New DOT Regulations 2023

Trucking and moving industries have seen many changes since Covid-19 struck. Since 2020, a lot had to be changed in order for life to go on as normally as possible. What we found out back then was that the moving and trucking industries were considered essential industries whose stoppage could not take place. Moving goods and helping people move around freely was something that had to continue and we here at the Best Long Distance Movers were happy to have been able to help our fellow residents move around, conduct business, and relocate to different cities according to their desires. To make all of these possible, the FMCSA had to make changes to existing regulations. Now, three years later, at the beginning of a new year, the time has come to face the new regulations for the current year. Today we bring you the new DOT regulations 2023 edition.

The New DOT Regulations 2023 – what is different?

Instead of diving right into the pool of information, here, right at the beginning, we would like first to take an overview of what has changed in regard to the 2022 DOT regulations. In the case that you are in the trucking business and often help people relocating to Colorado, you will want to know what the news for 2023 is. As you probably know, every year FMCSA looks into the enforced regulations and analyzes the results that they have spurred. According to the circumstances, they may decide to keep or amend certain rules. Obviously, at the same time, certain new regulations are introduced.

Here is what changed with the DOT regulations for 2023:

1. Covid HOS waiver
2. Virtual SAP
3. Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse
4. California AB5
5. Emergency relief has been limited
6. Electronic Identification
7. ELD Changes
8. Revised Medical Examiner Handbook
9. Broker and Freight Forwarder Changes
10. Safety Fitness Procedures
11. Automatic Emergency Braking
12. Automated driving systems
13. Speed Limiter

As you can see, there is plenty of information that we need to cover today. In fact, we will be diving into more info than back when we looked at moving industry statistics, including using long distance movers Florida which have become very popular among us Americans. So, in the case that you are in the trucking industry, fasten your seatbelt. In the case that you are not, you might still want to stick around. There are things that you could learn that can help you when the time for your relocation comes.

Covid HOS waiver has suffered changes

We started this article with an allusion to 2020 when Covid-19 became a worldwide problem. Even then we feared that moving to California, which was very popular back then, could become a difficult feat to achieve. Some might have wondered with start it like that, but there was a clear reason. Back in 2020, the government needed to handle to Covid crisis. It meant that plenty of regulations needed to be changed. The HOS waiver was one of them.

What changed back then was that some transporters were released from the mandatory hours-of-service regulation due to a national emergency. Among other stuff, medical material needed hauling. Therefore, it turned out to be a good idea to let drivers spend more time driving than they would usually be allowed to. 

However, now that the Covid pandemic has entered a phase in which it does not pose a serious threat to humanity, the time has come for the HOS to be reintroduced and reinforced on all haulers. This decision was put into action on October 15th, 2022 and you should be aware of it. However, in the case that you are preparing to take a skills test for a commercial driver’s license, you may apply for an exemption.

Virtual SAP has been canceled

Up until the 31st of December 2022, everyone who violated the drug and alcohol regulations could opt for a remote, yet, face-to-face evaluation. Since January 1st, 2023 this is not possible anymore. From now on, all assessments need to take place in person. This should be regarded as a positive decision by all of our readers considering long distance movers in North Carolina soon. It means that you and your belongings are going to be even more protected from unreliable truck drivers.

Drug and alcohol clearinghouse

Up until now, if you wanted to hire a new driver, you needed to reach out to his old employer to find out whether he had any violations of drug and alcohol regulations. However, this has changed.

Drug and alcohol clearinghouse may have been introduced three years ago, but it’s only in 2023 that it is going to live up to the full expectations. It had not become operational until January 6th, 2023 because DOT had insufficient information to fully rely on the newly introduced system. Since the beginning of this year, it changed. So, all of you ensuring that our countrymen and women relocate to Kentucky are going to find it quite easier to come by reliable drivers.

Since this January, the clearinghouse becomes the sole point of contact when it comes to this kind of necessary piece of information.

What is the future of California AB5?

For all of you who have been in the business for some time, the fuss about AB5 is nothing new. However, it can be unsettling not knowing what the outcome at the court is going to be. Even in the case that AB5 is overruled, the time needed for the court to come to a conclusion will have influenced your daily life. The bright side of the story is that in May we should witness the preliminary hearing. This means that the end to the agony is in sight. Until then, hold tight and keep on helping Americans move to Texas. After all, there is not much else that you can do while waiting for the ruling.

Emergency relief has been limited

The new DOT regulations for 2023 are going to introduce limitations on emergency relief. How? Well, the idea behind this is that the current regulations would yield too much HOS relief when it may not be necessary. The desired outcome is that a Presidential declaration of emergency would trigger a 30-day exception, while a Governor’s only 5. This way, the FMCSA would get to keep a tighter hold over safety in transportation. 

What does it mean for our customers? Well, no matter whether you are looking to move to Tennessee cross country, this change is not going to affect you. Truckers who deal with goods transportation, however, could feel the consequences of the change. Still, it is our belief that the consequences are not going to be severe. In fact, we are confident that they are going to do us all good in the long run.

Electronic identification for all interstate commercial motor vehicles

However, at the moment the FMCSA is still entering the operational test of Level VIII electronic inspection. This means that you need not keep this proposition close to your heart, at the moment. However, it is possible that in the future you may need to acquire an electronic identification. The good news is that it should help keep the costs down for trustworthy carriers helping people relocate to Alabama and help authorities pinpoint the ones that go about their business in a more risky way.

ELD changes in 2023

There could be changes in the pipeline in regard to ELD. At the moment, FMCSA is looking to gather information and opinions of motor carriers on the current setup of ELD, the good and its bad sides.

This is a good moment for all of you in the moving industry, especially Idaho interstate movers, to voice your opinions on how ELD regulations have been implemented. There are 5 key areas that the authorities are eager to gather information on:

• pre-2000 engine trucks
• malfunctions of ELD
• ELD providers
• ELD tech specifications
• the ELD certification process

If you are concerned or unhappy with how ELD functions at the moment, this is your moment to shine. The same goes for all of you who are happy with the current regulation.

New DOT regulations 2023: The Medical Examiner Handbook is being revised

After 7 years since the last time we could take a glimpse at a draft of the new Medical Examiner Handbook, the time has come to think about it once again. This, 2023, is the year when the new version is about to be published.

Broker and freight forwarder financial responsibility changes

The idea behind the proposed changes is to clearly draw the line between bona fide agents and brokers. The goal is to stop certain dispatch services from claiming to be bona fide agents of different carrying companies. Obviously, the possibility of the status quo is that many dispatch services could engage in unlawful brokerage. This is something that both our company, as a brokering company, and other trustworthy movers support. No matter whether our customers are moving to New Mexico or moving locally, we believe that clear regulations in this regard should see the light of dawn.

Safety fitness procedures

If you thought that this section had to do with the overall fitness of a person, you would be wrong. Here, the government is looking to improve the process of identifying carriers that need to improve their performance or shut down. What does this really mean? The goal is to pinpoint those companies that conduct business in ill faith. Instead of marking a business’ performance as satisfactory, conditional ad unsatisfactory, improvements in this area would enable the FMCSA to divide companies into two batches: fit and unfit. To do so, it is necessary to improve the process and that is what is going on at the moment.

Automatic emergency braking is one of the new DOT regulations 2023 is bringing on board

The goal of this initiative is to enhance road safety for all who take part in traffic. One of the ways to make sure that this comes to fruition is to install an automatic braking system in all new cars and trucks. So far, four manufacturers managed to meet the set requirements. Those four are Audi, Tesla, Mercedez, and Volvo. The rule that we are talking about at the moment is supposed to provide performance standards for automated emergency braking.

Automated driving systems

Another innovation that can influence the way traffic works in the future is definitely automated driving systems. First introduced by Tesla, so far have not made its ground into other manufacturers’ vehicles. At least, not fully automated solutions. However, we expect in the future that other manufacturers are going to follow suit and come up with fully automated and integrated solutions of their own.

Before that happens the FMCSA wants to do two things. First of all, they would want to introduce clear guidelines that are going to help the manufacturers know what to aim for. Secondly, the goal is to ensure that once development is done, it really improves safety. Ultimately, we all hope our roads become safer with innovations such as this one.

Speed limiter as one of the innovations from new DOT regulations 2023

If you would like to minimize the chances of a crash taking place, what do you do? You make sure that your speed is risk-free. In case you would like to mandate changes that will ensure excess speed is not the reason a truck might cause a crash, what do you do? You introduce speel limiters! 

This is exactly what the government is trying to do with the most heavy-duty trucks. The last piece of information you need to know is that, if introduced this year, these changes would not affect drivers for another two to four years. 

Are you ready to face the new DOT regulations 2023 brings?

As you have seen, there have been many different initiatives planned for 2023. Some of them are going to become a reality this year. Others are going to be topics of many discussions. At least you know what to brace for in regard to the new DOT regulations 2023 is going to bring to us.