Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Administrator Derek Barrs discussed the agency’s plans during the Women In Trucking Association’s Accelerate! Conference & Expo in Dallas on October 27. He also addressed carrier registration, CDL testing, hours-of-service research, and enforcement concerns raised by drivers attending the event.

The proposals remain in development. FMCSA has not announced when the new rules will be published, and the existing training and ELD requirements remain in effect.

FMCSA Considering Minimum Hours for CDL Training

Current federal entry-level driver training rules require students to demonstrate proficiency in behind-the-wheel skills, but they do not specify a minimum number of driving hours.

Barrs told conference attendees that FMCSA is working on a proposal to establish training-hour requirements while retaining the existing proficiency standard. Under the approach he described, completing the required hours would not be sufficient unless the student also demonstrated the necessary skills.

The administrator did not identify a proposed number of hours or explain how the requirement might be divided between range instruction and public-road training.

Questions from the audience also highlighted concerns about the instruction drivers receive after obtaining a CDL. Attendees described inconsistent carrier training practices, including situations in which trainers reportedly prioritized accumulating miles over providing meaningful instruction.

Barrs acknowledged those concerns but said creating a uniform standard would be complicated by the differences between large trucking companies and smaller operations. Continuing education was another issue he said deserved consideration, although no specific proposal was announced.

For drivers who already hold a CDL, the discussion did not establish any new training obligation. The potential changes are focused on the development of federal training requirements, and the details will depend on future rulemaking.

ELD Certification Could Face Independent Testing

FMCSA is also considering changes to how electronic logging devices are evaluated for compliance.

Under the current system, ELD providers certify that their devices meet federal technical requirements and register them with FMCSA. The agency can remove devices from its list of registered ELDs if they fail to meet those standards.

Barrs said regulators are examining a more rigorous certification process that could involve third-party testing or an independent testing laboratory.

The discussion followed a question about whether companies could manipulate electronic records. Barrs said FMCSA is investigating allegations involving altered logs and coordinating with federal partners on related enforcement matters.

Independent testing could change the way ELD manufacturers demonstrate compliance before their devices are accepted for use. However, FMCSA has not released proposed testing standards, identified an approved testing organization, or established a timeline.

Nothing announced at the conference requires drivers or carriers to replace their current ELDs. Devices must continue to meet existing federal requirements unless FMCSA adopts new rules or removes a particular model from its registered-device list.

Carrier Registration and CDL Testing Also Under Review

Barrs described ongoing work to strengthen the federal motor carrier registration process, including measures intended to identify fraudulent applications and prevent unqualified businesses from entering the industry.

He said the agency’s developing registration system could help identify suspicious activity and improve its ability to verify carrier information.

CDL testing standards are another area under consideration. Barrs discussed a potential rulemaking addressing licensing requirements, including the language used for written knowledge examinations.

He did not provide specific proposed language or a publication date. Existing CDL testing requirements therefore remain unchanged by his remarks.

These efforts are part of FMCSA’s broader examination of how drivers and motor carriers enter the industry, although the agency has not established a single implementation schedule for the various proposals.

Truck Parking and Hours-of-Service Research Remain Priorities

Driver concerns about available parking also came up during the conference. Barrs referenced the U.S. Department of Transportation’s October announcement of approximately $200 million for truck parking improvements.

The funding covers 14 projects across 12 states and is expected to support more than 2,400 additional parking spaces. The projects are intended to expand available facilities, although individual construction schedules and opening dates will vary.

Barrs also discussed FMCSA’s ongoing hours-of-service research, including pilot efforts examining sleeper-berth flexibility. Those studies are intended to evaluate potential alternatives to existing requirements and do not authorize participating or nonparticipating drivers to disregard current hours-of-service limits.

The administrator acknowledged additional concerns about restroom access, workplace harassment, and discrimination, which attendees raised alongside questions about regulations and enforcement.

FMCSA Has Not Announced Implementation Dates

The agency is continuing work on changes to its Compliance, Safety, Accountability program, commonly known as CSA. Barrs said those efforts remain underway but did not identify a release date.

He also encouraged professional drivers to participate in the federal rulemaking process when proposals become available for public comment.

That opportunity will be particularly relevant for the proposed training-hour requirements and potential ELD certification changes. Once FMCSA publishes a notice of proposed rulemaking, the public can review the details and submit comments before the agency considers a final rule.

For now, the October announcements signal the direction of FMCSA’s regulatory work rather than immediate changes to federal trucking requirements. The agency has not finalized new training hours, ELD testing procedures, or CDL examination standards.

The TDUSA editorial team creates practical, driver focused content covering trucking news, industry updates, safety, regulations, and career information for professional truck drivers across the United States. Each article is built to reflect real world experience, industry developments, and information drivers can use on and off the road.

Last Updated: November 2, 2026

Source: The Trucker

Image Source: Linda Garner Bunch/ The Trucker

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