The One Big Thing: Trucking Resurgence Report Card
The Trucking Association Executives Council (TAEC), a federation of state trucking associations, has released a 6-month progress report on its Trucking Resurgence action plan. The numbers are the strongest rebuttal yet to the “unregulated industry” narrative that shows up in nearly every nuclear verdict case.
Since the plan launched in late 2025, nearly 10,000 non-compliant CDL schools have been removed from the federal training registry, 704 high-risk carriers have been investigated, and 194,000+ non-domiciled CDLs are set to become ineligible under new federal standards.
Why It Matters
Every reptile-theory argument leans on the same premise: That trucking is a reckless, self-interested industry that only responds to punishment after a jury forces its hand. This report is a direct, sourced rebuttal. It documents an industry-led coalition pushing federal and state regulators toward real enforcement, not waiting for litigation to do it.
For defense counsel, this isn’t just favorable press. It’s evidence that the industry identified its own bad actors and organized to remove them, on its own initiative, before any verdict compelled it.
These efforts are an initial drive to improve safety and ensure fairness. With the recent Montgomery decision leading to crucial vetting of inferior carriers, the trucking industry is striving to drive out those who bend the rules, violate the law, and threaten public safety.
By The Numbers
- Nearly 10,000 non-compliant CDL schools removed from the federal training registry; 550 fraudulent schools shut down outright
- 704 high-risk carrier investigations; 430 carriers voluntarily ceased operations; 60–70 carriers shut down
- 194,000+ non-domiciled CDLs will become ineligible under new federal eligibility standards
- 27,000+ drivers placed out of service for English Language Proficiency violations
- 76 non-compliant ELD platforms removed from the approved registry; 426 more blocked from entering the marketplace
- At least 20 states have enacted or introduced legislation aligned with the plan
The Bottom Line
The report doesn’t stop at wins, it flags a structural problem that challenges the efforts to clean up the industry. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulates nearly 8 million entities with 1,118 employees. The FAA, by comparison, oversees 1.7 million entities with 46,000 employees. That’s one FMCSA employee for every 7,155 regulated entities.
The Truckload Carriers Association has proposed a 10-point FMCSA Modernization Plan to close that gap.
If you or your company have questions about these safety updates, please contact me or any member of the Saxton & Stump Trucking and Commercial Transportation Group.
