Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration closed enforcement cases against trucking companies fell from more than 3,000 in FY2024 to roughly 500 in FY2025, an 84 percent drop, according to a WFAA investigation; carriers receiving the agency's lowest "unsatisfactory" rating dropped about 92 percent, and collected financial penalties fell from $27.8 million to $9.8 million. WFAA reported the decline traces to a new "legal sufficiency review" policy at FMCSA that stalled thousands of cases, and that safety advocates described the result as "a dereliction of duty"; FMCSA has since announced an updated enforcement strategy.
Operator takeaway
Fewer FMCSA enforcement actions means more unsafe carriers stay on the road, and the recoveries land on tow operators. Document every roadside hazard caused by carriers with prior violations; the data is leverage when you petition for fee adjustments or contract changes.