In Brief: FMCSA CDL Exemption, EPA Emissions Delay, and ELD Revocations

FMCSA Issues Exemption to the Final Rule on Non-Domiciled CDLs

In February 2026, the final rule for non-domiciled drivers was published, limiting CDL issuance to only a few categories of work visas for foreign nationals. On May 14, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) granted the first exemption under this rule.

Following a petition submitted by the Hawaii Department of Transportation in 2024, the FMCSA published the exemption notice in the Federal Register. The exemption grants all State Driver Licensing Agencies (SDLAs) a five-year waiver allowing them to issue non-resident CDLs/CLPs to citizens of the Freely Associated States (FAS) residing in the United States who possess a valid and unexpired FAS-issued passport, along with Form I-94 or I-94A.

Congress granted FAS citizens a unique work status that allows them to work in the United States without requiring a visa. In addition, their I-94 or I-94A documents do not carry expiration dates. Due to this status, the FMCSA clarified that FAS citizens do not need H-2A, H-2B, or E-2 visas to obtain a Commercial Learner’s Permit (CLP) or a non-resident CDL.

The new exemption replaces a previous authorization granted to the Oregon Department of Transportation, which allowed the state to issue standard licenses to FAS citizens instead of non-resident documents.

The exemption will remain in effect through May 14, 2031, established the FMCSA. 

EPA Plans to Delay Enforcement of Vehicle Emissions Standards

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed delaying enforcement of new vehicle emissions standards by two years, pushing implementation back to the 2029 model year. The move is part of the Donald Trump administration’s broader strategy to roll back electric vehicle policies introduced during the Biden administration.

EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin said the decision is intended to provide consumers with greater freedom in choosing what type of vehicle to buy, while also lowering costs and protecting jobs in the American auto industry. According to the agency, slowing demand for electric vehicles has made previous compliance targets unrealistic.

The proposal would postpone the Tier 4 emissions standards for light- and medium-duty vehicles, originally scheduled for 2027. The EPA estimates the delay could generate savings exceeding $1.7 billion and reduce vehicle prices by hundreds of dollars for American families. In the meantime, Tier 3 regulations would remain in effect through 2028, continuing to significantly reduce harmful emissions.

The agency argues that the standards approved in 2024 under the Biden administration were based on overly optimistic assumptions regarding the rapid adoption of electric vehicles. As a result, the EPA plans a comprehensive review of the Tier 4 program, including possible permanent changes to emissions thresholds and implementation timelines. The agency is also pursuing additional deregulatory measures, including initiatives related to diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) requirements for truckers and support for right-to-repair policies for agricultural and industrial equipment.

FMCSA Removes 12 Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs) From Approved Devices List

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has updated its list of registered electronic logging devices (ELDs), removing 12 devices after determining that the manufacturers failed to meet the minimum requirements established under Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Appendix A to Subpart B of Part 395.

“Safety is not optional, and neither is compliance. FMCSA takes the removal of unsafe and unreliable electronic logging devices from the market very seriously and expects manufacturers to comply with federal safety standards. These standards are in place to help protect everyone traveling on America’s highways,” said FMCSA Administrator Derek D. Barrs.

The recently revoked ELDs are:

ELD Provider: MAUMAU LLC

Device Name: 888 ELD

Model Number: EIG8T

ELD Identifier: 8RS262

ELD Provider: Dragon ELD

Device Name: DRAGON E

Model Number: DRA

ELD Identifier: DRA782

ELD Provider: ACTION ELD

Device Name: ACTION ELD

Model Number: ACT

ELD Identifier: ACT282

ELD Provider: MONDOTRACKING SOLUTIONS LLC

Device Name: Mondo ELD HOS

Model Number: MND-APL16

ELD Identifier: MNEL21

ELD Provider: FIRST ELD LLC

Device Name: FIRST ELD

Model Number: FRST

ELD Identifier: FRS185

ELD Provider: FIRST ELD

Device Name: FIRST ELD V2.0

Model Number: FRST

ELD Identifier: FRS200

ELD Provider: POWER ELD LLC

Device Name: MTL ELD

Model Number: MRS

ELD Identifier: MRS272

ELD Provider: POWER ELD LLC

Device Name: USPower ELD

Model Number: USPower1

ELD Identifier: USPWR1

ELD Provider: Sam Freight Management LLC

Device Name: Sam Freight ELD

Model Number: SFR8

ELD Identifier: SRS166

ELD Provider: DSG TRACKING LLC

Device Name: DSGELOGS

Model Number: DSGELOGS1

ELD Identifier: DSGEL1

ELD Provider: Cobra Connect LLC

Device Name: COBRA ELD

Model Number: COBR

ELD Identifier: COB980

ELD Provider: GT ELD

Device Name: GT USA ELOGS

Model Number: 2.17.1 or higher

ELD Identifier: GTU882

Motor carriers have up to 60 days to replace revoked ELDs with compliant devices. The FMCSA is requesting that carriers use paper logs or logging software to record required hours-of-service data and replace revoked ELDs before July 20, 2026.

Safety officials are also instructed not to penalize drivers currently using revoked ELDs, provided they can present paper records or compliant logging software.

If an ELD provider corrects the deficiencies identified in its device, the FMCSA may reinstate the ELD on the list of registered devices and notify the industry of the update.