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FMCSA Restores In-Person Inspections After Years of Remote Reviews

Federal motor carrier safety regulators are reinstating on-site inspections following an extended period of remote compliance reviews. These remote procedures began in spring 2020 during President Donald Trump's first administration, not under the Biden administration as previously reported. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration expanded remote investigation procedures in May 2020 as a temporary measure to limit exposure risks for both safety inspectors and motor carriers. The guidance permitted investigators to obtain records electronically and conduct reviews through email, telephone, and video communications. FMCSA subsequently expanded remote procedures in December 2020 to include comprehensive investigations without physical site visits. The agency determined that investigators could complete compliance reviews under federal regulations without on-site components while maintaining safety standards. Remote investigations increased substantially during the pandemic years. The FMCSA has now moved to restore in-person inspection components as standard practice for trucking company safety evaluations.