DOT Enforcement Is Tightening: How Increased Audits Could Impact Capacity This Year
In 2026, carriers and shippers alike are facing a landscape where federal enforcement activity is intensifying, with audits, inspections, and compliance actions all putting increased pressure on trucking operations. As regulators push harder on safety and documentation standards, many fleets are feeling the effects—not just in paperwork, but in capacity and operational readiness. Why Enforcement Is Increasing The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), under the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), has signaled a continued commitment to vigorous oversight. According to federal performance plans, FMCSA has built enforcement goals that include increasing inspections and compliance reviews of high-risk carriers, as well as investigating out-of-service operations more aggressively. Over the past few years, FMCSA and its state partners have steadily ramped up on-site audits and comprehensive reviews, uncovering more violations and levying more penalties. ...