As 2019 draws to a close, here is a a look forward at what the trucking industry can expect on the regulatory front in 2020. Candidly, it’s slim pickings for new and newly-proposed regulations. There are just a few items on the Trump Administration’s trucking-related regulatory agenda for the new year.

1. HOS Rule Changes - This is FMCSA’s top regulatory priority, and the changes are likely to be finalized in the second half of 2020.
2. Ag Commodities - Proposed HOS-related clarifications for drivers transporting agricultural commodities, likely to be proposed in the first half of 2020.
3. Entry-Level Driver Training - A two-year delay of the ELDT rules. Originally set to go into effect in February 2020, this delay could be published as soon as late December 2019.
4. Autonomous Vehicles - Proposed rule changes to allow the safe integration of trucks equipped with automated driving systems, likely to be proposed in the first half of 2020.

There may be a few other small or inconsequential proposals, but 2020 is a Presidential election year. Washington’s regulatory machine usually slows to a crawl during these years, STC expects 2020 will be no different.