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Federal regulators this week issued a formal clarification intended to close a potential loophole that has permitted some motor carriers to pay a civil fine in full without admitting guilt or liability of a violation.

Federal regulators have accepted a petition from several trade organizations who have complained that fluctuating federal hazardous materials safety permit requirements are causing some safe motor carriers to loose their eligibility and even cease operations.

Many large carriers operating in California face a Jan. 1 deadline to have SmartWay-approved fuel efficient aerodynamic technology equipment installed on 15% of their pre-2011 trailer fleet.

Beginning Jan. 1, all trucks with engine year 2006 and older will be banned from marine terminals at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, port officials said.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has issued a revised proposal to streamline the agency’s registration process for motor carriers, brokers and freight forwarders — and eventually help the agency identify so-called “chameleon” operators.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration said it will not meet Friday’s court settlement deadline to issue its final hours-of-service rule.

California environmental regulators have approved a slate of amendments to fine-tune the state’s transport refrigerated unit rule, but denied a request by industry stakeholders to push back compliance deadlines by extending the useful life of the units from seven to nine years.