On the Horizon July 14, 2026

CVSA's Operation Safe Driver Week is Now through the 18th

The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s (CVSA) Operation Safe Driver Week is going on now. During Operation Safe Driver Week, commercial motor vehicle drivers and passenger vehicle drivers who are demonstrating unsafe driving behaviors will be identified by law enforcement personnel and issued a warning or ticket/citation.

Examples of unsafe driving habits include speeding, distracted driving, fatigued/drowsy driving, following too closely, impaired driving, failure to wear a seatbelt, unsafe lane changes, disregarding traffic signals, etc.

The goal of this weeklong safe-driving enforcement and outreach initiative is to improve drivers’ behaviors through education, traffic-enforcement strategies and driver interactions with law enforcement. Driver-related behaviors are largely preventable; therefore, addressing these behaviors is one of the most effective ways to reduce injuries, save lives and improve overall road safety.

According to the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 36,640 people were killed in traffic crashes in 2025. Transport Canada’s National Collision Database shows an average of 2,000 motor vehicle fatalities in 2023. And Mexico reported 15,979 road deaths for 2022. CVSA’s Operation Safe Driver Program aims to reduce the number of crashes on our roadways caused by unsafe driving actions.

The focus of this year’s Operation Safe Driver Week is reckless, careless or dangerous driving. Any person who drives a vehicle in willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property is driving recklessly. Careless/dangerous driving is defined as operating a vehicle without due care and attention or reasonable consideration for other motorists or people on the road.

Driver education initiatives are also a major part of Operation Safe Driver Week. Driver awareness programs are crucial for preventing crashes by teaching drivers to identify risky driving habits and proactively address and avoid those behaviors. To assist in educating drivers about ways to safely share our roadways, CVSA offers resources for teen and new drivers and commercial motor vehicle drivers, along with public service announcement videos, which are available for download and distribution. CVSA also distributes Operation Safe Driver Week postcards at no cost to its industry and enforcement members.

Learn more about CVSA’s Operation Safe Driver Program.

What Fleets Need to Know About EPA's New NOx Rule

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed revisions to its 2027 heavy-duty NOx emissions rule that could lower the cost of new diesel trucks by as much as $6,000 per vehicle while maintaining the stricter NOx emissions standards set to take effect in model year 2027.

The proposed changes are intended to reduce compliance costs, provide manufacturers with greater flexibility and help ensure a smoother transition to the new emissions requirements.

Key proposed changes include:

·    Current emissions warranty requirements would remain in place. EPA proposes eliminating the expanded 10-year/450,000-mile warranty included in the 2023 rule and instead retaining today's 5-year/100,000-mile warranty.

·    Extended useful-life requirements would be delayed until model year 2030, giving manufacturers more time to validate engine durability while keeping the 2027 NOx emissions standard intact.

·    Greater flexibility for specialty vocational vehicles, such as fire trucks and refuse trucks, by easing certification requirements for low-volume engine production.

·    A nonconformance penalty option would allow manufacturers additional flexibility if they cannot immediately meet the 2027 NOx standard, helping reduce the risk of engine shortages.

·    Driver warning systems would replace engine speed and power derates for certain diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) issues, reducing the likelihood of unsafe roadside situations caused by automatic power limitations.

·    Technical updates to certification and testing procedures would better align heavy-duty engine requirements with light-duty vehicle testing, simplifying the certification process.

EPA estimates the proposal would still achieve approximately 90% of the NOx emissions reductions expected under the original 2023 rule while significantly reducing costs for manufacturers and fleets.

The proposal is now open for public comment through August 29, with a public hearing scheduled for July 29.

WYDOT Awarded Grant for Highway Safety and Commercial Truck Parking

The Wyoming Department of Transportation (WYDOT) was recently awarded two competitive federal grant awards for highway safety improvements in the state, as outlined in a media release on Friday.

WYDOT received two awards from the US Department of Transportation’s Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development grant program, a highly competitive discretionary funding pool, in the same award cycle. With these two winning projects, WYDOT has received more than $172.8 million in competitive federal grants in the last five years. Read More

MTA Foundation Sponsored License Plate

The Montana Trucking Association Foundation specialty license plate is officially available!

Now you can proudly support Montana's trucking industry everywhere you go and make a difference while doing it.

Proceeds from every plate sold benefit the Barry "Spook" Stang Memorial Scholarship, helping provide educational opportunities for future generations.

Whether it's on your pickup, personal vehicle, company car, or in-state semi/trailer, your plate is more than a registration it's a statement of support for our industry and its future.

Click Here to find it on the MVDs website

If you have any questions please feel free to reach out to 406-442-6600

Will's Safety Message

Every Step Matters

We inspect brakes.

We secure loads.

We watch our mirrors.

But how often do we think about where we're placing our feet?

Every year, slips, trips, and falls remain one of the most common injuries affecting Montana trucking companies. The good news is they're also among the most preventable.

Look before you step.

Clean up hazards when you see them. Take your time climbing in and out of equipment.

Sometimes the most important safety decision you'll make today is your very next step.

Stay Safe!