With a new year comes a new opportunity to adopt safer and more compliant practices for commercial drivers. According to the FMCSA's Analysis and Information summary of 2025*, there were over 700,000 FMCSA violations across 1,002 categories.
Promoting safe driving practices can keep a motor carrier's CSA score low and can help foster a workplace that prioritizes the wellbeing of its drivers and the other motorists who share the road with them. In the article below, we will describe the most common violations and how a motor carrier might start to address them.
*Note – The available data is from January 1 to November 28, 2025 as of this writing.
Honorable Mentions
• Operating a vehicle without documentation of periodic inspections.
Having your vehicles maintained regularly ensures the safety of your driver and the people who share the road with them. Having proof of that maintenance prevents penalties, fines and out-of-service orders.
• Using a hand-held phone while operating a commercial vehicle
The FMCSA has had laws against using mobile phones for over a decade. Still, this violation ranks high on the list. Given the dangers of distracted driving, it is crucial to discourage improper phone-usage while on the road.
5. State Registration or Tag Violation
Having improper or expired tags can result in getting pulled over, delaying trips and opening a driver and their vehicle to more fines and penalties. If the violations are severe enough, the vehicle may be subject to out-of-service orders or impounding. Additionally, missing registration renewals means that the vehicle may have missed necessary maintenance and safety evaluations.
How you can address this:
Stay up to date on registration deadlines for your vehicles. Keeping up a record can help you not only meet regular maintenance goals; you stay on top of other areas for compliance.
4. Failure to Use Seatbelt while Operating CMV
Wearing a seatbelt is a legal requirement for operating a vehicle, but more importantly, it is one of the simplest, most effective ways to reduce injuries and fatalities. There are many reasons commercial drivers may prefer not to use a seatbelt, but failure to do so can lead to penalties, fines, and potentially loss of life.
How you can address this:
Remind drivers of the importance of personal safety while on the road. Dispel myths around safety and reiterate that even in a large commercial vehicle, a driver can risk personal harm to themselves and others when not wearing a seatbelt. If drivers report discomfort when wearing seatbelts, investigate the quality of their seatbelts and seating arrangements.
3. Failure to Obey Lane Restrictions
This violation category includes drivers who change lanes without signaling, drivers who change lanes aggressively, and drivers who occupy lanes that forbid commercial vehicles. Lane restrictions may seem petty or arbitrary, but often these regulations ensure that trucks stay on roads that can accommodate their size and weight. Lane restrictions also promote safe driving practices, such as limiting when lane changes are allowed.
How you can address this:
Ensure drivers know how to safely change lanes, and to identify signs that may prevent them from driving in certain lanes. Teaching drivers to follow alternate routes and to plan ahead can also help.
2. Failure to Obey Traffic Control Devices
The number one violation recorded by the FMCSA this year was the failure to obey traffic control devices. This violation category includes drivers who fail to obey traffic lights, traffic signs, road markers, and other equipment used to direct vehicles.
How you can address this:
One way you can address this is by testing your drivers to see if they fully understand the different traffic signs and signals. Offering a refresher course can help familiarize drivers with signage that may not appear often.
1. Speeding
While failure to obey traffic control devices was the number one violation, adding together the four speeding violations (1-5, 6-10, 11-14, and above 15 miles per hour above the speed limit) makes speeding the most common category of violation according to FMCSA data.
How you can address this:
Taking a proactive approach with trip-planning can help set realistic expectations for travel times and reduce the need to catch up through speeding. Making sure drivers are familiar with speeding laws in different states (for example, California now has a law in effect that allows CalTrans to lower a highway's speed limit by 5 MPH), can keep them aware as they travel.
How can Sky Transport Solutions help you?
If you have more questions about FMCSA regulations or how you can improve your motor carrier's CSA score, you can contact Sky Transport Solutions and our experts can help you build a workplace that fosters compliance, growth, and safety.