News and upcoming events

Brake Safety Week: August 24–30, 2025

Throughout North America, inspectors in Canada, Mexico, and the U.S. will conduct roadside inspections of commercial motor vehicles, focusing on brake systems, especially drums and rotors, which are key to safe stopping. Damaged or failing brake parts can reduce brake effectiveness and even cause dangerous debris on the road.

• Vehicles with serious brake violations will be taken off the road until fixed.
• Some areas will use specialized equipment (PBBTs) to test braking performance.
• All inspection and violation data will be collected and analyzed by the CVSA.

In addition to inspections, drivers, carriers, and mechanics will be educated on brake maintenance and safety. CVSA also offers prep resources to help fleets get ready.

The goal: Prevent crashes by making sure brakes are properly inspected, maintained, and working.

New Medical Certification Rule Goes Digital – Effective 6/23/25

The U.S. DOT and FMCSA have officially launched the final phase of the Medical Examiner’s Certification Integration (NRII) rule. This rule replaces old paper-based medical certification records with a secure digital system, improving safety, accuracy, and fraud prevention.

Here’s what this means:

• Certified medical examiners must now upload exam results electronically to FMCSA’s National Registry by midnight the next day.
• FMCSA will then send that info to each state's licensing agency, which will update the driver's record automatically.
• Paper certificates are no longer needed for recordkeeping or enforcement.
• Roadside inspectors and law enforcement can instantly verify a driver’s medical certification status.

Why it matters:

• It simplifies the process for compliant drivers.
• It helps prevent fraud from fake or outdated certificates.
• It ensures only medically qualified drivers stay on the road.

As of today: 37 states are fully using the new system, and others are joining soon.

This digital upgrade supports FMCSA’s mission to reduce crashes and strengthen accountability in commercial motor vehicle operations.

English Language Proficiency Now an Out-of-Service Violation 

Starting June 25, 2026, commercial drivers in the U.S. who cannot meet English language proficiency requirements will be placed out of service, based on changes to CVSA’s North American Standard Out-of-Service Criteria.

This rule refers to 49 CFR 391.11(b)(2), which requires drivers to:

• Speak and read English well enough to interact with the public,
• Understand road signs/signals in English,
• Respond to official questions,
• And fill out required reports and records.

Although this change won’t appear in the printed CVSA guide until April 2026, the rule will still be fully enforceable starting June 25, 2026.

Why this matters:

• Roadside inspectors will follow new inspection procedures that include checking English proficiency.
• The requirement applies to all drivers operating in the U.S., even if they're from Canada or Mexico.
• FMCSA and CVSA provide guidance materials for drivers and carriers on this update.

This change supports FMCSA’s goal of improving safety by ensuring drivers can communicate effectively and follow roadway instructions.