Highway Safety Coalition Round Table - HSCRT

08/20/2026

Effective Sept. 3, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration is modernizing 49 CFR § 172.602 by granting domestic carriers and facility operators the option to maintain emergency response information (ERI) in an electronic format—rather than strictly on paper. The final rule acknowledges that modern hazardous materials operations already rely heavily on technology that is currently in use throughout the trucking industry.
“We commend PHMSA Administrator Paul Roberti and the agency for listening to industry stakeholders,” Ryan Streblow, National Tank Truck Carriers president and CEO, said in a news release. “This commonsense rule maintains immediate access to critical emergency information while eliminating an unnecessary regulatory burden. NTTC has consistently advocated for regulations that are performance-based, technologically current, and focused on measurable safety outcomes.
“We are especially proud that PHMSA recognized NTTC’s comments in the final rule and that our advocacy helped provide the agency with a strong industry case for making this commonsense change. NTTC’s voice and the real-world experience of our members carried considerable weight in demonstrating why this outdated paper requirement was no longer necessary.”
Immediate accessibility is non-negotiable
While the final rule introduces flexibility, PHMSA was clear in its Federal Register notice posted Aug. 4 that the standard for compliance remains strictly “performance-based.” The digital ERI must be immediately available at all times.
• Carriers and facility operators are entirely responsible for ensuring the reliability of their chosen electronic method.
• A lack of cellular signal will not excuse a carrier from compliance with the hazardous materials regulations (HMR).
• A device’s power loss will not excuse a carrier from HMR compliance.
• Device failure will not excuse a carrier from HMR compliance.

08/20/2026

https://cvsa.org/news/2026-bsw-dates/

Brake Safety Week is a seven-day focused inspection and enforcement initiative designed to improve safety by ensuring commercial motor vehicles on our roadways are operating with properly maintained…

07/02/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1BR6m3m6ZZ/?mibextid=wwXIfr

The Department is deeply saddened to announce the loss of a dedicated member of our ranks, Trooper Michael E. Pahira, Jr. He was assigned as a Motor Carrier Inspector at PSP Frackville and was killed in the line of duty on July 1. Read more at bit.ly/PSP-MEP26.

06/25/2026

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has finalized a rule eliminating the long-standing requirement that CDL holders self-report traffic convictions to their state licensing agency — a rule that took effect Monday June 22, 2026. Under the change, CDL holders will no longer be required to notify their state of domicile when convicted of certain traffic violations in another state. FMCSA said the requirement became unnecessary after state driver licensing agencies fully implemented the Exclusive Electronic Exchange system in 2024, which automatically transmits conviction information between states through the Commercial Driver's License Information System. The requirement dated all the way back to the Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1986 — meaning this 40-year-old rule is officially dead. For CDL holders this is one less compliance burden to worry about — but make no mistake, FMCSA said the rule does not reduce enforcement or alter how convictions are recorded against a driver's CDL — traffic convictions, license withdrawals, and disqualifications will continue to be transmitted electronically between state licensing agencies.

06/03/2026

Pennsylvania Act 18
Paul Miller’s Law
§ 3316.1. Prohibiting use of interactive mobile device.
(a) Motor vehicle.--Except as provided under subsection (b), no driver shall use an interactive mobile device while driving a motor vehicle.
(b) Emergency use exception.--Using an interactive mobile device shall be permissible by a driver of a motor vehicle if necessary to communicate with a law enforcement official or other emergency services to prevent injury to persons or property.
(c) Penalties.--Except as provided for in subsection (g), a person who violates this section commits a summary offense and shall, upon conviction, be sentenced to pay a fine of $50 (+ court costs)
(d) Preemption of local ordinances.--In accordance with section 6101 (relating to applicability and uniformity of title), this section supersedes and preempts all ordinances of any municipality with regard to the use of an interactive mobile device by a driver of a motor vehicle.
(e) Seizure.--Nothing in this section shall be construed to authorize the seizure or forfeiture of an interactive mobile device, unless otherwise provided by law.
(f) Law enforcement education.--The department, in consultation with the Pennsylvania State Police, shall develop and electronically distribute education materials for law enforcement on how to effectively detect distracted drivers, regardless of age, s*x, race or ethnicity, who violate this section.
(g) Warning period.--For the first 12 months after the effective date of this subsection, a driver who violates subsection (a) may only be issued a written warning for a violation.
(h) Prohibition on similar citations.--A person may not be charged with a violation of section 3316 (relating to prohibiting text-based communications) concurrently with a violation of subsection (a) for an offense committed at the same time and place.
(i) Definitions.--As used in this section, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings given to them in this subsection unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Driving." Operating a motor vehicle on a highway, including while the motor vehicle is temporarily stationary because of traffic, a traffic control device or other momentary delay. The term does not include operating a motor vehicle if the driver moved the vehicle to the side of or off of a highway and halted in a location where the vehicle can safely remain stationary.
"Use an interactive mobile device." As follows:
(1) Using at least one hand to hold, or supporting with another part of the body, an interactive mobile device.
(2) Dialing or answering an interactive mobile device by pressing more than a single button.
(3) Reaching for an interactive mobile device in a manner that requires a driver to maneuver so that the driver is no longer in a seated driving position, restrained by a seat belt that is installed in accordance with 49 CFR 393.93 (relating to seats, seat belt assemblies, and seat belt assembly anchorages) and adjusted in accordance with the vehicle manufacturer's instructions.

(June 5, 2024, P.L.366, No.18, eff. 12 months) – Paul Miller Law becomes effective June 5, 2025 with public education period and issuance of written warnings.
Enforcement begins June 6, 2026 with issuance of citation

06/03/2026

https://clearinghouse.fmcsa.dot.gov/Learn/News/Item/ID-verification

An online database that gives employers and government agencies real-time access to information about CDL driver drug and alcohol program violations.

06/02/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1Bd3Q4Q615/

Paul Miller’s Law is officially moving Pennsylvania into hands-free driving, which means the days of holding your phone at a red light and pretending you’re “not really driving” are over. The law makes it illegal for drivers to use a hand-held phone or interactive device while behind the wheel, even if they’re stopped in traffic or sitting at a light. For the first year, police issued warnings, but starting June 5, 2026, violations can bring a $50 fine plus court costs and fees. Drivers can still use hands-free calling, GPS, music, and emergency calls, but the basic message is simple: mount it, voice-command it, or leave it alone. Pennsylvania roads are chaotic enough without everyone treating I-83, Route 30, or the Turnpike like a rolling group chat.

06/02/2026

https://manage.kmail-lists.com/subscriptions/web-view?a=M8E5PA&c=01GTF32VV4D7H0TCC11DQ7XV3Y&k=b5adeccd90a1e5eea2be79dc94279ac8&se=bthibodeau%40aimntls.com&m=01KSQAHK3KN52FDKX2QDRKRQM2&r=01KT47J2MNGWSHPKR287RZ50JN

06/02/2026

https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/OHOSHP/bulletins/41952bf

Ohio State Highway Patrol RELEASE: 6-State Trooper Project: 7,932 Drivers Cited for Safety Belt Violations Ohio State Highway Patrol sent this bulletin at 05/28/2026 11:00 AM EDT Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page. For Immediate Release: May 28, 2026 Contact: Lieutenant Brice A...

04/27/2026

FMCSA overhauling DataQ system
Jason Cannon

How this affects you:
• More success on legitimate challenges: Fleets will no longer face "rubber-stamp" denials from the same officer who issued a citation; the new rule mandates independent, multi-stage reviews to eliminate conflicts of interest.
• Strict timelines for faster score corrections: States are now held to mandatory deadlines, including opening requests within seven days and providing initial decisions within 21 days, helping motor carriers clean up CSA scores and safety records faster than under the previous system.
• Increased transparency in denials: Each denied appeal be accompanied by a comprehensive explanation—including the name of the decision-maker and the specific evidence reviewed—giving fleets and drivers a clearer legal basis to decide whether to escalate to Stage 2 or 3.
Federal regulators are launching the most significant reform of the DataQs system in years, mandating a more independent and timely appeals process for motor carriers challenging safety data, according to a 24-page notice scheduled for publication in the Federal Register April 16.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) announced the revised requirements following a 2025 proposal that drew 223 public comments from trucking companies, drivers, and safety consultants. The new rules tie state compliance to Federal Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program (MCSAP) grant funding, providing a financial incentive for states to reform how they handle Request for Data Review (RDR) challenges.
"These changes will ostensibly help the partiality issue fleets have been struggling with for years," Trucksafe President Brandon Wiseman. "Personally, think it’s a step in the right direction towards sorely needed due process for carriers and drivers whose livelihoods are quite literally hinging on the accuracy of this type of data."
The overhaul comes as the agency manages a massive volume of data challenges. In 2024, the DataQs system handled 8,314 crash data requests and over 63,500 requests regarding inspections and violations.