Truck Driver Day

August 12 is Truck Driver Day. This day highlights the crucial role truck drivers play in our everyday lives. Truck drivers are vital in keeping our economy on track, transporting goods all over the country to keep our shelves stocked and supply chains running smoothly. Read on to learn more about this celebration!

Your Voice Matters: Participate in UCR Plan Meetings

Active participation by states and industry in UCR Plan Board and Subcommittee meetings is important to ensuring that the UCR Plan remains viable and strong in the future and that your voice is heard on issues that will affect your state or you as a motor carrier.  Although you may not have an opportunity to speak during every meeting, active participation includes making your feelings known about agenda items ahead of each meeting to the Board members representing you on the UCR Plan Board. 

A full list of UCR Plan Board and Subcommittee meetings through the end of the year can be found at this link.  Agendas are posted seven days prior to scheduled meetings.  A list of UCR Plan Board members and their contact information is available at this link.

Request for Nominations for Motor Carrier Industry Vacancy Due August 28, 2026

The Unified Carrier Registration (UCR) Plan Board of Directors is requesting nominations of qualified individuals from the motor carrier industry for consideration by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) for appointment by FMCSA to the UCR Plan Board of Directors to fill a vacancy that has arisen. By statute, all nominees for the vacancy must be representatives of “a national trade association representing the general motor carrier of property industry.” The selected individual will fill the vacancy for a term that begins immediately upon appointment and expires on May 31, 2027.

DATES: Nominations of or expressions of interest by qualified individuals to be considered by the FMCSA for appointment to fill the vacancy in the Board of Directors of the Unified Carrier Registration Plan, along with accompanying resumes, must be received on or before August 28, 2026.

Documents for both nominations may be delivered by email to [email protected] (preferred option), regular mail, courier, or hand-delivery.

Address for Mail, Courier, or Hand-Delivery:

Unified Carrier Registration Plan

Attention: Matt Mantione, UCR Chief Staff Executive

529 14th Street NW, Suite1280

Washington, DC 20045

Inspector Recognition

The inspector who noted the most UCR violations in July 2026 was Officer Bruce Cheeseboro, Georgia Department of Public Safety. Officer Cheeseboro issued 30 violations. 

The Unified Carrier Registration (UCR) Enforcement Subcommittee is pleased to recognize the inspector who issues the highest number of UCR violations each month. An annual award will be awarded to the inspector with the most cumulative violations over the year. The mission of the UCR Enforcement Subcommittee is to increase UCR enforcement, standardize enforcement practices, support enforcement agencies, and provide education and training resources. For more information about the UCR Enforcement Subcommittee, please visit https://plan.ucr.gov/subcommittee-members/.

Policy Spotlight: Fee Change Recommendation Policy

The purpose for the Unified Carrier Registration Plan (“UCR”) Fee Change Recommendation Policy is to position UCR to begin the registration year on October 1 of the year preceding the registration year whereby a fee change recommendation is planned and, to the extent within our control, provide a high level of certainty to industry and participating states that the registration year will begin at a consistent time every year for their administrative, regulatory, and budget planning purposes.

View the complete Fee Change Recommendation Policy in this document.

View this and all of the policies and procedures adopted by the UCR Board of Directors in the Document Library.

Education & Training Center: UCR Audit Insights Course

This scenario-based course offers participants the opportunity to engage with the audit process through practical case studies. Participants will analyze various scenarios and determine the most effective next steps. This interactive approach fosters a deeper understanding of the audit process and provides participants with best practices for compliance.

View this training and further educational resources to support training for stakeholders in motor carrier regulation in the UCR Plan Education & Training Center.

Carney wants broader tariff relief as Trump’s 50% levy looms

Canada’s trade talks with the U.S. are still aimed at reducing all of the sector-specific tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump, Prime Minister Mark Carney said.

The two countries are currently negotiating to find a trade deal by Aug. 19. That’s the date on which Trump promised last month the U.S. will apply new 50% tariffs on a fresh basket of Canadian-made goods, unless Carney’s government addresses what the U.S. calls “irritants.”

Source: “Carney wants broader tariff relief as Trump’s 50% levy looms,” Aug. 6, 2026. https://www.ttnews.com/

USDOT rolls out National Roadway Safety Strategy

U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy is rolling out the National Roadway Safety Strategy (NRSS) — a new interdepartmental plan to reduce traffic fatalities and injuries on our nation’s roadways.

“President Trump and I are committed to keeping American families safe on our roads,” Duffy said. “In the past year alone, we’ve partnered with law enforcement agencies to step up traffic enforcement, removed dangerous foreign truck drivers off the roads, and launched new educational campaigns on the dangers of distracted driving, drunk driving, and driving without a seat belt. This new strategy builds on that progress by doubling down on our coordination with the police, enhancing our anti-congestion initiatives, and embracing automotive innovation to make our streets safer than ever.”

Source: “USDOT rolls out National Roadway Safety Strategy,” Aug. 6, 2026. https://www.thetrucker.com/

Trade deficit narrows to $73.3 billion on drop in imports

The U.S. trade deficit narrowed in June as imports fell for the first time since the start of the year in a broad decline. 

The gap in goods and services trade shrank 5.6% from the prior month to $73.3 billion, Commerce Department data showed Aug. 4. The value of imports declined 1.8% while exports fell 0.9%. The trade data wrap up a quarter in which net exports continued to weigh on economic growth.

Source: “Trade deficit narrows to $73.3 billion on drop in imports,” Aug. 4, 2026. https://www.ttnews.com/