On The Horizon - April 7, 2025

Registration Actions in the FMCSA Portal

FMCSA would like us to inform our members of the following:

The option to make online updates with FMCSA, such as filing a biennial update or filing an address change, were taken offline in order to implement multi-factor authentication via the FMCSA Portal, but these online options are now available again, as of January 20, 2025

Online updates and changes can be made in a matter of minutes in FMCSA Portal, versus waiting over 30 days for a paper form to be processed!

To get started, you will need a Login.gov e-mail address and USDOT PIN to create an FMCSA Portal account. 

What FMCSA Registrants can do online:

Create an FMCSA Portal account to access registration options:

1. Create a Login.gov account.

2. Use your existing Login.gov account if it is not already associated with an FMCSA Portal account.

3. To create a Company Official account, you’ll need to retrieve your USDOT PIN via email in SAFER. PIN #s are now available via Text or Email.

4. Use your existing USDOT PIN if you have one. You must have an active USDOT Number and valid mailing address to retrieve your USDOT PIN.

5. Register in the FMCSA Portal.

6. Access registration options in the FMCSA Portal.

The Office of Registration is there to help. You can use these tools and information to help navigate the FMCSA Portal:

• How2 guidance is available Here

• Click Here for detailed instructions on how to create and manage Portal accounts.

• Call at 1-800-832-5660 (Option 2) or visit the Ask FMCSA page for live, one-on-one help accessing and using the FMCSA Portal. 

Safety Measurement System

Join us for a webinar on ISS and CAB!

We will discuss the differences between the two platforms, how to access important information, what it means and what steps to take if you find inaccuracies.

The webinar will be a teams meeting held on April 16th from 12:00-1:00.

Please RSVP to mwilliams@mttrucking.org

File you 2025 Montana annual business report

Limited Liability Companies (LLCs) and Corporations (profit and nonprofit) have until April 15, 2025, to file.

For the second consecutive year the fee for annual report filings will be automatically waived for all businesses that file their 2025 annual report by the April 15 deadline.

Businesses can easily file the annual report on the Secretary of State’s online filing portal at https://biz.sosmt.gov/. Business owners can also find step-by-step instructions on Secretary Jacobsen’s online help center.

CVSA's International Roadcheck Scheduled for May 13-15

The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s (CVSA) International Roadcheck is scheduled for May 13-15. International Roadcheck is a high-visibility, high-volume commercial motor vehicle inspection and regulatory compliance enforcement initiative that takes place over three days in Canada, Mexico and the United States.

Law enforcement personnel will inspect commercial motor vehicles and drivers at weigh/inspection stations, temporary sites and mobile patrols to verify regulatory compliance. Data from the 72 hours of International Roadcheck will be collected and the results will be released this summer.

Each year, International Roadcheck places special emphasis on a driver violation category and a vehicle violation category. During International Roadcheck, inspectors will primarily conduct the North American Standard Level I Inspection, a 37-step procedure that includes an examination of driver operating requirements and vehicle mechanical fitness. While all 37 steps will be completed, as usual, inspectors will also pay close attention to the driver’s record of duty status (RODS) and the vehicle’s tires.

Driver Focus Area

Hours-of-service (HOS) regulations are in place to safeguard transportation safety by limiting driving hours and mandating adequate rest breaks to ensure commercial motor vehicle drivers have the opportunity to get the rest they need, thereby preventing crashes and incidents caused by fatigue.

To ensure compliance with HOS regulations, drivers must accurately reflect their times and duty statuses in their RODS, which is a log that a commercial motor vehicle driver must maintain to record their driving activity. Failure to record, complete or retain the log, or knowingly falsifying logs or other related reports, is not only a driver out-of-service violation, it also makes the driver and/or carrier liable to prosecution.

During the driver portion of an inspection, inspectors check the driver’s documents, license or commercial driver’s license, medical examiner’s certificate and skill performance certificate (if applicable), record of duty status, Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse status (in the U.S.), seat belt usage, and alcohol and/or drug impairment. If an inspector identifies driver out-of-service violations, they place the driver out of service, restricting that driver from operating their vehicle.

Vehicle Focus Area

The importance of proper tire maintenance cannot be overstated. Tire failure while in transit is a hazard to all motorists. It is also far more expensive and time consuming for motor carriers to repair an in-transit tire failure versus proactively maintaining tire health and addressing tire issues before the vehicle is on the road.

During International Roadcheck, inspectors will check tires’ tread depth and proper inflation. They will also be on the lookout for tire damage, such as air leaks, tread separation, cuts, bulges, sidewall damage and improper repairs.

During the vehicle portion of the Level I Inspection, inspectors ensure the vehicle’s brake systems, cargo securement, coupling devices, driveline/driveshaft components, driver’s seat, fuel and exhaust systems, frames, lighting devices, steering mechanisms, suspensions, tires, wheels, rims, hubs, and windshield wipers are compliant with applicable regulations. Inspections of motorcoaches, passenger vans and other passenger-carrying vehicles also include the examination of emergency exits, seating, and electrical cables and systems in the engine and battery compartments.

A vehicle that successfully passes a Level I or V Inspection without any critical vehicle inspection item violations may receive a CVSA decal, which is valid for up to three months.

If out-of-service violations are found during an inspection, as outlined in the North American Standard Out-of-Service Criteria, the vehicle is restricted from operating until all out-of-service violations have been properly addressed.

As part of International Roadcheck, inspectors may also be available to answer questions about tire health and violations, and to help drivers navigate the HOS regulations in their jurisdictions.

In case of inclement weather or other limiting circumstances during the three days of International Roadcheck, a jurisdiction or an inspector may opt to conduct a limited Level II Walk-Around Driver/Vehicle Inspection or Level III Driver/Credential/Administrative Inspection, instead of a Level I Inspection. Level II and III Inspections are not eligible for a CVSA decal.

CVSA is a nonprofit organization comprised of local, state, provincial, territorial and federal commercial motor vehicle safety officials and industry representatives in Canada, Mexico and the U.S. The Alliance aims to prevent commercial motor vehicle crashes, injuries and fatalities and believes that collaboration between government and industry improves road safety and saves lives. Its mission is to improve commercial motor vehicle safety and enforcement by providing guidance, education and advocacy for enforcement and industry across North America.

Tariff on imported trucks may drive prices up 9%

A 25% tariff on imported vehicles and specific vehicle components set to take effect Thursday could impact one-third of U.S. commercial vehicle sales, according to a report by S&P Global Mobility. 

Since taking office in January, President Donald Trump has increased tariffs on China by 20%, enacted narrow 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico, and boosted tariffs on steel and aluminum to 25% – duties on more than $1 trillion of imports.

Along with swift retaliatory measures from Canada and Mexico, S&P anticipates that more tariffs targeting vehicle imports could potentially reduce short-term trucking demand and, over time, reshape the landscape of commercial vehicle manufacturing. Read More

CVSA's Out-of-Service Criteria Now in Effect

The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance's (CVSA) 2025 North American Standard Out-of-Service Criteria are now in effect. The 2025 out-of-service criteria replace and supersede all previous versions.

Certified commercial motor vehicle enforcement personnel utilize the out-of-service criteria to determine whether or not drivers or vehicles present an imminent hazard and should be placed out of service. The federal regulations, together with CVSA’s out-of-service criteria, provide the standards that drivers, motor carriers and law enforcement personnel use to ensure the commercial motor vehicles and professional drivers operating on North America’s roadways are safe and compliant.

Last year, the voting members of the Alliance approved 15 changes to the out-of-service criteria. In accordance with the CVSA Bylaws, the proposed changes were communicated to the voting members of the Alliance on Sept. 27, 2024, and ratified on Oct. 11, 2024. The out-of-service criteria are updated annually, effective April 1 of each year.

The following changes were made to the out-of-service criteria:

1. “Part I, Item 2. Operator’s/Chauffeur’s License or Permit (Non-CDL), B. Endorsements and Restrictions” and “Part I, Item 3. Commercial Driver’s License, c. Endorsements and Restrictions” were amended to provide clarity regarding Canada's Transportation of Dangerous Goods Certificate.

2. “Part I, Item 3. Commercial Driver’s License, b. Commercial Learner’s Permit (1)” was amended to clarify that the accompanying driver of a driver with a commercial learner’s permit cannot be unauthorized to drive for any reason.

3. In “Part I, Item 4. Driver Medical/Physical Requirements, b. Medical Certificate (3)" was amended to include passenger-carrying and property-carrying vehicles in the same out-of-service condition. In turn, property-carrying vehicles was deleted from (4).

4. An out-of-service condition for inoperative brakes due to an unplugged electrical cable was added to “Part II, Item 1. Brake Systems, A. Defective Brakes, (7) Hydraulic and Electric Brakes, (H)” and a note was added to “Part II, Item 9. Lighting Devices (Headlamps, Tail Lamps, Stop Lamps, Turn Signals and Lamps/Flags on Projecting Loads).”

5. An out-of-service condition for inoperative brakes due to a disconnected service gladhand was added to “Part II, Item 1. Brake Systems, h. Air Brake Hose/Tubing.”

6. Hoses and tubing that are crimped in such a manner as to restrict air flow was removed from “Part II, Item 1. Brake Systems, h. Air Brake Hose/Tubing, (5).”

7. Language was added to “Part II, Item 1. Brake Systems, h. Air Brake Hose/Tubing" and "Part II, Item 1. Brake Systems, o. Hydraulic Brakes (3)” for a brake hose or line that is marked for another application other than the applicable brake system.

8. “Part II, Item 1. Brake Systems, l. Tractor Protection System” was amended to require the primary and secondary system to both be below 20 psi rather than either system.

9. Clarifying language was added to “Part II, Item 2. Cargo Securement, a. General Securement” for the violation of 392.9(a)(2).

10. A section specific to projecting load lamps was added to “Part II, Item 9. Lighting Devices (Headlamps, Tail Lamps, Stop Lamps, Turn Signals and Lamps/Flags on Projecting Loads), b. At Any Time - Day or Night.”

11. “Part II, Item 11. Suspensions, a. Axle Parts/Members (1)” was amended to add clarity regarding U-bolt bottom plates.

12. A clarifying note was added to “Part II, Item 11. Suspensions, d. Suspension Connecting Rod and Tracking Component Assembly (2)” and the diagram was updated.

13. A note was added to both sections of “Part II, Item 12. Tires, a. Any Tire on Any Front Steering Axle(s) of a Power Unit, (8)” and “b. All Tires Other Than Those Found on the Front Steering Axle(s) of a Power Unit (4)” regarding rubber mud flaps.

14. In “Part II, Item 12. Tires, b. All Tires Other Than Those Found on the Front Steering Axle(s) of a Power Unit,” 12.b.(1) was modified to indicate that a tire without an automatic tire inflation system (ATIS) is out of service when it has a noticeable leak in the tread area. 12.b.(2) remains unchanged, addressing a tire that is equipped with an ATIS that has a leak in the tread area. 12.b.(3) was added to address leaks in the tire sidewall being out of service regardless of whether or not the tire is equipped with an ATIS.

15. “Part II, Item 12. Tires, b. All Tires Other Than Those Found on the Front Steering Axle(s) of a Power Unit, (6)-(7), (8)-(9)” was amended to remove the different out-of-service condition for radial and bias tires and combine them into one section.

Will's Safety Message

Step It Up: Safe Practices for Climbing and Descending

Climbing in and out of cabs, trailers, or equipment is one of the most common actions for truckers—but it’s also one of the most dangerous. Falls during these routine tasks can lead to serious injuries. The good news? Simple techniques can make all the difference.

The Golden Rule: Three-Point Contact

Always maintain three points of contact (two hands and one foot, or two feet and one hand) when climbing or descending. This provides maximum stability and minimizes the risk of losing your balance.

Best Practices for Climbing and Descending:

1. Inspect Before You Step:

2. Check steps, handholds, and ladders for wear, ice, grease, or debris before using them.

3. Never trust broken or unsecured equipment.

4. Face the Vehicle:

5. Always face the cab, trailer, or ladder when climbing or descending.

6. Avoid turning your body sideways or stepping backward—this increases the risk of slipping.

7. Slow Down:

8. Rushing is a major cause of falls. Take your time to safely enter or exit, especially in poor weather.

9. Avoid jumping from trailers, loading docks, or cabs.

10. Wear Proper Footwear:

11. Non-slip, sturdy boots are essential for safe footing.

12. Replace worn soles to maintain good traction.

13. Keep Hands Free:

14. Avoid carrying items when climbing, use a belt or bag to keep tools or cargo secure.

15. If your hands are occupied, you can’t maintain proper contact.

Weather Watch:

Rain, snow, and ice make surfaces slick and unpredictable. Always scrape ice off steps and ladders and take extra caution in bad weather.



The Danger of Complacency:

Climbing in and out of cabs or trailers may feel routine, but complacency is a safety hazard. Treat every climb with care and focus.

Practicing these simple habits can significantly reduce the risk of falls, keeping Montana’s truckers on their feet and on the move. Stay tuned for next week’s tips on preventing falls while securing loads!