Regulatory Roundup
Stay informed about the latest developments and actionable deadlines related to regulatory issues affecting the motorcoach, charter, and group tour and travel industries. This page will be updated monthly along with the Driving Policy newsletter.
U.S. Senate Confirms Administrator for FMCSA
On Oct. 8, the U.S. Senate confirmed Derek Barrs as the 8th Administrator for the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).
Timely Reminders
Unified Carrier Registration Now Open
The Unified Carrier Registration (UCR) for the 2026 registration year opened for full registration on October 1, 2025. All motor carriers, brokers, and leasing companies that operate across state lines in interstate commerce are required to complete the annual UCR registration to avoid fines and other enforcement actions.
Cybersecurity Awareness Month
Much of the nation’s critical infrastructure is owned and operated by state, local, tribal, and territorial governments as well as private companies. Additionally, vendors, suppliers, and other parts of the supply chain that support or are connected to critical infrastructure play a critical cybersecurity role. This year’s theme is Building a Cyber Strong America, highlighting the need to strengthen the country’s infrastructure against cyber threats, ensuring resilience and security.
National Consumer Complaint Database Updated and Expanded
The National Consumer Complaint Database (NCCDB) is undergoing modernization, with the first phase launched on September 24, 2025, to improve user experience and functionality. Key changes include a more streamlined process for filing complaints, expanded categories to include brokers, ADA violations and better website navigation. There are also more required fields for a successful submission.
New Rules & Important Notices
Department of Transportation Requests Nominations for Human Trafficking Committee
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) is currently soliciting nominations for its Advisory Committee on Human Trafficking (ACHT). Individuals from the transportation industry, including law enforcement and advocacy groups, are encouraged to apply for the 15-member committee, which provides triennial recommendations to the Secretary of Transportation on countering human trafficking in the transportation sector. Click here to submit nominations. Nominations are due October 14, 2025.
U.S. DOT Advisory Committee to Meet
The Office of the Secretary of Transportation (OST) announces a public meeting of the United States Department of Transportation Advisory Board (U.S. DOT Advisory Board) on Wednesday, October 22, 2025 at 2:00 PM ET. The purpose of the U.S. DOT Advisory Board is to provide strategic vision and high-level guidance to modernize and enhance the United States transportation systems. Access the meeting information.
DOT Seeks Public Input on Automated Driving Systems Research
On August 18, the U.S. DOT requested information to inform coordinated national research supporting the deployment of automated driving systems (ADS) transportation technology and realizing safe and efficient operations on the nation’s roadways. Comments are due by Oct. 17. Submissions should be emailed to AVResearchRFI@dot.gov, be no longer than 15 pages, use a standard Word document format, and avoid confidential or sensitive information.
U.S. DOT Refines Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Contracting Preferences
On October 3, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) issued an interim final rule (IFR) that ensures that it operates its Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) and Airport Concession Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (ACDBE) Programs in a nondiscriminatory fashion—in line with law and the U.S. Constitution. The IFR removes race- and sex-based presumptions of social and economic disadvantage that violate the U.S. Constitution. The IFR is effective immediately, but will accept comments through November 3, 2025. You can file comments here.
FMCSA Tightens Requirements for the Issuance of Non-Domiciled CDLs
An interim final rule (IFR) was published on September 29, 2025, by FMCSA, amending the Federal regulations for State Driver’s Licensing Agencies (SDLAs) issuing commercial driving credentials to foreign-domiciled individuals. The rule significantly limits the authority for SDLAs to issue and renew non-domiciled commercial learner’s permits and CDLs to individuals domiciled in a foreign jurisdiction and requires them to align these documents with the applicant’s legal status in the US. The IFR is effective immediately, but will accept comments through November 28, 2025.
FMCSA Requests Comments on the Crash Causal Factors Program: Heavy-Duty Truck Study
On Aug. 28, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) requested comments on the Crash Causal Factors Program: Heavy-Duty Truck Study Data Collection information collection request (ICR). The ICR will collect data from the state jurisdictions that were identified as part of a nationally representative study sample of fatal crashes involving heavy-duty trucks. Comments are due by Oct. 27.
FMCSA Requests Comments on Hours of Service Collection Activities
On Sept. 12, FMCSA requested approval to renew an information collection request titled, “Hours of Service (HOS) of Drivers Regulations.” The HOS regulations require a motor carrier to install and require each of its drivers subject to the record of duty status (RODS) rule to use an electronic logging device (ELD) to report the driver’s RODS. The RODS is critical to FMCSA’s safety mission because it helps enforcement officials determine if commercial motor vehicle drivers are complying with the HOS rules, which limit driver on-duty and driving time and require periodic off-duty time. Comments are due by Oct. 14.
OSHA Heat Standard Public Hearings Request for Comments
An informal public hearing on OSHA’s Heat Injury and Illness Prevention in Outdoor and Indoor Work Settings proposed rule took place virtually through July 2, 2025. The hearings are available to the public for live viewing on YouTube. Click here to access each day’s proceedings. A post-hearing docket is open for public comment through October 30, 2025.
Interior Department Reopens its Deregulatory Portal
The comment period for the request for information entitled “DOI Regulatory Reform RFI” published on May 20, 2025, is reopened and will remain opened indefinitely. No deadline for the receipt of comments on this effort has been established at this time; Interior will review comments on an ongoing basis. Click here to file comments.
IRS Announces Tipped Workers Tax Exemptions, Taking Comments for Additions
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issued proposed regulations on September 22, 2025, to clarify the new “No Tax on Tips” deduction, created under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (BBB). The rules define which tips are eligible for a tax deduction and set new reporting requirements for employers. The regulations are proposed to apply to tax years beginning after December 31, 2024, but can be relied on now. Defined employee classes can claim a federal income tax deduction of up to $25,000 for tips received, retroactive for the entire 2025 tax year, including Tour Guides and Charter Bus Drivers. Comments are due by October 22, 2025.
The IRS will hold a public hearing on these regulations on October 23, 2025 at 10 AM ET. Requests to attend the public hearing must be received by 5 p.m. ET on October 21, 2023, submit your request via email to publichearings@irs.gov.
