samples for drug testing.

Automatic Emergency Braking Systems. NHTSA and FMCSA are close to issuing a proposed standard for mandatory forward collision warning and AEB and the maintenance of those systems.

Compliance, Safety, Accountability Program Reform.  Although not labeled as “CSA,” FMCSA will reopen consideration of all safety data it should study when evaluating motor carrier safety.

UID.  FMCSA has granted a petition from the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance to examine the mandatory installation of a Universal (electronic) Identification Device on every interstate commercial motor vehicle that will identify the CMV to roadside enforcement.

Autonomous Trucks.  Taking the next step toward fully automated vehicles, FMCSA will examine how to introduce standards for repair and maintenance of Automated Driving Systems, as well as how to recognize the difference between human and ADS operators.

Camera-Based Rear-View Mirrors.  FMCSA has allowed cameras to replace mirrors on a case-by-case exemption basis. Now FMCSA looks to set a universal standard for camera-based systems.

Side Underride Guards.  As directed by the Infrastructure Bill signed into law in late 2021, the USDOT will study the “effectiveness, feasibility, costs and benefits” of side underride guards on trailers and semitrailers.

Read the previous installments of “Trucking Things to Know Now: Federal Regulatory Updates.”