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Truckers and Carriers Take Note: New CVSA Out-of-Service Criteria Take Effect April 1 — 17 Changes Including ELD Tampering, Brake Systems, Alcohol Rules, Cargo Securement

By
Kristina
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WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s 2026 North American Standard Out-of-Service Criteria took effect April 1, 2026, replacing all previous versions. Enforcement personnel across North America now use the updated standards to determine whether drivers or vehicles present an imminent hazard and should be pulled from the road.

CVSA members approved 17 changes to the criteria on October 17, 2025. Here is what changed:

Driver-Related Changes

The criteria for operator’s licenses and CDL endorsements and restrictions were amended to separate endorsements from restrictions and clarify violation codes. A note on intrastate restrictions was also added to the CDL section.

The intoxicating beverages rule now explicitly states that a driver in possession of wine or beer with an alcohol content of 0.5% or more — or any distilled spirit — is out of service.

ELD tampering rules got significant updates. The false records of duty status and ELD tampering criteria now cover situations where an inspector can determine when a driver was driving or resting. A new out-of-service condition was added for any driver or carrier who tampers with an ELD in a way that makes it impossible to determine what events occurred. This applies to both property-carrying and passenger-carrying vehicles. The reference to automatic on-board recording devices was also removed from the duty status footnotes following the removal of that regulation from federal law.

A note in the Canadian duty status section was moved to a more applicable location within the criteria.

Vehicle and Equipment Changes

Two brake system out-of-service conditions moved into the 20% defective brakes criterion section. The term “service gladhands” was updated to “service air connections” to account for different coupler types. Hydraulic and electric brake lining thickness measurements were updated to better align with federal regulations. The parking brake heading now reads “Parking/Emergency Brake” to reflect both applications.

The ExTe Com90 securement system was added to the log securement section. A damage chart for wire rope was added to the tiedown defect table. A section specific to countersunk screws was added to the upper coupler and kingpin coupling devices section.

Wheel and rim language was updated to address missing pieces of rims. Language about center holes was removed from the disc wheel cracks section. One hub out-of-service condition was removed entirely due to inconsistent enforcement.

An out-of-service condition was added for emergency exits on buses, motorcoaches, and passenger vans that are marked as emergency exits but have no operating instructions posted.

Placarding language was clarified to state that a transport vehicle missing placards for multiple divisions within the same hazmat class must be placed out of service.

A new chart outlining the seven types of federal out-of-service orders was added to Part IV.

Where to Get the Updated Criteria

The 2026 out-of-service criteria are available in print, electronic, French, and Spanish formats through the CVSA online store. The criteria are also available as an app — search “CVSA Out-of-Service Criteria” in the App Store or Google Play. CVSA hosted a webinar in February covering the changes, available to members through the CVSA member portal.

Questions can be directed to CVSA Director of Inspection Programs Kerri Wirachowsky by email or at 202-998-1650.

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“Take It Easy Out There”: Chain Control on I-80 Over Donner Summit Lifts After Overnight Requirement, But Roads Remain Wet and Slick

By
Kristina
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DONNER SUMMIT, CALIFORNIA — Chain control went into effect on Interstate 80 over Donner Summit Monday evening before lifting the following morning as snow began melting off the roadway, according to CHP Truckee.

At 6:49 p.m. on March 31, CHP Truckee announced R2 chain control in both directions. Westbound I-80 required chains from the Donner Lake Interchange to Rainbow. Eastbound I-80 required chains from Kingvale to Truckee. Trucks faced minimum restrictions. CHP urged drivers to carry chains, slow down, and plan ahead.

By 9:40 a.m. on April 1, CHP Truckee announced the chain control had lifted. However, the agency cautioned drivers that the roadway remained wet and slick. “It’s still wet and slick. Take it easy out there and slow down,” CHP said.

Drivers can check current road conditions on the Caltrans Quickmap app.

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Idaho Man Admits Offering $500 Cash Bribe to CDL Test Examiner for Passing Score He Never Earned — Faces Up to 10 Years in Federal Prison

By
Kristina
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BOISE, IDAHO — A Meridian man admitted in federal court to offering a CDL skills test examiner $500 cash in exchange for a passing score he never earned — all to remove three restrictions from his commercial driver’s license without taking the required test.

Ryan Basnaw, 29, pleaded guilty to federal program bribery on March 30, 2026, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Idaho.

On July 2, 2025, Basnaw approached a CDL skills tester and offered $500 cash for a passing score. He had not taken the test. His goal was to remove three restrictions from his existing CDL without going through the required skills examination. The Idaho Transportation Department contracts with third-party examiners to administer CDL skills tests across the state. In 2025, ITD’s Department of Motor Vehicles received more than $10,000 in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation under a CDL Program Implementation Grant.

Basnaw faces up to 10 years in federal prison, a minimum of three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentencing is scheduled for June 16, 2026. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean Mazorol is prosecuting the case. The FBI and the Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General investigated.

All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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Cleveland Man Arrested After Jumping Between Semi Cab and Trailer on I-90, Then Climbing on Top of Fire Truck and Jumping Up and Down

By
Kristina
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cleveland19

CLEVELAND, OHIO — A man was arrested Tuesday morning after jumping onto a semi truck and then a Cleveland Fire Department fire truck on Interstate 90.

Cleveland Fire Lt. Mike Norman said a call came in at 6:42 a.m. on March 31 reporting a man down on I-90. When Engine 2 arrived, the man got up and ran up the Ontario exit ramp. He jumped onto the semi, landing between the cab and the trailer. The truck driver noticed and stopped. The man jumped off, ran across a grassy median to E. 9th Street and Ontario Avenue, climbed on top of the fire truck, and started jumping up and down on it.

Cleveland police responded and took the man to the ground. Officers took him into custody. His identity has not been released.

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Tiger Woods Crossed Double Yellow Line While Distracted on His Phone, Clipped Pressure Cleaner Trailer, and Flipped SUV — Truck Driver Helped Free Him Before DUI Arrest; Hydrocodone in Pocket, Bloodshot Eyes, Refused Urine Test

By
Kristina
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MARTIN COUNTY, FLORIDA — Tiger Woods was arrested on DUI charges Friday afternoon after his Land Rover clipped the back of a pressure cleaner trailer on a two-lane residential road on Jupiter Island, flipping his SUV onto its side. The truck driver — who was simply slowing to make a right turn — was uninjured and helped Woods out of the overturned vehicle.

The incident occurred at approximately 2 p.m. near Woods’ home. Woods was driving behind a truck towing a pressure cleaner trailer when the driver slowed and activated his turn signal to turn right into a driveway. Woods attempted to pass, crossed a double solid line into oncoming traffic, and clipped the left rear fender of the trailer at high speed. The SUV flipped onto its driver’s side. No one else was in Woods’ vehicle. Martin County Sheriff Budensiek said Woods had been traveling at “high speeds” on the residential road.

Woods later told the responding deputy that he had been looking at his phone and fiddling with the radio and did not realize the trailer had slowed. The truck driver told deputies that Woods’ SUV must not have seen him.

What Deputies Found

The deputy observed several signs of impairment. Woods appeared lethargic and moved slowly. He sweated profusely and had difficulty performing coordination tests. He had hiccups throughout the investigation. When asked to remove his sunglasses, the deputy noted his eyes were bloodshot and glassy with dilated pupils.

Woods told the deputy he had not consumed alcohol. When asked about prescription medication, he said “I take a few.” During a search, deputies found two white hydrocodone pills in his pocket. Woods agreed to a breathalyzer test that showed no alcohol but refused to provide a urine sample. The deputy concluded that Woods’ normal faculties were impaired and that he was unable to operate a vehicle safely.

AP Photo/Jason Oteri

Woods wore a compression sock on his right knee and appeared to limp and stumble during a field sobriety test. He told the deputy he has had seven back surgeries and more than 20 operations on his leg, and that his ankle seizes while walking.

Sheriff Budensiek described Woods as cooperative but said “he’s not trying to incriminate himself.” He also noted that because Woods refused the urine test, investigators may never determine definitively what he was impaired on. “He has a right to refuse that test. There’s a Florida statute which he will be charged with for refusing to take that test, but we will never get definitive results as to what he was impaired on at the time of the crash,” Budensiek said.

The Arrest

Deputies formally arrested Woods just after 3 p.m. Friday. He went to the Cleveland Clinic ER South but refused all medical treatment. Officers then took him to the Martin County Jail, where he was held separately from other inmates. Florida law required him to spend at least eight hours in jail before posting bail. Woods posted $1,150 bail and left custody at approximately 11 p.m. Friday.

 

He faces charges of DUI with property damage and refusal to submit a breath test, as well as additional misdemeanor charges. On Tuesday, Woods entered a written not-guilty plea and plans to waive his appearance at an arraignment hearing scheduled for April 23.

Context and Prior Incidents

The crash came just days before Masters week. Woods has been recovering from back surgery in hopes of playing in this year’s Masters, scheduled for April 9-12 at Augusta National Golf Club. He still has not decided whether to compete. Woods is also scheduled to appear in Augusta on April 5 to unveil The Loop course at Augusta Municipal Golf Course, which he designed. His TGR Foundation is also opening a STEM learning lab for kids in Augusta.

This is not Woods’ first run-in with law enforcement or vehicles. In 2017, south Florida police found him asleep behind the wheel of a parked car with the engine running. He pleaded guilty to reckless driving after admitting to a bad reaction from a mix of prescription painkillers. In February 2021, Woods survived a rollover crash in Los Angeles County after driving between 84 and 87 mph in a 45 mph zone, nearly losing his right leg. No charges were filed. In November 2009, Woods drove his Cadillac Escalade into a fire hydrant and a tree outside his Orlando home in the early morning hours, sustaining lacerations to his lips.

President Donald Trump responded to the latest incident. “I feel so badly he’s got some difficulty. There was an accident, and that’s all I know. A very close friend of mine, he’s an amazing person, amazing man, but some difficulty,” Trump said.

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Lawsuit Filed Against Ohio Trucking Company After Cincinnati Driver Caused Fiery Six-Vehicle I-64 Crash That Killed Three — Claims He Was Fatigued and Over Hours of Service

By
Kristina
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WOODFORD COUNTY, KENTUCKY — The family of a Cincinnati truck driver killed in a fiery six-vehicle crash on Interstate 64 in central Kentucky has filed a lawsuit against his employer, accusing him of speeding, distracted driving, and exceeding allowable hours of service before the fatal collision.

The crash occurred on September 12 in Woodford County. Four tractor-trailers and two passenger vehicles collided on I-64. Three people died — truck drivers Matthew Jackson, 43, of Cincinnati, and John McBroom, 39, of Crittenden, as well as Casey Whitlock, 50, of Paris, Kentucky. Three others were injured.

According to the lawsuit, Jackson — who was driving for Hillsboro Transportation Company, based in Sharonville, Ohio — caused the crash. The suit claims he was speeding, failed to maintain a safe following distance, drove while distracted, and operated his vehicle while fatigued after exceeding allowable hours of service. His vehicle showed no signs of braking or slowing before impact.

Jackson struck two passenger vehicles, overturning them. Casey Whitlock died in one of those vehicles. His passenger suffered serious injuries. Jackson then slammed into McBroom’s commercial truck. Both trucks burst into flames. Both Jackson and McBroom died. However, according to the lawsuit, McBroom did not die instantly. The suit states he “suffered tremendously” before death. Investigators had to identify him by dental records due to the extent of his burns.

Kentucky State Police found Jackson to be at fault in the crash. Jackson left behind two young daughters.

All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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Indiana First State to Revoke All CDLs Held by Illegal Immigrants — AG Rokita Says “Get the Hell Out,” Drivers Can Appeal if They Prove Eligibility

By
Kristina
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INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA — Indiana became the first state in the country to revoke all commercial driver’s licenses held by people illegally present in the United States, effective midnight Wednesday. The move follows two fatal crashes in Indiana that state officials attribute to unlicensed drivers in the country illegally.

The new law requires non-U.S. citizens to demonstrate English proficiency before applying for a CDL. It hits CDL schools and businesses with a $50,000 fine if they issue licenses or employ drivers without proper legal status. Indiana’s Bureau of Motor Vehicles must now regularly coordinate with the Department of Homeland Security to flag drivers at risk of losing their CDLs.

Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita spoke to NewsNation about the state’s position. “If you don’t want to come here the right way, if you don’t want to follow our laws, and if you don’t want to be American, get the hell out,” Rokita said. He added that drivers can appeal the revocation. “If they really want to be a truck driver, and they’re really not an illegal alien and they really can speak English and they really are otherwise qualified, they’ll get their license back.”

National Context

Indiana’s law follows similar federal action earlier this month. The Trump administration introduced rules stripping up to 200,000 immigrant truck drivers of their CDLs nationwide. The federal regulations bar most immigrants from holding CDLs, with exceptions only for H-2A, H-2B, and E-2 visa holders.

Bills targeting noncitizen truck drivers have also surfaced in Arizona and Georgia. However, the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association told NewsNation that a patchwork of state laws creates confusion and that a single federal standard would be preferable.

“This stuff here has been a problem in the United States for 30 years. There’s really no set standards. So it doesn’t matter where you’re from, we’ve got to raise and elevate the bar,” said Lewie Pugh, OOIDA executive director.

On the federal level, Republican lawmakers in Congress introduced Dalilah’s Law, named after Dalilah Coleman, who was severely injured when a truck driver in the country illegally struck her family’s car in 2024. The bill would codify Trump’s English-only CDL testing executive order, limit CDLs to certain visa holders, and create a death penalty aggravating factor for drivers who kill someone in a crash. States that refuse to comply would lose federal transportation funding.

All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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NTSB Launches Federal Investigation After School Bus Heading to STEM Competition Crosses Center Line and Collides With TDOT Dump Truck, Killing Two Kenwood Middle School Students

By
Kristina
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CARROLL COUNTY, TENNESSEE — Two middle school students died and multiple others remain hospitalized after a school bus carrying Kenwood Middle School students to a STEM competition crashed on Highway 70 near Cedar Grove on March 27, 2026. The National Transportation Safety Board has launched a federal investigation into the crash.

The bus was transporting 24 students and five adults from Clarksville to Jackson for the GreenpowerUSA Toyota Hub City Grand Prix — a student competition involving cars and carts the students had built themselves. The crash occurred at approximately noon when the bus collided with a Tennessee Department of Transportation dump truck and a 2024 Chevrolet Trailblazer.

Dash cam footage from a vehicle behind the bus shows the bus steadily crossing the double yellow center lines before striking the dump truck head-on. Investigators have not yet determined what caused the bus to cross into oncoming traffic.

The Victims

Two students died at the scene. GoFundMe pages identify them as Zoe Davis and Arianna Pearson. Several others remain hospitalized as of Monday. Nine medical helicopters responded to the scene. Seven completed flights to trauma centers in Nashville and Memphis. Ground ambulances transported additional patients to local hospitals. Baptist Memorial Hospital-Carroll County treated 19 patients and discharged all of them. Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt received four children. Three have since been discharged. One remains in stable condition.

The Drivers

The Tennessee Highway Patrol identified the three drivers involved in the crash. Sabrina R. Ducksworth drove the 2024 Blue Bird School Bus owned by the Clarksville-Montgomery County School System. Dennis E. Coleman Jr. drove the TDOT vehicle — a 2014 International S30 dump truck towing an attenuator. James Bays drove the 2024 Chevrolet Trailblazer. THP noted the TDOT dump truck did not appear to have contributed to the crash itself.

A Survivor Remembers

Survivor Lani Lugo described the moment of impact to local media. “I feel the bus move, and I hear like a boom,” Lugo said. “Everything’s shaking, and I open my eyes, and I look out the window, and all I see is the woods.” She remembered her classmates who did not survive. “They were great people. I had drama club with Zoe at the beginning of the year; it was super fun. She did a play, and she was amazing. She’s a great actor, very passionate.” Of Arianna, Lugo said: “She was funny. I really admired her.”

The Investigation

THP’s Critical Incident Response Team and Pupil Transportation Division are leading the state investigation, gathering witness statements, collecting physical and digital evidence, and reconstructing the crash frame by frame. The NTSB has now joined the investigation, examining school bus driver performance, student passenger occupant protection, and oversight of school transportation operations in Tennessee. A preliminary NTSB report may be available within 30 days. A full investigation could take 12 to 24 months.

THP sent chaplains and peer support groups to the scene and continues to support affected families. Kenwood Middle School principal Karen Miller said counselors are available for students. “Please continue to pray with us for our students, families, faculty, and staff,” Miller wrote. “I am grateful for the strength of our Kenwood community, and I trust we will all support each other during this difficult time.”

 

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Two Illinois Men Arrested at Scene After Stealing Diesel and Pouring It Into Gas-Powered Getaway Vehicles — Truck Dies Immediately, ATV Quits Shortly After

By
Kristina
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DIXON, ILLINOIS — A diesel theft attempt in Lee County fell apart Saturday night after two suspects poured the stolen fuel into gas-powered vehicles, causing both to break down before they could escape.

On March 22, 2026, Bryan Kettley, 26, and Codi Despain, 20, both of Dixon, cut wires to a fuel tank at the Nelson Township Building and siphoned diesel fuel from the property. They poured the diesel into a gas-powered pickup truck and an ATV. The truck broke down immediately. The two then jumped on the ATV and tried to flee. The ATV also quit a short distance from the scene and they abandoned it.

Deputies investigating the scene also arrested London Thomas, 22, of Dixon, for obstructing justice. Officers found Thomas near the abandoned ATV and believe he coordinated moving it to private property to hide it.

Kettley and Despain face criminal damage to government property, theft of government property, and theft under $500 — all felony or misdemeanor charges. Thomas faces a Class 4 felony obstruction charge. All three were booked into the Lee County Jail and later released under the Illinois SAFE-T Act.

Anyone with information can call the Lee County Sheriff’s Office at (815) 284-6631 or Crime Stoppers at 1-888-CAUGHT-U. Callers can remain anonymous and may receive a reward of up to $1,000 for information leading to an arrest.

All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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Semi-Truck Driver Attempts Illegal Pass in No-Passing Zone on Kansas Highway, Overturning Both Truck and Pickup and Spilling Potato Cargo Across the Road — Three Hospitalized

By
Kristina
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semi-truck's cargo spilled across the highway.

SCOTT COUNTY, KANSAS — Three men went to the hospital Saturday night after a semi-truck attempted to pass a pickup in a no-passing zone on U.S. Highway 83 in western Kansas, causing both vehicles to overturn and spilling potatoes across the road.

The crash occurred at approximately 9 p.m. on U.S. 83 just north of Kansas Highway 4. According to the Kansas Highway Patrol, a 2007 Nissan Titan was heading southbound when the semi attempted to pass it in a no-passing zone. The pickup turned left into the passing semi. Both vehicles overturned. The semi-truck came to rest on its driver’s side, blocking both lanes of U.S. 83. The pickup landed upright. Potatoes from the semi’s cargo spilled across the highway.

The semi driver, a 53-year-old man from Texas, went to the hospital with minor injuries. Both occupants of the pickup — a 17-year-old and a 28-year-old, both from Scott City — also went to the hospital with minor injuries.

U.S. 83 reopened Sunday morning.

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