Cutting the Red Tape: Tire Size Documentation No Longer Required
In a significant move to modernize federal regulations, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has officially eliminated a long-standing bureaucratic requirement for transport fleets. For decades, carriers were mandated to track tire sizes within their vehicle maintenance records. However, federal regulators have now deemed this practice obsolete.
The FMCSA announced the change to Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations (49 CFR), specifically removing the requirement under Section 396.3(b)(1). While motor carriers must still maintain identification records for every vehicle—including company numbers, makes, serial numbers, and years of manufacture—they are no longer required to document tire sizes in these files.
Why the Change?
Originally introduced by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) in 1979, the tire size tracking rule was intended to monitor manufacturing defects and failures. Safety officials now agree that tire safety and condition are more effectively monitored through mandatory annual DOT inspections, roadside checks, and standard safety regulations. This step aligns with the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) broader initiative to remove redundant regulations and adapt to modern technology, where digital maintenance tracking has largely replaced paper documentation.
Key Technical Updates Every Fleet Manager Should Know
The update, which went into effect on July 21, also includes several technical corrections and clarifications that compliance specialists should note:
1. Clarifying the GVWR Definition
The agency updated 49 CFR § 390.5 and § 390.5T regarding the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR). The FMCSA clarified that any vehicle manufactured with a GVWR of 10,001 pounds or more is permanently classified as a Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV), regardless of its actual weight or empty weight at any given time.
2. Verification of Foreign Driver History
Regulations have been corrected in 49 CFR § 391.23(a)(1) regarding mandatory 3-year driving history checks. Carriers must now request Motor Vehicle Records (MVR) from “driver’s licensing authorities” rather than just state agencies. This ensures proper background checks for drivers holding licenses issued by foreign authorities.
3. US-Canada Transborder Medical Exemptions
Updates to 49 CFR § 391.41 clarify that U.S. drivers operating under a medical “exemption or waiver” are prohibited from transborder operations into Canada due to reciprocal agreements. Importantly, this update fixes an error that previously—and inadvertently—applied this restriction to drivers using Skill Performance Evaluation (SPE) certificates for limb impairments.
4. Simplified Petition Process
Fleet operators looking to petition the FMCSA for new rules or the removal of current safety regulations can now submit requests directly through www.regulations.gov under docket number FMCSA-2021-0054.
Compliance and Deadlines
Because these updates consist of technical corrections and the removal of obsolete rules, the FMCSA issued the final rule without a prior public comment period. However, fleet managers facing administrative penalties or undergoing compliance reviews based on these specific sections have until August 20, 2026, to petition the FMCSA Administrator for reconsideration.
Wishing you a wide and safe road ahead! At All About Trucks & Translab, we put truckers first.
