The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA), the New Jersey Motor Truck Association and the Port Drivers Federation 18 have filed a petition asking the Department of Transportation (DOT) for a determination that mandatory drayage truck registries conducted by various ports and the California Air Resources Board (CARB) are pre-empted by federal law.
In order to prevent an unworkable patchwork of local and state laws that impede the efficient movement of goods in interstate commerce, the petitioners are asking that these registries be prohibited.
More and more over the past few years, port authorities are requiring interstate motor carriers to affix compliance decals, RFID tags, or to participate in mandatory registries as part of an effort to reduce vehicle emissions in port areas. Failure to comply with the registries means denial of a motor carrier's ability to offer service in the marketplace and potential fines. One state environmental agency, the California Air Resources Board, has also been conducting such a registry since 2007.
Petitioners argue that this practice violates Section 209(c) of the Federal Aviation Administration Authorization Act (FAAAA) resulting in a regulatory regime that affects the price, route, or service offered by motor carriers.
"Registries and their required identification stickers are essentially a de facto re-regulation of interstate commerce," said OOIDA President Jim Johnston. "These illegal practices should not be carried out under the guise of compliance with environmental regulations."
Congress enacted the FAAAA's motor carrier pre-emption provision to ensure that the deregulation of the trucking industry was not replaced by a patchwork of inconsistent state laws and regulations. It was believed that such an overabundance of laws would not only place an undue burden on motor carriers engaged in interstate commerce, but also prevent competitive market forces from shaping the offerings of motor carriers.
"Failure by the DOT to uphold the law will undoubtedly encourage more authorities to adopt similar mandates that will impede efficient movement of goods," added Johnston. "It's a return to the worst of the things that deregulation did away with long ago."
Further, because truck owners typically are required to place some type of identification on their trucks to evidence registration, petitioners also request a determination that additional identification requirements imposed through the use of registries are prohibited by Section 4306 of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU).
"If the federal government does not act, trucking is headed back to the days where we had multiple credentials on our trucks, from dozens of fuel stickers to multiple plates. Congress outlawed those practices and now they are creeping back into trucking," stated Johnston.
Click here to read the petition.
Trucking Groups Say Port Registries Violate Federal Law
The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA), the New Jersey Motor Truck Association and the Port Drivers Federation 18 have filed a petition asking the Department of Transportation (DOT) for a determination that mandatory drayage truck registries conducted by various ports and the California Air Resources Board (CARB) are pre-empted by federal law
More Drivers

Illinois Trucker Indicted for Nearly $22,000 in Ohio Turnpike Toll Evasion
Authorities say an Illinois trucker avoided paying tolls for two years, and now faces felony charges, possible prison time, and forfeiture of his Freightliner tractor.
Read More →
New Trojan Driver Cargo Theft Scam Bypasses Carrier Vetting Systems
Cargo theft rings plant operatives as drivers inside legitimate, fully vetted carriers, then execute coordinated thefts that look like a traditional straight theft from the outside.
Read More →
WIM, Trucker Path Name Top 3 Women-Friendly Truck Stops
ATA’s Women In Motion Council and Trucker Path highlight three truck stops that meet all seven safety-focused criteria and rank highest among female drivers.
Read More →
FMCSA Extends Paper Medical Card Exemption … Again
Five states still aren't ready to accept commercial driver medical exam information directly from the medical examiner's registry.
Read More →
Mack Launches Digital Driver Guide for Chassis-Specific Truck Info
Mack’s new, virtual owner’s manual delivers VIN-based, on-demand guidance for vehicle systems via web, app, and soon in-cab displays.
Read More →
Western Star Showcases Truckers' Pride and Skill
Western Star is expanding its Star Nation Experience in 2026, adding new competitions and dealer participation to highlight operator skills and promote careers in trucking.
Read More →
Best Fleets to Drive For: Two Carriers Earn Overall Award for First Time
CarriersEdge announced the 2026 Best Fleets to Drive For overall winners, with Crawford Trucking, Fortigo Freight Services, and FTC Transportation receiving top awards.
Read More →
Federal Proposal Would Allow Pell Grants for Shorter-Term Job Training
The Department of Labor plans to expand Pell Grant eligibility to some shorter workforce training programs, a move the American Trucking Associations said will help strengthen commercial driver training schools and diesel technician training programs.
Read More →
Owner-Operator Model Gets Boost as DOL Proposes 2024 Independent Contractor Definition Reversal
For an industry that has watched this issue go back and forth for years, the independent contractor proposal marks the latest swing in the regulatory pendulum.
Read More →
FMCSA Reinstates Field Warrior ELD to Registered Device List
One electronic logging device has been reinstated to the FMCSA's list of registered ELDs.
Read More →
