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Evolving federal and state regulations

Trucking laws in the U.S. are shaped by both federal and state governments. As technology advances and safety concerns grow, regulations are evolving to address new challenges in the industry.

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  • Truck Accident Law Team
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Article 3 of 6 in Future Trends in Truck Accident Law/

Evolving Federal and State Regulations in Truck Accident Law

Federal Level Developments

  1. Electronic Logging Device (ELD) Expansion
    • FMCSA continues refining ELD requirements to ensure accurate tracking of Hours of Service compliance.
  2. Increased Insurance Minimums
    • Congress has debated raising the outdated $750,000 minimum liability coverage for motor carriers.
  3. Safety Technology Mandates
    • Proposals to require automatic emergency braking, lane departure warnings, and collision avoidance systems in all new trucks.
  4. Autonomous Truck Guidelines
    • FMCSA and DOT are drafting frameworks for safe testing and deployment of autonomous trucks.
  5. Drug and Alcohol Testing Enhancements
    • Expanded federal clearinghouse databases track violations more closely.

State-Level Developments

  1. Unique Trucking Rules
    • States impose stricter speed limits, size/weight restrictions, or environmental rules (e.g., California’s CARB emissions laws).
  2. Insurance Requirements
    • Some states require higher liability coverage than federal minimums for intrastate carriers.
  3. Distracted Driving Laws
    • States continue to strengthen restrictions on mobile phone use by truck drivers.
  4. Local Court Procedures
    • States refine discovery rules, jury selection, and settlement requirements for trucking cases.

Federal vs. State Tensions

  • Preemption Issues: Federal law often preempts conflicting state laws, but states retain authority over intrastate trucking.
  • Patchwork Compliance: Trucking companies must navigate both federal rules and diverse state requirements, increasing complexity.
  • Greater focus on climate and emissions regulations for trucks.
  • Development of cybersecurity standards for connected and autonomous vehicles.
  • Continued push for uniform insurance requirements across states.

Summary: Federal and state trucking regulations are evolving to address safety, insurance, technology, and environmental concerns. While federal rules provide a baseline, state-level variations create a complex legal landscape that shapes liability and compliance in truck accident cases.

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Truck Accident Law Team

Written by : Truck Accident Law Team

Attorneys, investigators, and legal writers focused on U.S. trucking safety, litigation strategy, and victim advocacy.

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