USDOT Announces New Initiatives to Support America’s Truck Drivers in 2025

On June 27, 2025, U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) Secretary Sean Duffy unveiled a comprehensive set of initiatives, pilot programs, and regulatory updates aimed at supporting America’s truck drivers. Announced in response to the President’s Executive Order, these measures from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) focus on improving truck parking, providing regulatory relief, enhancing driver flexibility, and modernizing resources.

"Truckers keep America running. While the country sleeps, truckers grind through the night to help keep shelves stocked, families fed, and businesses humming. It’s a job that requires grit and dedication. But for too long Washington, DC has made work harder for truckers. That ends today. Thanks to President Trump, we’re getting Washington out of your trucks and your business,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy in a USDOT press release.

These efforts underscore the critical role truck drivers play in keeping the U.S. economy moving. Below, we explore these initiatives and their potential impact on the trucking industry.

Expanding Truck Parking to Enhance Safety

A chronic shortage of safe, accessible truck parking has long been a safety concern for commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers. The USDOT is addressing this issue head-on with significant investments and policy affirmations:

• $275 Million in Grant Funding: The USDOT is allocating over $275 million to expand truck parking capacity nationwide. A standout project includes a $180 million grant for Florida’s I-4 corridor, set to add 917 new truck parking spaces across Volusia, Seminole, and Osceola Counties. This initiative targets high-demand areas, improving driver rest opportunities and reducing fatigue-related risks.

• Jason’s Law Priority: A new USDOT memo reaffirms truck parking as a national priority under “Jason’s Law” (Section 1401 of MAP-21). This clarifies the eligibility of Federal-aid highway programs and discretionary grants for truck parking projects, encouraging further investment.

These efforts align with industry demands for safe truck parking solutions and are expected to enhance roadway safety by ensuring drivers have adequate rest areas.

Regulatory Relief for Greater Driver Control

FMCSA will be taking additional steps to reduce regulatory burdens, giving truck drivers more autonomy and flexibility in their operations. Key deregulatory actions include:

• Withdrawal of Speed Limiter Rule: FMCSA and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) have withdrawn a proposed rulemaking that would have mandated speed-limiting devices on heavy vehicles.

• Deregulatory Initiative: FMCSA’s ongoing deregulatory efforts are eliminating burdensome regulations, slashing over 1,800 words from federal rules. In 2024, these regulations, according to USDOT, led to nearly 25,000 unnecessary violations, and the proposed changes are projected to save the motor carrier industry millions annually.

• ELD Exemption for Pre-2000 Trucks: The USDOT Secretary has committed to maintaining the Electronic Logging Device (ELD) exemption for trucks with pre-2000 model year engines, reducing compliance costs for operators of older vehicles.

• Combating Unlawful Brokering: FMCSA is intensifying efforts to address unlawful double brokering, a practice that undermines driver earnings and industry fairness, promoting stability for trucking professionals.

Pilot Programs to Study Hours-of-Service Flexibility

To improve driver quality of life and safety, FMCSA will be launching two pilot programs to evaluate increased flexibility in hours-of-service (HOS) regulations. These programs aim to collect data on whether flexible scheduling enhances rest and safety:

• Flexible Sleeper Berth Pilot: Participating drivers can split their mandatory 10-hour off-duty period into more flexible combinations, such as 6/4 or 5/5 splits, allowing better alignment with individual rest needs.

• Split Duty Periods Pilot: This program would permit drivers to pause their 14-hour on-duty period for 30 minutes to 3 hours, providing opportunities to rest or handle delays without cutting into driving time.

These pilots respond to long-standing calls for HOS flexibility and could lead to permanent regulatory changes if proven effective, enhancing truck driver work-life balance.

Modernizing Driver Resources and Data Systems

FMCSA will be upgrading digital tools to provide truck drivers with better support, accessibility, and due process:

• Refreshed Driver Resources Webpage: The FMCSA website now features a user-friendly, mobile-optimized driver resources page with clear sections for truck and bus drivers. This upgrade improves access to critical information on regulations, safety, and compliance.

• DataQs System Update: Proposed revisions to the DataQs system under MCSAP grant funding aim to ensure fair, timely, and impartial data reviews, enhancing due process for drivers challenging violations.

• National Consumer Complaint Database (NCCDB) Modernization: The NCCDB, which processes 25,000–30,000 complaints annually, is transitioning to a modern, mobile-friendly customer service platform. The first release, expected by September 30, 2025, will streamline responses, improve timeliness, and expand complaint categories to include property brokers.

Why These Initiatives Matter for Truck Drivers

The USDOT and FMCSA’s 2025 initiatives address some of the trucking industry’s most pressing challenges, from truck parking shortages to overregulation and driver fatigue. By investing in infrastructure, reducing red tape, testing flexible HOS rules, and modernizing resources, these actions aim to improve safety, efficiency, and quality of life for America’s truck drivers. For trucking companies and owner-operators, these changes could translate into lower costs, fewer violations, and greater operational freedom.

Stay tuned to Trucksafe for updates on these initiatives and their impact on the trucking industry by subscribing to our newsletter or joining our Trucksafe Network.

About Trucksafe Consulting, LLC: Trucksafe Consulting is a full-service DOT regulatory compliance consulting and training service. We help carriers develop, implement, and improve their safety programs, through personalized services, industry-leading training, and a library of educational content. Trucksafe also hosts a livestream podcast on its various social media channels called Trucksafe LIVE! to discuss hot-button issues impacting highway transportation. Trucksafe is owned and operated by Brandon Wiseman and Jerad Childress, transportation attorneys who've assisted some of the nation’s leading fleets to develop and maintain cutting-edge safety programs. You can learn more about Trucksafe online at www.trucksafe.com and by following Trucksafe on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. Or subscribe to Trucksafe's newsletter for the latest highway transportation news & analysis. Also, be sure to check out eRegs, the first app-based digital version of the federal safety regulations aimed at helping carriers and drivers better understand and comply with the regulations.