Trucking news and briefs for Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025:
CVSA calls for med-cert guidance for inspectors
The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance last week sent a letter to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration urging the agency to provide guidance to enforcement personnel related to the delayed rollout of the electronic medical certificate system.
As reported, FMCSA has issued temporary waivers that allow truck drivers to continue relying on a paper copy of the medical examiner’s certificate as proof of a driver’s medical certification as some states still work to implement the fully electronic system. The current waiver is in effect through Jan. 10.
The waivers followed FMCSA’s implementation of its National Registry II (NRII) final rule, which required states to implement an electronic process for medical certification -- with examiners transmitting exam results to FMCSA via the National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners and FMCSA transmitting the results to state driver’s licensing agencies to post to the driver’s motor vehicle record (MVR).
As of Dec. 8, there are nine states that have still not implemented NRII -- Alaska, California, Florida, Kentucky, Louisiana, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York and Oklahoma.
CVSA in its Dec. 5 letter requested that FMCSA provide guidance to enforcement officials that a paper copy of a value medical examiner’s certificate is permitted to demonstrate compliance with the applicable requirements during a roadside inspection and motor carrier safety audits and investigations until all of the issues around NRII are resolved.
CVSA said that as a result of the nine states yet to fully implement the electronic system, “[m]otor carriers continue to grapple with the effects of this partial implementation of the NRII requirements. Currently, if a motor carrier has a driver whose medical certificate is not transmitting in the system correctly, they are forced to either temporarily cease using that driver until the issue is resolved or resubmit them for an additional medical certification exam, to ensure that they can prove the driver is qualified.”
Additionally, because carriers are not notified when a driver’s medical certificate is properly associated with that driver’s MVR, “motor carriers are also forced to query drivers’ Motor Vehicle Record (MVR) more frequently to monitor when the driver’s Medical Examiners Certificate is posted to CDLIS,” CVSA added.
To address these and other challenges, CVSA is requesting that FMCSA provide the guidance to enforcement personnel related to paper copies of drivers’ medical certificates “until all issues associated with integrating the state driver’s license administrations’ systems with the medical examiners’ systems are resolved.”
[Related: How to stay compliant amid confusion around new electronic med cert rule]
3PL Triple T Transport opens third location
Third-party logistics provider Triple T Transport, which provides services across the U.S. and Canada, has opened a new office in St. Augustine, Florida, representing the company's third location overall, joining its corporate headquarters in Lewis Center, Ohio, and its established regional office in Tampa, Florida.
This expansion underscores the company’s continued growth and commitment to strengthening its presence in key markets, the company said. The St. Augustine office will serve as a hub for supporting customers, carriers, and partners across the Southeast.
"We are thrilled to expand our footprint in Florida with the addition of our St. Augustine office," said Darin Puppel, President of Triple T Transport. "This new location positions us to better serve our clients in the Southeast while also creating new opportunities for growth and collaboration. It's a reflection of our steady momentum and our dedication to delivering reliable, customer-focused logistics solutions."
The St. Augustine office will also support the company's ongoing recruitment efforts, creating opportunities for professionals seeking a career in logistics and supply chain management, Triple T said.
"As we expand, we remain focused on our people, our partners, and the values that have guided us since day one," added Puppel. "We look forward to making St. Augustine a part of our growing story and building strong relationships in the region."
ECU issue prompts recall of International trucks
International Motors is recalling approximately 678 trucks of various models for an issue related to the engine control unit.
Recall documents from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration note that in the affected trucks, electrical noise and low signal to the power line carrier may cause the ECU to incorrectly process commands or stop working.
Safety systems that depend on the ECU, such as Automatic Traction Control, ABS, Electronic Stability Control, Active Cruise Control, and Collison Mitigation System, may have diminished or lost functionality, increasing the risk of a crash.
International models affected by the recall include:
- 2016-‘23 International LoneStar (3 units potentially affected)
- 2018 International 8600 (2 units potentially affected)
- 2018-’23 International LT (15 units potentially affected)
- 2021-‘26 International MV (106 units potentially affected)
- 2022-’23 International RH (3 units potentially affected)
- 2023-‘26 International HX (192 units potentially affected)
- 2025-’26 International HV (356 units potentially affected)
International will work with Bendix to reprogram the ECU, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed Jan. 19. Owners can contact International's customer service at 1-800- 448-7825 with recall number 25525. NHTSA’s recall number is 25V-817.
