Dakota Group Blog

English-language proficiency enforcement is quickly becoming one of the most important operational issues in trucking.

One of the most important hours-of-service rules for truck drivers could eventually become more flexible.

Truck emission rules are often discussed as a policy issue. For drivers, owner-operators, small fleets, private fleets, and commercial vehicle businesses, the issue is more practical.

The regulatory environment surrounding commercial driver's licenses has changed significantly. For motor carriers, the issue is no longer limited to asking whether a driver possesses a CDL.

Federal scrutiny of commercial driver's license training is increasing rapidly.

Unified Carrier Registration (UCR) is an annual compliance requirement for motor carriers, motor private carriers, brokers, freight forwarders, and leasing companies that fall within the UCR program.

The 2027 Unified Carrier Registration season is approaching, and this year's registration cycle deserves more attention than a routine annual renewal.

Filing an MCS-150 update online should be a simple task. For many carriers, it is not. An MCS-150 update can involve more than entering a few fields into a federal system.

As commercial motor carriers prepare for 2027, several important DOT, FMCSA, tax, registration, and enforcement dates remain on the 2026 calendar.

Technology has transformed trucking compliance. Digital dashboards can track deadlines. Automated systems can organize driver records.

The U.S. Supreme Court’s May 14, 2026 decision in Montgomery v. Caribe Transport II, LLC has put renewed attention on a question the trucking industry has wrestled with for years: What should brokers, shippers, insurers, and motor carriers make of a carrier’s FMCSA safety rating? The answer requires more nuance than simply sorting carriers into “safe” and “unsafe” categories.

For thousands of service members leaving the military, the transition to civilian employment can mean starting over in an unfamiliar industry.

The MCS-150 Biennial Update is one of the most important recurring FMCSA filing requirements for motor carriers, private fleets, owner-operators, brokers, freight forwarders, and other regulated transportation businesses.

One of the most common questions carriers ask during UCR renewal is simple: Is my UCR power unit count based on trucks or trailers?

Closing a DOT number should be handled carefully. Many carriers think that if they sold their truck, stopped hauling freight, paused operations, or closed the business, the DOT number automatically stops being active.