FMCSA Drops 10,000+ Training Providers, Plus 2 More Trucking Stories

An FMCSA official says more than 10,000 driver training providers have now been removed from the federal registry, diesel is forecast to stay costly into spring, and Bloomberg counts 221 trucking bankruptcies so far this year. The training-provider figure is new since our earlier coverage of FMCSA’s CDL school vetting, and the diesel outlook adds a forward look to this week’s price move.

1. FMCSA Says It Has Removed More Than 10,000 Training Providers

FMCSA Chief Safety Officer Steve Dowling told an industry summit in Jacksonville that the agency has removed more than 10,000 providers from its Training Provider Registry since December 2025, FreightWaves reported on October 28. He also said FMCSA has removed more than 100 noncompliant electronic logging devices from its approved list and blocked nearly 600 from approval. The figures come from his remarks as reported; they are not a new rule or a final enforcement order.

For context, FMCSA’s own July 16 announcement already put removals near 10,000 and said about 75 entry-level schools were flagged for suspected fraud, while the Department of Transportation’s December 2025 release described the first wave of nearly 3,000 removals with a 30-day window to respond. Dowling also said FMCSA is reviewing possible 2027 hours-of-service changes, but that is a review, not a proposal. We covered the earlier vetting push in our October 18 roundup.

Why it matters: If you hire new drivers, check that the school behind their entry-level training certificate is still listed on the registry before you rely on it. Registry status can change, so it is worth confirming it at hire and keeping a record of the check.

2. Diesel Is Expected to Stay Expensive Into Spring

The U.S. Energy Information Administration put the weekly on-highway diesel average at $6.352 a gallon for the week of October 26, up 7.6 cents from $6.276 the week before. The Midwest averaged $6.480 and California $8.155, while the West Coast region fell slightly. We covered the price level in our October 28 roundup; what is new is the outlook.

At the same summit, AMBEST CEO Chuck Ryan said he does not expect a meaningful drop until spring, and that even a fall in crude would not pass through quickly. A Dow Jones Energy analyst said U.S. refineries have been running above 95% of capacity, leaving little room for outages. These are executive opinions, not forecasts from a government agency. Ryan suggested fleets review whether their fuel contracts are cost-plus or retail-minus and consider more than one supplier.

Why it matters: Plan for high fuel through the winter rather than a quick reversal. Check that your fuel surcharge terms actually track current prices, since a lag costs real money at this level.

3. Small Carriers Feel the Squeeze: 221 Bankruptcies in 2026

Bloomberg reported on October 28 that 221 trucking companies have filed for bankruptcy so far this year, based on data it compiled, extending a three-year rise. The same report cites a Truckstop and Bloomberg Intelligence survey of small carriers, typically with 20 or fewer tractors: about two-thirds said revenue was flat or lower than a year earlier, and close to four in ten said they might leave the business within half a year or could not say. Transport Topics and Insurance Journal carried the report.

Truckstop’s own published Q3 survey, covering 370 carriers, most running a single truck, found fuel was the top challenge, with 45% expecting prices to keep rising sharply over the next six months, up from 20% in the second quarter. Broker issues ranked second and insurance third. Bankruptcy filings alone do not say how many carriers have closed without filing.

Why it matters: Brokers and shippers relying on small carriers face more risk of a carrier disappearing mid-contract. Owner-operators should watch cash flow closely and be careful with high-cost short-term financing.

The Bottom Line

Regulators are pushing harder at the entry point of the industry, while costs keep pressing on the smallest carriers. The three stories share one thread: fewer, better-documented operators, and a higher bar to stay in business.

Neal’s Take

Read together, these stories describe a market where rules and costs are both narrowing the field, which may help carriers with strong records and cash reserves while squeezing thinner operations. The training figures show enforcement activity, not yet its effect on crashes, and Dowling himself said the agency needs more time and data to show that. I would watch whether diesel eases by spring as executives expect, and whether the bankruptcy count keeps climbing as winter fuel costs arrive. Contract terms and cash planning look like the practical places to prepare.

— Neal Cvetkovski, Founder of LOAD TIDE. Personal opinion, not legal or financial advice.

Stay with LOAD TIDE for daily updates on the freight and trucking market.

Sources: FMCSA news release (July 16, 2026); U.S. DOT release (December 1, 2025); EIA weekly diesel prices (week of October 26, 2026); Truckstop Q3 2026 carrier survey (October 15, 2026); FreightWaves, FMCSA training providers (October 28, 2026); FreightWaves, diesel outlook (October 28, 2026); Transport Topics/Bloomberg (October 28, 2026, updated October 29); Insurance Journal/Bloomberg (October 28, 2026).