Regulatory Compliance News & Updates
Keep up to date on the latest
developments affecting OSHA, DOT,
EPA, and DOL regulatory compliance.
Copyright 2026 J. J. Keller & Associate, Inc. For re-use options please contact copyright@jjkeller.com or call 800-558-5011.
FEATURED NEWS
2026-03-20T05:00:00Z
NewsI-9sI-9sE-VerifyHuman ResourcesEnglishTalent Management & RecruitingAssociate Benefits & CompensationIndustry NewsIndustry NewsRecruiting and hiringRecruiting and hiringApplications/ApplicantsAssociate RelationsFocus AreaUSA
Form I-9 guidance issued for work authorization extensions
Federal agencies have released Form I-9 guidance for employers with employees whose work authorization status has been extended by court orders.
Courts have paused the expiration dates of employment authorization documents (EADs) for individuals from six countries:
- Burma
- Ethiopia
- Haiti
- Somalia
- South Sudan
- Syria
The designation of temporary protected status (TPS) for individuals from these countries had been terminated at the direction of the Secretary of Homeland Security. The TPS for the six countries was slated to end between November and mid-March.
However, courts in the District of Columbia, Illinois, Massachusetts, and New York stayed the termination of the TPS status, putting it on pause. This extends the TPS designation for workers from the six countries impacted by the court decisions.
Form I-9 guidance
The decisions extend the validity of EADs issued with TPS for the six countries impacted by the court orders.
United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and E-Verify have issued the following guidance for filling out the Form I-9 for individuals impacted by the court orders.
Section 1: Input “as per court order” in the Expiration Date field.
Section 2: For individuals with TPS from the countries below, input the following dates in the Expiration Date field and place a note in the Additional Information box:
- Burma: March 30, 2026
- Ethiopia: April 8, 2026
- Haiti: March 27, 2026
- Somalia: March 31, 2026
- South Sudan: April 10, 2026
- Syria: March 24, 2026
Employers may download the TPS webpage for Burma, Ethiopia, Haiti, Somalia, South Sudan, or Syria and attach it to the Form I-9.
Key to remember: Employers should follow federal government Form I-9 guidance for individuals whose temporary protected status has been extended.
E-Verify guidance
When completing a case in E-Verify, employers are to enter the expiration dates from Section 2 of the Form I-9.
Employers are encouraged to check the USCIS website regularly for updated information. Key to remember: Employers should follow federal government Form I-9 guidance for individuals whose temporary protected status has been extended.
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RECENT INDUSTRY HIGHLIGHTS
2026-03-20T05:00:00Z
NewsIndustry NewsRecruiting and hiringOnboardingRecruiting and hiringHR GeneralistIn-Depth ArticleUSAApplications/ApplicantsEnglishHR ManagementFocus AreaTalent Management & RecruitingHuman Resources
Consistency is key when it comes to employment documents
Employers must make sure their employment applications and agreements are in agreement. That’s the take-away from a decision issued by the Michigan Court of Appeals in late February.
In Mayberry v. Acrisure Wallstreet Partners, LLC, the court looked at how a clause in an employment agreement overrode terms in earlier hiring documents.
In this case, an employee signed two documents on the day he was hired: a job application and an employment agreement. The job application said that if the employee wanted to sue the company, he had to do so within 6 months of the event that caused the problem. The employment agreement, which he signed later that same day, didn’t include any deadline for bringing legal claims.
The employment agreement:
- Included a statement saying that it was the final and complete agreement between the employee and the company,
- Said that it replaced anything the parties had agreed to before, and
- Included language stating that it could only be altered through a new written document that clearly said it was changing the agreement.
The case
After several years of employment, the employee who had signed both the application and the agreement filed a lawsuit against the employer alleging breach of contract. The employer claimed the employee missed the deadline to file the lawsuit under the 6-month time limit in the job application.
The trial court rejected this argument and ruled in favor of the employee. The court ruled that because the employment agreement said it was the final agreement, the employer couldn’t use the deadline found in the earlier job application.
The employer appealed, arguing that the application and employment agreement should be read together because they were both signed during the onboarding process. The employer also argued that the limitations provision in the application should apply because it didn’t conflict with the employment agreement. The Michigan Court of Appeals rejected both arguments.
The Court of Appeals explained that when an employment agreement includes a clear and unambiguous integration clause, prior documents can’t be read together with the agreement or used to supplement its terms. An integration clause is simply a statement in a contract that the agreement is final and complete. The court noted that the employment agreement’s silence on a shortened limitations period didn’t allow the employer to rely on the application.
Because the agreement specifically barred modification or supplementation, any additional terms needed to be included directly in the agreement itself.
A lesson for employers
While this was a Michigan case, the Mayberry decision serves as an important reminder to all employers about the need to draft employment documents carefully and make sure those documents are consistent.
If language in an employment agreement says the agreement is final and can only be changed in writing, it’s important to make sure everything an employer wants to include is included in that agreement. Employers shouldn’t count on language in job applications or other earlier documents being valid later.
Key to remember: Courts will hold employers to the exact wording of their employment agreements. If an important term is left out of the final agreement, a court may ignore it — even if it appeared in paperwork that the employee signed earlier, such as an application.
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2026-03-19T05:00:00Z
NewsIndustry NewsIndustry NewsPrivate carrier authorityOperating AuthorityPassenger carrier authorityFocus AreaBrokers and brokering freight - Motor CarrierFleet OperationsEnglishFor-Hire Carrier AuthorityTransportationUSA
FMCSA warns against unauthorized USDOT number sales
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has warned the public not to sell, purchase, or lease a USDOT Number or Operating Authority outside of a valid corporate transaction.
When the agency discovers non-legitimate attempts to sell, purchase, or lease such numbers, it will take action to inactivate and revoke both the number and all related registrations. This includes the required safety registrations (49 U.S.C. 31134) and any required operating authority (49 U.S.C. 13901-13905).
What’s a USDOT Number?
USDOT Numbers identify the motor carrier, freight forwarder, broker, or entity, just like a driver’s license identifies the driver. A USDOT Number will always belong to the same legal person and cannot be leased, sold, transferred, or rented to anyone else. If the FMCSA discovers that someone other than the assigned legal person is using a USDOT Number, the Number will be inactivated.
For sole proprietors, this means the owner will always have one USDOT Number and can never sell or transfer it, even if the owner sells their company. The new buyer would need their own USDOT Number.
For a corporation, the USDOT Number is attached to the company and can never be sold or transferred, so whoever buys the corporation will inherit the same USDOT Number under new ownership. If two companies merge or one gets dissolved, it’s likely that a new USDOT Number would be required.
What’s Operating Authority?
Operating Authority, also known as the MC Number, is needed for carriers to perform certain types of transportation along specific routes, which previously led to frequent transfers of the MC Number. Congress recently changed Operating Authority so that a carrier with Operating Authority may operate along any route across the U.S., removing the frequent need for MC Number transfers.
A sole proprietor who sells their business would be required to get a separate MC Number, or record a transfer, and must file an out-of-business notification. If a sole proprietor fails to do this, the FMCSA will revoke the operating authority (MC Number).
For corporate transactions, the motor carrier may need to report ownership or corporate officer changes without a transfer if the same management and controls stay in place. If a new business entity is formed, however, the FMCSA may record the transfer or a new MC Number may be required.
Bottom line
Ultimately, failing to follow the rules and lease, purchase, or sell a USDOT or MC Number outside of a legitimate and valid corporate transaction will lead to inactivation of the Number and all related registrations. Make sure all your transactions are lawful and authorized to avoid consequences.
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2026-03-19T05:00:00Z
NewsIndustry NewsBusiness planning - Motor CarrierBusiness policies and procedures - Motor CarrierFocus AreaIn-Depth ArticleFleet OperationsEnglishTransportationBusiness planning - Motor CarrierUSA
Use “spring cleaning” to freshen up your operations
Just like reorganizing the kitchen and cleaning out the closets, staying on top of your regulatory housekeeping can set you up for success as we move into the new season.
Dust off your registrations
Verify that you are up to date with your registrations. Do you know when they are set to renew? Will you need to make any big changes this year? Some programs to verify include: UCR, IRP, and PHMSA Hazmat Registration.
Sweep up risks with mock audits
Conducting mock audits gives you the opportunity to identify and mitigate risks before they escalate. For example, audits can uncover gaps in recordkeeping, driver behavior, or vehicle maintenance that might otherwise go unnoticed. From there, you can modify your training, processes, and more in order to improve the areas which may be lacking, such as your compliance, safety culture, recordkeeping, and more.
Freshen up driver training materials
Take the time to review your training materials and question:
- Are they effective?
- Can they be improved?
- Is there anything my drivers are struggling with despite being trained?
If “yes” is the answer to any of these questions, you may want to consider implementing some changes to your training.
Declutter operations: consider consolidating DOT numbers
Consolidating DOT numbers involves merging several active Department of Transportation (DOT) registrations under one single number. This action helps to streamline operations. Rather than juggling multiple registrations, carriers can manage their entire fleet under one identifier. A single registration can help avoid regulatory red flags, streamline compliance and safety tracking, and reduce administrative overhead.
Key to remember: Checking in on your compliance gives you the opportunity to eliminate clutter, stay ahead of requirements, and streamline operations.
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2026-03-19T05:00:00Z
NewsIndustry NewsIndustry NewsAir ProgramsEnvironmental Protection Agency (EPA)Hazardous Air PollutantsCAA ComplianceEnvironmentalFocus AreaEnglishAir ProgramsStationary Emission SourcesUSA
Final rule adds EtO emission limits to polyether polyol production
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized major changes to the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) for Polyether Polyols (PEPO) Production (PEPO NESHAP).
Who’s impacted?
The final rule applies to facilities that produce polyether polyols and are subject to the regulations at 40 CFR 63 Subpart PPP.
What are the changes?
EPA’s final rule establishes ethylene oxide (EtO) standards, updates maximum achievable control technology (MACT) requirements, and revises other provisions for the PEPO NESHAP.
EtO standards
The final rule adds EtO emission standards for:
- Equipment leaks,
- Heat exchange systems,
- Process vents,
- Storage vessels, and
- Wastewater.
The standards set emission limits and add requirements for monitoring and leak repairs.
MACT standards
Further, the final rule:
- Requires heat exchange systems to use the more sensitive Modified El Paso Method (also known as the Air Stripping Method) for quarterly monitoring and a leak definition of 6.2 parts per million by volume of total strippable hydrocarbon concentration (as methane) in the stripping gas,
- Lowers the MACT control thresholds for batch process vents and storage vessels,
- Updates the requirements for internal floating roof storage vessels,
- Lowers the threshold for equipment leaks for valves in gas/vapor service or light liquid service, and
- Requires transfer operations with loading operations that exceed a certain threshold to use a vapor balance system or reduce emissions.
Other standards
EPA’s final rule also:
- Requires 5-year performance testing for process vent control devices;
- Revises flare monitoring and operational requirements to ensure they meet the MACT standards at all times when controlling hazardous air pollutant (HAP) emissions;
- Adds new monitoring requirements for pressure vessels to verify that no detectable emissions exist;
- Clarifies that any bypass of a pollution control device for closed vent systems is a violation;
- Aligns the requirements for surge control vessels and bottoms receivers with the process vent standards;
- Adds butylene oxide to the definition of “epoxide” and the HAPs list;
- Expands “affected source” to cover specific post-reaction processes; and
- Finalizes work practice standards for maintenance vents and equipment openings, storage vessel degassing, and routine storage vessel maintenance.
However, EPA didn’t finalize the 2024 proposed rule’s addition of a fenceline monitoring program for EtO or its changes to the continuous process vent standard.
What’s the compliance timeline?
Facilities subject to the PEPO NESHAP must comply with the changes by March 18, 2029, or upon startup, whichever is later.
Key to remember: EPA’s final rule for polyether polyol emissions makes significant changes, such as establishing EtO limits and revising MACT standards.
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2026-03-18T05:00:00Z
NewsIndustry NewsHazmat SafetyHazmat: HighwayHazmat Driving and parkingIn-Depth ArticleFocus AreaEnglishTransportationUSA
Driving smarter with a cargo tank
Driving a cargo tank is different than hauling a dry van or a flatbed, and most drivers who’ve done it know that right away. The equipment is more complex, the load behaves differently, and the consequences of a small mistake can get serious fast. Cargo tank driving rewards patience, attention, and steady habits more than almost any other type of hauling.
This is a practical reminder of what tends to bite drivers during inspections, roadside stops, or "normal" days that turn into long ones. If you keep the basics tight, most trips go exactly the way they should.
Periodic inspections
Cargo tanks aren’t something you hook up and forget about. They’re subject to periodic inspections and tests, and those dates matter every time the tank is used. Even if you aren’t the one performing the tests, you should know whether the tank is current and legal to haul.
Before heading out, take a moment to confirm the inspection status through the markings or the documentation your company uses. An out-of-date cargo tank isn’t just a paperwork issue; legally, it can’t be filled. If something doesn’t look right or you’re not sure what you’re looking at, it’s better to ask before you move.
Slosh and surge
Liquid loads move, and that movement changes how your truck handles in ways solid freight never will. Surge can push you forward when braking, and slosh can make curves and ramps feel unpredictable if you take them too fast. Even experienced drivers have to respect how quickly that load can start "talking back."
Smooth driving isn’t just "nice to have" with a cargo tank, it’s the whole game. Brake early, accelerate gradually, and slow down well before turns so the liquid has time to settle. Leave more following distance than you think you need, because it buys you reaction time without having to stab the brakes.
Know your product
You don’t need to be a chemist, but you do need to know the basics of what you’re hauling. Flammable, corrosive, toxic, and oxidizer loads don’t all get treated the same, especially when you’re thinking about stops, parking, and what you’d do if something went wrong. Knowing the general hazards helps you make better decisions without overthinking it.
It also helps to understand your tank’s design and key controls. Baffled and unbaffled tanks can feel very different, and emergency shutoffs and valve locations matter when seconds count. If you don’t know where something is or how it operates, that’s worth fixing before you’re in a stressful situation.
Be ready for inspections
Cargo tanks tend to get more attention during roadside inspections, and that’s not a surprise. Inspectors often look closely at placards, markings, closures, and any signs of leakage or product residue. Being prepared makes the stop quicker and a lot less stressful.
Keep your paperwork organized so you can produce it without digging through a mess. Know what you’re hauling, and be able to speak to the basics without sounding unsure. A calm, professional approach usually sets the tone and keeps the whole interaction smooth.
Habits and patience
Most cargo tank problems don’t come from one big mistake. They come from small things that were rushed, skipped, or assumed to be fine. Good cargo tank drivers build habits that don’t change, even on busy days.
Check the tank, drive smoothly, and think a few steps ahead, especially in traffic and bad weather. If something feels off, stop and look instead of hoping it’ll work itself out. Patience and consistency are what keep cargo tank trips boring, and boring is exactly what you want.
Key to remember: From understanding inspection requirements to handling slosh and surge, cargo tank driving requires a different mindset. Patience and attention to detail are what keep trips safe.
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Copyright 2026 J. J. Keller & Associate, Inc. For re-use options please contact copyright@jjkeller.com or call 800-558-5011.