The New Year tends to bring with it new rules and regulations, and even though we’re only halfway through January, there’s plenty to talk about, and truckers are part of those conversations. Many changes are coming in 2026, some of which were implemented last year but are now being enforced. Let’s look at some of them in hopes of being prepared for the new year.

Nationwide Non-Domiciled Trucker CDL Audit

In September 2025, the FMCSA announced it would be performing an audit on illegally issued CDL’s. California was faced with an ultimatum to cancel non-domiciled, illegally registered CDL’s by this month. Last year, we faced tariffs affecting us, and this year, the Department of Transportation is reportedly withholding $160 million dollars’ worth of funding to California until the non-domiciled CDL issues are resolved. U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy is calling for California to cancel illegally issued CDL’s, claiming it will result in safer roads for other truckers and everyone around them. The California DMV has stopped issuing non-domiciled CDLs for the time being.

Enforcement of English Proficiency for Truckers

As part of the Trump Administration’s plan for a safer trucking industry, the executive order for enforcing common-sense rules of the road for America’s truck drivers was issued, and English proficiency was part of that.  When recapping trucking in 2025, the executive order for America’s Truck Drivers was a hot topic, with many deadlines being the beginning of this year. Drivers who violate the English language proficiency requirement may be placed out of service. The specifics of English proficiency in this case include being able to read and speak English and converse with others confidently, including officials and law enforcement.

Being able to read road signs in English is also a qualification for English proficiency. If being potentially tested brings about nervousness, there are plenty of apps, including Duolingo, that can help brush up on conversations in English and other languages.

New Truck Routes in High Traffic Areas

Semi-trucks deliver just about everything we consume, and they often have regular routes that take them through high traffic areas, which can become taxing for both the driver and others. Some cities and counties are attempting to create specific routes for truck drivers to alleviate traffic, and the Inland Empire is one of them. Truckers must share the roadwith others, and even the nicest truckers don’t always get the same respect in return. Congestion can make runs stressful, especially in frequently visited cities and areas.

San Bernardino County is looking to designate truck-only routes to make the passing of trucks easier. If the plans are approved, truckers will be able to travel in their own lanes without other commuter cars being in the way.