Held in Denver, the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s (CVSA) 2025 Annual Meeting brought together federal and state enforcement officials, carriers and industry experts to explore how safety and compliance are evolving on the road.
The meeting highlighted several emerging trends that are reshaping the landscape of commercial vehicle safety. From a crackdown on electronic logging device (ELD) fraud and English language proficiency to delays in medical certifications and growing conversations around autonomous vehicles and driver qualifications, the event signaled a shift in both regulatory focus and industry priorities.
In this episode of the TTT podcast, hosts Sean Garney and Steve Keppler are joined by TrueNorth’s Bert Mayo to break down the highlights and actions from the meeting and their impact on trucking.
Short on time? Check out the high-level recap below. But be sure to listen to the full episode so you don’t miss any important insights!
Twelve states aren’t ready to fully implement the rule requiring medical certifications to be linked to CDL records and others are still struggling to get it right. CVSA plans to ask the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) to delay enforcement to avoid penalizing carriers and drivers for system delays.
Enforcement is tightening. While a proposal to increase out-of-service time was rejected, serious violations may lead to criminal charges.
CVSA will request more guidance from FMCSA by releasing the unredacted enforcement memo to the public. Many questions arose during the training committee meeting. Carriers need transparency to train drivers and avoid.
CVSA recommends shifting audits from enforcement to education, proposing training and testing for new carriers to improve safety outcomes, as well as a few changes to the program.
In-motion electronic inspections are expanding through a pilot program sponsored by FMCSA. More than 600,000 have already been completed. Expect increased guidance and oversight as AVs grow.
States are caught in the middle between what federal funding requirements are and the little control they have over their judicial systems. CVSA will petition the FMCSA to address this quandary.
These updates affect compliance and safety requirements, CSA scores, insurance rates and operational readiness. Staying abreast of enforcement priorities helps transportation professionals remain compliant and competitive.
The conversations coming out of CVSA’s Annual Conference meeting reflect more than regulatory updates. They emphasize how safety, enforcement and technology intersect on the road. Engaging with these new developments helps industry professionals make informed decisions, anticipate change and continue operating safely and efficiently.
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