Motor carriers are under the microscope, and the lens is widening.
Over the past several months, that closer review has taken several forms. FMCSA has announced at least 95 ELD removals since January 2025, as well as the emergency removal of more than 110 training providers associated with drivers who failed roadside English-proficiency assessments. At the same time, major freight brokers are tightening their own carrier-selection standards.
These actions come from different parts of the industry. Still, they point to the same underlying trend: the technology, qualifications, and records behind a carrier’s operation are all receiving closer scrutiny.
What Happens When an ELD Is Revoked?
An ELD may appear on FMCSA’s registered list when a carrier selects it, but that status isn’t necessarily permanent.
As of May 20, FMCSA had removed 79 devices since January 2025 for failing to meet minimum federal requirements. The agency subsequently removed one device in June, 10 in July, and five in August. The July and August batches carry replacement deadlines of September 8 and October 6, respectively.
Although these actions are directed at ELD providers, the operational consequences fall on the carriers using their devices. FMCSA instructs affected carriers to discontinue using a revoked device, temporarily rely on paper logs or compliant logging software, and install a registered replacement. After the applicable deadline, continued use is treated as operating without an ELD and can result in the driver being placed out of service.
Providers aren’t federally required to notify customers when a device is removed, so carriers must monitor FMCSA’s registered and revoked lists and respond when a device’s status changes.
English Proficiency Enforcement Is Moving Upstream
On August 31, FMCSA announced the emergency removal of more than 110 entry-level driver training providers linked to more than 5,000 drivers who failed English language proficiency (ELP) assessments. The move followed the agency’s comparison of roadside enforcement data with Training Provider Registry records.
The scale of the roadside issue helps explain the agency’s response. During the 2026 International Roadcheck, inspectors recorded 361 ELP out-of-service violations—all in the United States—making it the fourth-leading driver OOS violation during the event. A subsequent four-state enforcement operation produced another 36 ELP violations in late July.
The requirement itself isn’t new. Federal regulations already require commercial drivers to communicate with officials, understand highway signs, and make required record entries in English. What has changed is enforcement: ELP returned to CVSA’s OOS criteria in June 2025, and FMCSA has since proposed codifying the OOS consequence in federal regulations.
Although removing a provider doesn’t automatically invalidate every CDL held by its former students, it does reinforce the need for carriers to assess English proficiency and verify driver qualifications directly.
Broker Networks Are Becoming More Selective
Closer scrutiny is also affecting how freight brokers decide which carriers can access their networks. As US Compliance Services previously covered, the Supreme Court’s May decision allowed a negligent-hiring claim against C.H. Robinson to proceed past a federal preemption defense. The Court didn’t find C.H. Robinson negligent, but the ruling means brokers may now have to defend how they select carriers.
C.H. Robinson has also published updated requirements addressing safety ratings, insurance, identity verification, operating performance, and fraud concerns, all of which can affect a carrier’s eligibility for freight through its network.
What Motor Carriers Should Do Now
Carriers can’t control whether FMCSA removes an ELD or investigates a training provider, or whether a broker changes its requirements. But they can control how quickly they identify and respond to those changes.
Staying ahead means checking your ELD registration status regularly, evaluating English proficiency during driver qualification, and keeping FMCSA, insurance, and safety information current. It also means understanding what your most important broker partners review before offering a load.
Most importantly, assign responsibility for these checks. A consistent review process can help uncover problems before they place a driver out of service or limit access to freight.
If your team needs help managing these moving pieces, US Compliance Services can assist with driver qualification files, ELD procedures, and FMCSA records as requirements and enforcement priorities change. Contact us to get started.
