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Industry-FMCSA Partnership Delivers Major Progress in Crackdown on Illegal Trucking Operations

ATA staff — Wed, 22 Jul 2026 17:23:51 +0000

LITTLE ROCK, ARK. – The һ��app today joined trucking organizations nationwide in recognizing significant federal and state progress to remove illegal operators, strengthen regulatory oversight and restore fairness for motor carriers and professional drivers who follow the rules.

The results are documented in a new report from the Trucking Association Executives Council and reflect a sustained partnership among the trucking industry, the U.S. Department of Transportation, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, state governments and law enforcement. Since TAEC released Trucking Resurgence: The Fight for Fairness and Safety last fall, officials have acted across nearly every priority identified in the industry-led plan, producing measurable results nationally and in Arkansas.

In Arkansas, Highway Police have placed 792 commercial drivers out of service for violations of federal English-language proficiency requirements. AHP has also transferred 555 individuals to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement after traffic stops determined they were not legally present in the United States.

“At the Arkansas Highway Police, our main goal is simple: keeping our highways safe and protecting everyone on the road,” said Arkansas Highway Police Chief Jeff Holmes. “We use the latest technology and focused strategies to spot violations, get unsafe drivers off the road and make sure commercial vehicles are operating safely. By teaming up with FMCSA, DHS and our industry partners, we’re working together to make our highways safer for everyone.”

“This progress shows what can be accomplished when industry, regulators and law enforcement recognize a problem and work together toward solutions,” said Shannon Newton, president of the һ��app. “Arkansas carriers invest every day in qualified drivers, safe equipment and regulatory compliance. Strong, consistent enforcement protects those investments, supports the professional men and women who follow the rules and makes our highways safer for everyone.”

The national progress report highlights extensive enforcement and reform efforts, including:

Nearly 10,000 CDL schools removed from the federal Training Provider Registry, including 550 fraudulent schools that were shut down;
$217 million in new federal investments in safety and CDL integrity;
704 investigations of high-risk carriers, with 430 carriers voluntarily ceasing operations and another 60 to 70 shut down;
3,200 visa revocations tied to cabotage enforcement;
Audits of all 50 states’ CDL programs and non-domiciled CDL issuance;
More than 194,000 non-domiciled CDLs that will no longer qualify under strengthened federal requirements;
More than 27,000 drivers placed out of service for English-language proficiency violations; and
76 noncompliant electronic logging device platforms removed from the approved registry and another 426 blocked from entering the marketplace.

“FMCSA’s mission is to prevent crashes, fatalities and injuries involving large trucks and buses, and that requires a regulatory system with no room for fraud or deliberate noncompliance,” said FMCSA Administrator Derek Barrs. “The overwhelming majority of motor carriers and professional drivers operate safely and responsibly. Our responsibility is to support those operators by identifying bad actors, enforcing the law and closing gaps that threaten highway safety and the integrity of the trucking industry. The progress reflected in this report shows what is possible when government, law enforcement and industry work together, and we remain committed to building on these results.”

The original Trucking Resurgence plan identified seven areas in which bad actors were exploiting weaknesses in existing systems: CDL integrity, federal motor carrier safety data, cross-border workforce integrity, non-domiciled CDLs, English-language proficiency, trucking fraud and electronic logging devices. Its recommendations emphasized better use of existing authority, stronger verification and more consistent enforcement instead of new requirements on carriers already operating safely and legally.

The һ��app has supported the initiative since its launch and will continue working with FMCSA, Congress, state officials and law enforcement to strengthen driver qualifications, improve regulatory oversight and hold unsafe operators accountable.

“Focused enforcement has produced meaningful results, but the work is not finished,” Newton said. “We must continue building a regulatory system that rewards safe, responsible operations and acts decisively against those who disregard the law.”

The complete Trucking Resurgence Progress Report and original action plan are available at .

2026 Arkansas Trucking Championship

ATA staff — Tue, 07 Jul 2026 16:22:28 +0000

Best of the Best Celebrated at State Trucking Championship

The һ��app has awarded nine professional truck drivers and two technicians with top prizes at the 2026 Arkansas Trucking Championship.

The written and hands-on competitions brought together 151 of the best drivers and 39 of the top technicians in the state for a demonstration of safety, knowledge and skill. Hosted by the һ��app, the championship was held June 26-27 at the Rogers Convention Center in Rogers, Ark.

“The men and women who compete in the Arkansas Trucking Championship represent the highest standards of professionalism, skill and safety in our industry,” said һ��app President Shannon Newton. “These competitors volunteer to put their knowledge and abilities to the test in front of their peers, and in doing so they showcase the dedication and excellence that keep our communities supplied and our economy moving. We congratulate this year’s champions and thank every competitor for their commitment to safety.”

Over the course of the two-day event, drivers tested their skills in a pre-trip inspection competition, written exam and were scored navigating a course designed to replicate real-world driving scenarios. Saturday’s driving skills event attracted hundreds of family members, friends, colleagues and supporters. To qualify for the truck driving championship, contestants must be accident-free for the previous 12 months.

The following professional truck drivers will represent Arkansas in their respective classes at the National Truck Driving Championships, to be held Aug. 11-14 in Pittsburgh, PA.

3 Axle: Chris Swanson, FedEx Freight
4 Axle: Daniel Workman, Old Dominion Freight Line
5 Axle: Jason Casalicchio, J.B. Hunt Transport
Flatbed: Chris Moore, Walmart Transportation
Sleeper: Keith Alderson, Walmart Transportation
Step Van: Eric Brockette, FedEx Freight
Straight Truck: Jessie King, FedEx Freight
Tank: Marcus Rush, Walmart Transportation
Twins: Gary Mars, Walmart Transportation

Chris Moore was named the 2026 Arkansas Truck Driving Championship Grand Champion. Chris drives for Walmart Transportation and has accumulated 3.5 million safe-driving miles over his 28-year career. Chris volunteers his time in Wreaths Across America and the Walmart Heart Program.

Technicians competed in two tracks: truck technician and trailer technician. Jordan Burris of Tyson Foods was named the Trailer Technician Grand Champion. Jordan also took home first place in the Alignment and Tire Inflation categories and took second place in the Tire & Wheel Analysis category.

Canaan Silcox of Rush Truck Centers was crowned the Truck Technician Grand Champion. Canaan won first place in the Aftertreatment, Air Conditioning/Refrigeration, Drive Train, and Steering & Suspension categories, and took second place in the PMI category.

The two grand champions will represent Arkansas at the National Technician Skills Competition, SuperTech 2026, to be held Sept. 20-24 in Pittsburgh, PA.

Each competition also recognized a Rookie of the Year for the competitors with the highest score among first-time participants.

Paul Kinder of J.B. Hunt Transport was named Rookie of the Year in the technician competition, and Jason Casalicchio of J.B. Hunt Transport was named Rookie of the Year in the truck driving championship.

Both the technician championship and truck driving championship also present Sportsmanship Awards, selected by the championship committees for competitors who demonstrate outstanding attitude, professionalism and leadership among their peers.

This year’s technician sportsmanship winner was Josh Simmons of Tyson Foods, and the driver sportsmanship winner was Marvin Bair, also of Tyson Foods.

“As these champions prepare to represent Arkansas on the national stage, they carry with them the respect and admiration of our entire industry,” Newton said. “Their accomplishments reflect countless hours of training, dedication and commitment to excellence. We are proud to support Team Arkansas and look forward to cheering them on at the national competitions.”

The following companies made substantial financial contributions in support of the Arkansas Trucking Championship: ABF Freight; Bruckner’s Truck & Equipment; FedEx Freight; Great West Casualty Company; J.B. Hunt Transport, Inc.; Rush Truck Centers; Stallion Transportation Group; Tyson Foods; and USA Truck. Their support allows ATA to host a first-class competition celebrating highway safety and technical excellence.

Championship week was held in conjunction with several additional safety-focused events, including the Arkansas Technician Training Fair and the Commercial Vehicle Inspection Competition hosted by Arkansas Highway Police.

FULL LIST of the 2026 Arkansas Trucking Championship Winners

Up Front – Accountability and Association

ATA staff — Mon, 06 Jul 2026 15:41:43 +0000

Last month my son graduated from high school. Just days later, he embarked on what has become something of a modern rite of passage: an unchaperoned trip to Panama City Beach with six of his friends. Before he left, he received the same lecture that generations of teenagers have heard.

We told him that we trusted him. We were confident in the values and judgment that had guided him through high school. But we also reminded him of a reality he was about to encounter as an adult: sometimes your future is affected not only by your own decisions, but by the decisions of the people you choose to surround yourself with.

The company you keep matters.

That conversation took place less than 48 hours after the Supreme Court’s recent decision in Montgomery v. Caribe Transport II came down.

Increasingly, courts are asking not only whether a company followed the rules itself, but whether it exercised reasonable care in choosing the partners with whom it does business.

The trucking industry largely welcomes this outcome. Responsible carriers have long argued that safety should matter in every decision throughout the supply chain. Some participants have been prioritizing price above all else, rewarding operators willing to cut corners while responsible companies investing heavily in compliance, training, equipment, and safety technology can’t cover their costs.

If Montgomery encourages greater scrutiny in carrier selection, the industry will receive that as a positive development. Trucking has never been opposed to accountability. In fact, ours is one of the few industries that routinely asks enforcement agencies to do more.

At the same time, accountability should not be confused with unlimited liability.

My son is responsible for his own actions. His friends are responsible for theirs. While he should exercise judgment in choosing who he spends time with, there is still an important distinction between association and direct control.

Perhaps that distinction is worth remembering as the decision is celebrated in some corners. Montgomery has been welcomed not only by safety advocates and responsible carriers, but also by members of the plaintiffs’ bar who view it as a significant expansion of potential litigation targets. That reality does not invalidate the ruling, but it should prompt consideration of whether future interpretations advance safety or simply expand legal exposure.

The ultimate measure of success should not be the number of lawsuits filed. It should be whether our policies and legal standards produce safer highways, stronger compliance, and fewer opportunities for bad actors to operate.

The conversation surrounding Montgomery will continue for years. I am happy to report that my son and his friends all returned home safely, though sunburned. Regardless of how the legal landscape evolves, one principle should remain constant: highway safety is best served when every participant in the supply chain exercises diligence, is held accountable for the responsibilities they actually control, and is rewarded for doing things the right way.

The Last Word – A Fuel Tax Holiday Won’t Fix High Prices—But It Will Undermine America’s Roads

ATA staff — Mon, 06 Jul 2026 15:27:24 +0000

With fuel prices straining household budgets, calls to suspend the federal fuel tax may sound like a quick and easy solution. In Congress, two proposals—the Gas Tax Suspension Act and the Gas Prices Relief Act—aim to provide temporary relief by pausing federal fuel taxes for up to 90 days or through October, respectively. But while politically
attractive, these measures would deliver little real savings to consumers while putting critical transportation funding at risk.

Start with the basic math. The federal gas tax is 18.4 cents per gallon—just about 4% of the retail price as of late May. Even if the tax were fully eliminated, it would barely move the needle. In reality, it would move it even less: because the tax is applied at the wholesale level, price adjustments filter unevenly through the supply chain. Studies show that only roughly 18% of a tax change is reflected at the pump. That means consumers might see only pennies in savings—if they see any at all.

Put another way, the average driver purchased about 460 gallons of fuel last year. Each penny reduction in the gas
tax translates to roughly eight cents a week in savings. That is not meaningful relief for families grappling with inflation.
And proposals that “require” savings to be passed on to consumers are difficult to enforce in a volatile global energy market where prices shift daily.

Meanwhile, the cost of suspending the tax is anything but small. Extending a federal fuel tax holiday through November would drain about $20 billion from the Highway Trust Fund—the backbone of federal transportation investment. That’s money used to maintain roads, repair bridges, and fund safety improvements that Americans rely on every day.

States experimenting with fuel tax holidays offer a cautionary tale. Kentucky, Indiana, Georgia, and Utah have all moved to partially or fully suspend their fuel taxes—but only by backfilling the lost revenue with general funds. That’s a stopgap, not a solution. At the federal level, replacing roughly $2.3 to $3.2 billion in monthly revenue would require either increased borrowing or diverting resources from other priorities.

More concerning, these policies threaten the stability of long-term infrastructure planning. Fuel taxes are the primary user fee supporting highway investment. Removing that revenue—even temporarily—creates uncertainty for state and local agencies already grappling with rising construction costs driven by inflation in materials and labor. Projects could be delayed, scaled back, or canceled altogether.

There are also financial ripple effects. Many states rely on fuel tax revenues to service debt for transportation bonds. A disruption in that revenue stream—even if temporary—can jeopardize credit ratings and increase borrowing costs, ultimately making infrastructure investments more expensive for taxpayers.

In short, a federal gas tax holiday is a classic case of symbolic policy over substantive impact. It promises relief but delivers very little, while risking the long-term health of the nation’s transportation system.

If policymakers are serious about helping Americans, they should focus on solutions that address the root causes of high energy prices and strengthen supply chains—not undermine the very infrastructure that keeps the economy moving.

Vol. 31 Issue 3

ATA staff — Wed, 01 Jul 2026 18:37:34 +0000

Investing in the Future: һ��app Awards Technician Scholarships to Two Students

ATA staff — Fri, 19 Jun 2026 21:48:11 +0000

LITTLE ROCK, ARK. – Two Arkansas students have been selected to receive scholarships from the һ��app. Nash Ashley of Monticello, Ark., and Conley Reeves of Judsonia, Ark., have each been awarded a $7,500 scholarship from the Carl Tapp Memorial Scholarship Fund to support their education and training for careers in medium/heavy duty truck technology.

Nash Ashley of Monticello, Ark. University of Arkansas Community College at Morrilton

Conley Reeves of Judsonia, Ark. Arkansas State University-Beebe, Searcy

“The backbone of America’s supply chain depends on skilled technicians who keep our trucks running safely and efficiently,” said Shannon Newton, president of the һ��app. “As vehicles become more advanced and technology continues to evolve, our industry needs talented individuals who are ready to meet those challenges. We are proud to support these students as they pursue rewarding careers that will help keep Arkansas and America moving.”

Nash Ashley graduated from Cornerstone Christian Academy in Tillar, Ark. He demonstrated a commitment to service by helping community members with their lawn care needs. He also gained experience working on equipment at a local poultry farm during high school.

In the fall, Nash plans to attend University of Arkansas Community College at Morrilton to pursue training in medium/heavy duty truck technology.

Conley Reeves graduated from Searcy High School in Searcy, Ark, where he received All-State and All-Conference honors in football. He was also a member of the district champion Agriculture Mechanics team.

In the fall, Conley plans to attend Arkansas State University-Beebe in Searcy to pursue training in medium/heavy duty truck technology.

“Since the scholarship fund was established in 2017, we have been able to support the next generation of technicians who will keep our industry operating safely and efficiently,” said Dustin Jeffress, 2026 Maintenance & Technology Council chair and member of the scholarship committee. “This year’s recipients demonstrated exceptional commitment, aptitude and enthusiasm for the profession. Their dedication gives us great confidence in the future of trucking and the skilled workforce that supports it.”

The һ��app’s Maintenance & Technology Council established the Carl Tapp Memorial Scholarship Fund to celebrate Carl Tapp, the council’s first chairman, and his career-long commitment to nurturing new talent in the industry. The fund is intended to enable and encourage growth in the state’s diesel technician workforce and to help assure that the safest, most knowledgeable and skilled technicians are working on the trucks and trailers on our nation’s roads. Candidates were evaluated based upon their interest and performance in STEM courses, teacher and mentor recommendations and personal interviews with the scholarship committee of industry experts.

These scholarships have been made possible by the vision and investment in the future of trucking in Arkansas by the following companies and individuals: ABF Freight, ArcBest, Bruce Purkey, DAVCO Technology, Doggett Freightliner of Arkansas, Dr. Doug Voss, the Hoover Family, Inland PacLease, JM Bozeman Enterprises, Inc., Kenneth Calhoun, Kudos Research, Maverick Transportation, LLC, McConnell & Son, McGriff, McKee Foods Transportation, MHC Kenworth Leasing, Mike and Pam Martin, Momentum Fuel Technologies, NorCal PacLease, PACCAR, PACCAR Leasing Company, PacLease Dallas, Pressure Systems International, Rush Truck Centers, Southland PacLease, TechForce Foundation, the Tapp Family, TLG Peterbilt, Truck-Lite Co., LLC, Tyson Foods, the University of Central Arkansas, W&B Service Co., Walmart Transportation and Walt Luethy.

In May 2024, the һ��app Scholarship Fund received 501(c)(3) status, and all donations to the Carl Tapp Technician Scholarship are considered charitable and tax deductible. To join this list of donors who are funding the future, visit /scholarship/.

һ��app Elects New Chairman, Director to Board

ATA staff — Tue, 05 May 2026 17:05:07 +0000

Little Rock, Ark. — The һ��app has named Alan Riels, president and CEO of Dedicated Logistics, LLC, as chairman of its Board of Directors. Riels was elected during the association’s annual conference, held April 27–29 in Little Rock, succeeding outgoing chairman John Culp, president of Maverick Transportation.

Riels is the president and CEO of Dedicated Logistics, LLC, a Crossett-based freight carrier with more than 70 trucks, which he co-founded in June 2002 with his mother, Ruth Riels. Under his leadership, the company has grown into a multi-state operation serving customers across the South, Southeast, and Midwest, earning a reputation for reliability, strong customer relationships, and a commitment to safety. He has served on the ATA Board of Directors since 2018.

“Alan represents the entrepreneurial spirit and resilience that define Arkansas trucking,” said Shannon Newton, president of the һ��app. “He understands the challenges our members face—from workforce shortages to regulatory pressures—and he’s committed to advancing practical solutions that strengthen our industry.”

Under Riels’ direction, Dedicated Logistics has received multiple industry and community recognitions, including being named a regional carrier of the year by a major shipping partner and earning business leadership honors in the Crossett community. The company remains actively engaged in local initiatives and workforce development efforts in South Arkansas.

Additionally, Matt Ernst of Bruckner’s Truck & Equipment was elected to serve as an allied member, filling the position as Rush Truck Centers General Manager Ross Hoover concluded his two-year term on the board.

Ernst is general manager at Bruckner’s Truck & Equipment in Lowell, Ark. He has held roles ranging from finance manager and sales consultant to general manager at Bruckner’s locations across the country.

“This organization is strongest when its members step up to lead,” Newton said. “Matt’s expertise and industry engagement will add valuable perspective to our board.”

ATA’s Board of Directors is composed of 21 executives representing a broad cross-section of carriers and allied companies across the state. The board works collaboratively to address industry challenges and promote sustainable growth.

ATA Honors Driver, Safety, and Maintenance Professionals of the Year

ATA staff — Mon, 04 May 2026 19:42:02 +0000

Little Rock, Ark. — The һ��app (ATA) named its 2025 Driver of the Year, Safety Professional of the Year, and Maintenance Professional of the Year during their annual awards luncheon at the һ��app Conference and Vendor Showcase on April 29 in Little Rock.

Each year, ATA recognizes standout professionals in three critical roles: a driver for excellence in performance and safety, a safety professional for leadership and program effectiveness, and a maintenance professional for advancing fleet reliability and technician development. All member companies of the һ��app are eligible to nominate drivers, safety and maintenance professionals for these awards.

Driver of the Year – Jessie King, FedEx Freight

King has accumulated more than 1.6 million consecutive accident-free miles across a 33-year, 3.6 million-mile career. Earlier this year, he received FedEx’s Master President’s Award for 25 years of safe driving.

He serves as an Arkansas Road Team Captain, promoting highway safety to students statewide, and is a consistent top performer at the Arkansas Truck Driving Championships, winning the Straight Truck division in both 2023 and 2025. In 2024, he was recognized nationally with the American Trucking Association Change Leader Award.

Safety Professional of the Year – Nate Lewis, Tyson Foods

Lewis, senior director of risk management – transportation at Tyson Foods, leads one of the industry’s most benchmarked safety programs. His work integrating emerging technologies and best practices has strengthened driver safety and reduced risk across operations.

He serves on the ATA Safety Management Council and the American Trucking Associations’ Truck Driving Championships Committee. A former state champion and multi-time national competitor in TDC events, Lewis brings both operational and hands-on credibility to his leadership in safety.

Maintenance Professional of the Year – Ross Hoover, Rush Truck Centers

Hoover, regional general manager at Rush Truck Centers, leverages more than two decades of experience to drive improvements in shop performance, technician engagement, and operational consistency. His emphasis on proactive maintenance and continuous improvement has strengthened fleet reliability.

A longtime industry contributor, Hoover is a past chairman of ATA’s Maintenance & Technology Council and has played a key role in technician development initiatives statewide. He actively supports diesel technology programs, workforce training, and career pathway development for the next generation of technicians.

Walmart Transportation Earns Top Safety Award at ATA Conference

ATA staff — Mon, 04 May 2026 19:18:50 +0000

Little Rock, Ark. — Walmart Transportation, LLC was named Grand Champion at the һ��app Conference and Vendor Showcase, held April 29 in Little Rock, recognizing the company’s exceptional safety performance in 2025.

The award was presented during the conference’s annual awards luncheon, where ATA honored carriers across 5 categories, highlighting the safest fleets among its membership.

Walmart Transportation earned the Grand Champion distinction after logging more than 33 million miles with an accident rate (per million miles) of just .15 on Arkansas highways throughout 2025.

“These accomplishments reflect the highest standards in trucking today,” said ATA President Shannon Newton. “While Walmart Transportation’s performance is exceptional, every award recipient demonstrates the same commitment to rigorous safety practices that make Arkansas roads safer for all.”

Category	Winner
Grand Champion	Walmart Transportation LLC Bentonville, Ark.
Truckload – Flatbed Division (Intermediate Carrier)	Loggins Logistics Jonesboro, Ark.
Truckload – Flatbed Division (Large Carrier)	Oakley Trucking, Inc North Little Rock, Ark.
Truckload – Van & Reefer Division (Small Carrier)	Dedicated Logistics, LLC Crossett, Ark.
Truckload – Van & Reefer Division (Intermediate Carrier)	Stallion Transportation Group Beebe, Ark.
Small Packaging Division (Large Carrier)	FedEx Express Little Rock, Ark.
LTL Division (Large Carrier)	Old Dominion Freight Line Thomasville, N.C.
Private Carrier Division (Small Carrier)	New South Express Myrtle Beach, S.C.
Private Carrier Division (Large Carrier)	Walmart Transportation LLC Bentonville, Ark.

The Last Word – Ratings Rather than Regulations

ATA staff — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 15:02:22 +0000

If you recognize the name Milton Friedman, you’re probably an economics student or your joints sound like a bowl of Rice Krispies when you get out of bed. I’m more the latter but a little bit of the former. Dr. Friedman, a renowned economist popularized in a 1980 PBS documentary “Free to Choose” and multiple appearances on The Phil Donahue Show, was a free market capitalist. He advocated for reducing government regulations, instead relying on the market to determine winners and losers.

I’m a Friedman fan. Businesses and consumers are better than government at determining which products or services should be purchased. However, our ability to make good decisions rests on the availability of complete, accurate information.

The Motor Carrier Safety Act of 1984 directed the Federal Highway Administration (FMCSA’s predecessor) to establish procedures for determining whether an interstate trucking company employs adequate safety management controls to comply with federal regulations. The goal was to ensure roadway safety given the flood of new entrants following deregulation. Carriers are assigned satisfactory, conditional, and unsatisfactory ratings based on a compliance review.

In general, I think Dr. Friedman would approve of this system to the extent that it provides the market with information needed to make informed purchase decisions. Given full visibility into every carrier’s safety fitness determination, market forces (e.g. safety conscious or litigiously averse shippers, brokers, insurance companies, etc.) could punish carriers with poor safety records, potentially driving them out of business, and reduce the need for government safety regulation.

Unfortunately, the safety fitness determination system is broken. Ninety percent (90%) of motor carriers are unrated. FMCSA’s ability to provide every carrier with a safety fitness determination is made more difficult by a recent capacity influx. The number of active interstate motor carriers increased from 555,567 in 2019 to 735,895 in 2023. This growth stemmed almost entirely from carriers with 1-2 trucks.

Information obtained from FMCSA underscores the safety implications of so many unrated carriers. Over a 24-month period ending December 27, 2024 a total of 129,373 trucking companies were involved in a reportable crash. 108,689 (84%) of those companies were unrated. These unrated companies were involved in 167,371 total crashes, meaning some were involved in multiple events, and 4,523 of the crashes were fatal.

A sceptic might argue, “Why should I be surprised that 84% of companies involved in a reportable crash are unrated when 90% of all companies are also unrated?” This is a fair point and gets to the heart of the matter: Why are so many companies unrated?

We should encourage our safety partners at FMCSA to provide a safety fitness determination for every active interstate motor carrier. This is a big ask but important given trucking’s moral obligation to exceptional safety performance and aversion to further regulatory burdens. Safety fitness determinations help the free market weed out unsafe carriers. Shippers and brokers armed with a complete picture of every carrier’s rating could patronize those companies whose safety practices align with their corporate risk management priorities. To accomplish as much, FMCSA needs to obtain more data on unrated carriers. As Johnny 5 from “Short Circuit” (1986) would say: “Input, need more input!” I’ll stop with the 80’s references.

^{FMCSA (2025), “Pocket Guide to Large Truck and Bus Statistics,” available at . Accessed April 9, 2026.}

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