FMCSA Drops Tire-Size Recordkeeping Rule

FMCSA removed tire size from required vehicle ID records on July 21. See what changed, what remains, and what small fleets should check now.

FMCSA has removed one item from the maintenance file: motor carriers and intermodal equipment providers no longer have to include tire size in the identification record kept for each vehicle. The change took effect July 21, 2026. It reduces an outdated paperwork step, but it does not relax the duty to inspect, repair and maintain a safe truck.

What changed on July 21?

The final rule amends 49 CFR 396.3(b)(1). That section lists the basic identification information that must appear in a vehicle maintenance record. Tire size was deleted from that list after the agency concluded that the field, which dates to a 1979 requirement, is obsolete.

The required identification record still includes the company number when the vehicle is marked with one, the make, the serial number and the year. Carriers should therefore update their forms carefully instead of deleting the entire vehicle-identification section.

What did not change?

This is a recordkeeping correction, not permission to ignore tires. The rule does not cancel required inspections, preventive maintenance, repair records or the carrier's responsibility to keep commercial vehicles in safe operating condition. Tire condition, pressure, tread, damage and irregular wear still affect uptime, roadside inspection results and safety.

A fleet may also choose to keep tire size in its own system when the information supports purchasing, casing management, warranty work, roadside service or inventory control. Removing the field from the federal minimum does not make the information useless to the business.

Why it matters to owner-operators and small fleets

Small fleets often use one form for compliance, maintenance planning and parts ordering. A precise update prevents two opposite mistakes: continuing to treat an obsolete field as a federal requirement, or removing useful tire data that the shop still needs to service the unit.

The rule says it adds no new material compliance obligation. That means the practical job is controlled housekeeping: identify the templates that cite section 396.3, remove the federal tire-size requirement where appropriate, preserve the fields that remain mandatory and keep the physical inspection program working.

Other corrections carriers should notice

The same rule clarifies that a vehicle rated at 10,001 pounds or more remains a commercial motor vehicle even when its actual weight is lower at a particular moment. The manufacturer's gross vehicle weight rating does not change when a truck is empty.

It also restores the phrase “driver's licensing authorities” in the rule governing the three-year motor vehicle record inquiry for a new driver. That wording matters when a driver has held a license or permit from a foreign authority, not only from a U.S. state.

What should the road hero check?

• Review maintenance forms and software fields that cite 49 CFR 396.3(b)(1).
• Keep the required company number, make, serial number and year in each vehicle record.
• Decide whether tire size still serves a purchasing, warranty, inventory or roadside-service purpose.
• Do not weaken tire inspections: check pressure, tread depth, sidewalls, valve stems, irregular wear and visible damage.
• Confirm that preventive-maintenance, repair and inspection records remain complete and easy to retrieve.
• Review driver qualification workflows for three-year motor vehicle record inquiries, especially when a driver has foreign licensing history.

How can this affect cost and safety?

Eliminating an obsolete field can save a little administrative time and reduce confusion during a file review. The larger financial risk still comes from missed tire problems, incomplete maintenance documentation or a unit taken out of service. Use the rule change to simplify the file, not the inspection.

If the record review reveals vibration, pulling, irregular tire wear or another mechanical warning, arrange a professional evaluation through Truck Savers. One measured inspection is more useful than guessing at the tire, alignment or suspension cause.

When is the rule effective?

The corrections became effective July 21, 2026. Petitions asking the agency to reconsider the final rule are due by August 20, 2026. Carriers can update current forms now while watching for any later agency guidance.

Bottom line

Tire size is no longer a required vehicle-identification field under this section, but tire care is still part of running a safe and profitable truck. Clean up the paperwork, preserve useful shop data and keep inspecting the equipment. The truck warns you; the problem is when nobody listens.

Original source

FMCSA final rule published in the Federal Register on July 21, 2026.