On The Horizon - October 27, 2025

CVSA Releases 2025 Brake Safety Week Results

Inspectors in 52 jurisdictions throughout North America conducted 15,175 commercial motor vehicle inspections with a focus on brake systems and components as part of the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s (CVSA) annual Brake Safety Week, Aug. 24-30.

The majority of the commercial motor vehicles inspected (84.9%) did not have any out-of-service brake violations that would deemed them unsafe to proceed on their route. However, commercial motor vehicle inspectors did place 2,296 vehicles out of service due to brake-related violations. That is a 15.1% out-of-service rate out of the total number of vehicles inspected.

In addition to the other brake components that are examined as part of a routine North American Standard Inspection, inspectors provided violation data for drums and rotors, the focus for this year’s brake safety initiative. There were 113 drum and rotor violations. Thirty-nine commercial motor vehicles were placed out of service for rotor and/or drum violations. Note: There may be more than one violation on some vehicles/combinations.

View the rest of the news release for much more data and information.

Montana's 2025 Roadway Fatalities and Fatal Crashes

Thousands of Truckers Respond to DOT's Non-Domiciled CDL Rule

On Sept. 29, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration issued an interim final rule aimed at restricting who can qualify for a non-domiciled CDL.

“Restoring Integrity to the Issuance of Non-Domiciled CDLs” would significantly limit state driver’s license agencies’ authority to issue and renew non-domiciled CDLs for individuals from foreign jurisdictions.

An Employment Authorization Document (EAD) would no longer be enough to obtain a non-domiciled CDL. Additionally, asylum seekers, asylees, refugees and Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients would be excluded from eligibility. The majority of current non-domiciled CDL-holders possessed an EAD.

“Although these individuals may be eligible for employment in the United States, they would not be eligible to apply for a non-domiciled commercial learner’s permit or CDL,” the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration wrote in the notice.

FMCSA gave the public through Nov. 28 to comment on the interim final rule. Even though there’s still more than a month to go, the comments are already pouring in. Read More

Will's Safety Message

When the days get shorter and the nights stretch longer, visibility drops, and the hazards rise. Whether you’re rolling through a dark terminal, backing into a dimly lit yard, or driving through neighborhoods filled with trick-or-treaters, poor lighting can turn a normal night into real fright.

Keep your focus sharp and your lights brighter than the Halloween moon:

• Clean your headlights, taillights, and reflective tape before every run. A little dirt can mean a lot less visibility.

• Watch for pedestrians and kids darting between parked cars; their costumes don’t come with high-vis stripes.

• Use flashlights and reflective gear when walking around your truck or reloading areas after dark.

• Back slowly, use a spotter when you can, and never assume someone can see you.

• In terminals and yards, report burned-out lights immediately. A dark corner is no place for surprises.

The only thing that should vanish tonight are the ghosts and goblins — not a driver lost in the shadows. Stay bright, stay alert, and keep your headlights on the safe path home.



Happy Halloween and keep it safe out there after dark!