FMCSA Finalizes 12 Rules Dropping Spare Fuses, Flares and Other Requirements

In February 2026, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) finalized a batch of deregulatory rules that it had proposed in May 2025. Twelve final rules appeared in the Federal Register on February 19, 2026. Most took effect on March 23, 2026; the spare fuse rule took effect on April 20, 2026.

Equipment rules dropped or eased

Most of the changes were to Part 393, the parts and accessories rules:

• Spare fuses. FMCSA removed the requirement to carry at least one spare fuse of each type and size needed. It said blown fuses were often replaced by someone other than the driver, and carriers could still keep spares.
• Liquid-burning flares. References to these warning devices were removed because FMCSA believed they were no longer used.
• Rear impact guard labels. Carriers no longer had to keep the manufacturer's certification label on rear impact guards. FMCSA said labels often wore off in service, and the change did not affect the federal vehicle safety standard for the guards themselves.
• Fuel tank overfill. Responding to a Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) petition, FMCSA dropped the rule that tanks built since 1973 must not be fillable beyond 95% of capacity.
• Auxiliary fuel tanks. Gravity and syphon feeds were allowed for small trailer-mounted tanks of 5 gallons or less, used only when the vehicle was stopped.
• License plate lamps. Truck tractors towing a trailer no longer needed a rear license plate lamp.
• Tire load markings. FMCSA clarified that its rules did not require load restriction markings on tire sidewalls.
• Portable conveyors. Pre-2010 aggregate industry conveyors were excused from brakes on all wheels if the combination met braking performance rules, the conveyor's axle weights were no more than 40% of the towing vehicle's, and speed stayed at or below 45 mph on two-lane roads and 55 mph on freeways.

Paperwork and driver rules

• Electronic DVIRs. Following a comment from the National Tank Truck Carriers, FMCSA added explicit language to sections 396.11 and 396.13 saying driver vehicle inspection reports could be created and kept electronically. The agency noted that electronic reports were already allowed.
• Vision grandfathering. FMCSA removed an obsolete grandfathering clause for drivers from the 1992 to 1994 vision waiver study and the 1998 to 2022 vision exemption program.
• Military technicians. Dual-status military technicians, civilian employees who must also serve in an Army or Air Force reserve component, could use the military exception from CDL standards.
• Water carriers. Outdated references to water carriers were deleted.

Comments

The rules drew few comments. The spare fuse proposal, for example, received nine. Most commenters, including the American Trucking Associations and the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association, gave general support. Two individuals opposed it, saying spare fuses can save drivers time and trouble.

The batch did not include every 2025 proposal. The proposal to drop the in-cab ELD manual requirement, for example, was not part of it.

Archive: this article describes rules and events as of February 2026. Regulations may have changed since, so check the current rule before relying on it.