TN Truck Thought Podcast Episode 34
posted by TrueNorth Transportation on Thursday, October 9, 2025
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Breaking down CVSA's 2025 Annual Conference and what it means for you
Held in Denver, the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s (CVSA) 2025 Annual Meeting brought together federal and state enforcement officials, carriers and industry experts to explore how safety and compliance are evolving on the road.
The meeting highlighted several emerging trends that are reshaping the landscape of commercial vehicle safety. From a crackdown on electronic logging device (ELD) fraud and English language proficiency to delays in medical certifications and growing conversations around autonomous vehicles and driver qualifications, the event signaled a shift in both regulatory focus and industry priorities.
In this episode of the TTT podcast, hosts Sean Garney and Steve Keppler are joined by TrueNorth’s Bert Mayo to break down the highlights and actions from the meeting and their impact on trucking.
Short on time? Check out the high-level recap below. But be sure to listen to the full episode so you don’t miss any important insights!
Whats on the radar
Medical certification rule (NRII)
Twelve states aren’t ready to fully implement the rule requiring medical certifications to be linked to CDL records and others are still struggling to get it right. CVSA plans to ask the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) to delay enforcement to avoid penalizing carriers and drivers for system delays.
ELD tampering and fraud
Enforcement is tightening. While a proposal to increase out-of-service time was rejected, serious violations may lead to criminal charges.
ELD tampering and fraudEnglish language proficiency (ELP)
CVSA will request more guidance from FMCSA by releasing the unredacted enforcement memo to the public. Many questions arose during the training committee meeting. Carriers need transparency to train drivers and avoid.
New entrant audits
CVSA recommends shifting audits from enforcement to education, proposing training and testing for new carriers to improve safety outcomes, as well as a few changes to the program.
Autonomous vehicles (AVs) and Level VIII Inspections
In-motion electronic inspections are expanding through a pilot program sponsored by FMCSA. More than 600,000 have already been completed. Expect increased guidance and oversight as AVs grow.
Masking
States are caught in the middle between what federal funding requirements are and the little control they have over their judicial systems. CVSA will petition the FMCSA to address this quandary.
Why it matters
These updates affect compliance and safety requirements, CSA scores, insurance rates and operational readiness. Staying abreast of enforcement priorities helps transportation professionals remain compliant and competitive.
Looking ahead
The conversations coming out of CVSA’s Annual Conference meeting reflect more than regulatory updates. They emphasize how safety, enforcement and technology intersect on the road. Engaging with these new developments helps industry professionals make informed decisions, anticipate change and continue operating safely and efficiently.
The TN Truck Thought podcast keeps transportation leaders of today and tomorrow in the know on the hottest industry trends. Our specialists get to the bottom of challenging, and sometimes controversial, transportation topics to offer insight and predictions.
About Author
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