The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance has announced 17 changes to the 2026 North American Standard Out-of-Service Criteria, which will take effect on April 1, 2026. These updates directly impact how drivers and small carriers are inspected on licensing, Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs), brakes, cargo securement, wheels, and even hazardous materials placarding.
The changes were approved by CVSA members following a fall issues ballot, with 51 of 70 Class I jurisdictions voting in favor of the updates. The new criteria will become enforceable across North America beginning April 1, 2026.
For small carriers, understanding these changes is crucial to avoid any potential fines or penalties. It's essential to know your drivers' restriction codes and when they actually apply, as this update removes some gray area but also puts responsibility on carriers to understand licensing nuances.
The intoxicating beverage section has been amended to clarify alcohol content thresholds, aligning with federal regulations and removing ambiguity. Wine or beer with 0.5% alcohol content or more, and any distilled spirits, meet the threshold for an out-of-service violation if possessed while on duty or operating.
One of the most significant changes is the language around false records of duty status, which has been amended to allow inspectors to place drivers out of service when records are false and the inspector can determine driving or resting periods. This change also introduces a new out-of-service condition for situations where ELD tampering makes it impossible to determine events.
Small carriers need to be aware that if their ELD setup creates confusion, gaps, or missing events, that's no longer just a paperwork issue but can become an out-of-service condition. The removal of AOBRD regulations also means references to them were removed from the criteria, reflecting the full transition to ELD-only compliance.
Brake-related updates include changes to hydraulic and electric brake lining thickness measurements, as well as the term 'parking brake' being updated to 'parking/emergency brake'. These changes aim to improve enforcement clarity and accuracy.
The cargo securement section has been updated with new requirements for hydraulic log securement systems and a wire rope damage chart. Inspectors will now have more standardized tools to determine when broken wires constitute a violation, especially for carriers who haul logs or use wire rope tiedowns.
Small carriers should review these updates closely, as the criteria now address countersunk screws specifically in upper couplers, with industry guidance clarified that all bolts present must be tight. Additionally, rims with missing pieces exceeding 3 inches at the bead area are now out-of-service conditions, and cracks from center hole to stud hole have been removed as out-of-service conditions due to not being considered imminent hazards.
The changes also include practical updates for passenger-carrying vehicles, such as exits marked as emergency exits needing proper operating instructions. For hazmat carriers, the placarding section was updated to clarify that if multiple divisions within the same class of material are missing placards, the vehicle is placed out of service. A chart outlining seven types of FMCSA out-of-service orders has also been added to assist inspectors.
All 17 changes will take effect on April 1, 2026, and carriers can expect an updated handbook to be available for purchase in February 2026, as well as accessible through the CVSA OOSC app starting April 1. A webinar was hosted by CVSA on February 10, 2026, outlining the changes.
The approved changes aim to clarify and simplify inspection processes for drivers and small fleets.
