The trucking industry is watching Washington, DC, as a new presidential administration begins and a new Congress tackles federal legislation. Federal regulatory activity has temporarily slowed, as President Trump, like his predecessors, has imposed a 60-day moratorium on new regulations.
But the safety, efficiency, legality and compliance of your motor carrier operation are also affected by actions at the state, provincial and local levels. No moratorium in effect there! Here are resources to keep abreast of changes at those levels:
State fuel tax levels: Contact your state fuel tax administrator (department of revenue or department of finance) or the International Fuel Tax Agreement (IFTA).
State truck registration fee levels: Contact your state department of motor vehicles or the International Registration Plan (IRP).
State speed limits: Contact your state department of transportation (state DOT), any of several websites which monitor truck speed limits, such as the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, J.J. Keller, or your state trucking association. Currently, eight states are debating speed limit changes and speed differentials.
Remember, too, that weather, traffic, and road conditions dictate the safe speed, and road maintenance/construction activity may temporarily limit the legal maximum speed on any road.
State truck routes: Contact the state department of transportation for questions about any routing changes. If you have a terminal network, your local terminal manager can secure local details. As with truck speed limits, road maintenance and construction activity may temporarily affect truck routes.
Toll road charges: Contact the toll roads/turnpikes where you operate, the electronic toll payment provider your company utilizes, such as PrePass Tolls (https://prepass.com/blog/toll-rates-to-rise-in-several-states-in-2025/), or an online truck toll calculator. Remember: truck tolls can differ by time of day, truck combination type, length, and height.
If your company belongs to a state trucking association, the American Trucking Associations (ATA) or the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA), all employ professionals ready to help answer your questions.
Trucking operations enter many jurisdictions. Rules can vary. Your safety and efficiency mean staying on top of new laws and regulations.