MA DPU Proposes Nation-Leading Rideshare Safety Rules for TNCs
Summary
The Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities opened a rulemaking proceeding to enhance public safety for all rideshare services across the state, proposing nation-leading regulations for Transportation Network Companies (TNCs) such as Uber and Lyft. The proposed rules expand background check requirements to cover seven years of criminal and driving history from every state where a driver has resided or held a license, add disqualification criteria including suspended driving privileges in any state, require continuous monitoring for criminal or traffic violations, and impose accreditation requirements on third-party background check companies. TNCs would be fined $500 for certain driver-related violations under the DPU's final regulations, with public comments accepted until July 2, 2026.
“TNCs would be fined $500 for certain driver-related violations under the DPU's final regulations.”
TNCs and certified rideshare drivers in Massachusetts should prepare for expanded disqualification criteria and seven-year multi-state background checks, including continuous monitoring for criminal and traffic violations. The $500 civil penalty for driver-related violations under the final regulations applies to TNCs, not individual drivers. Companies should audit their third-party background check providers for accreditation compliance and review their current driver rosters against the new disqualification standards ahead of the July 2, 2026 comment deadline.
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GovPing monitors MA DPU News for new environment regulatory changes. Every update since tracking began is archived, classified, and available as free RSS or email alerts — 7 changes logged to date.
What changed
The proposed regulations expand background check scope to cover seven years of criminal and motor vehicle driving history from every state where a potential Massachusetts TNC driver has resided or held a license. The rules also expand driver disqualification criteria to include suspended or revoked driving privileges in any state, and requiring continuous background check monitoring for any criminal or traffic violations. Third-party companies used by TNCs for background checks are now subject to accreditation requirements to ensure their policies and work product comply with state and federal laws.
Transportation network companies and drivers certified in Massachusetts should prepare for more rigorous suitability requirements including annual educational training on safe driving, distracted driving prevention, human trafficking awareness, and serving riders with disabilities. TNCs must annually check for vehicle safety recalls and submit biennial reports on their electrification program progress. With public comments due July 2, 2026, industry stakeholders have an opportunity to shape these proposed requirements before they take effect.
Penalties
Civil penalty of $500 for certain driver-related violations under the DPU's final regulations
Archived snapshot
Apr 24, 2026GovPing captured this document from the original source. If the source has since changed or been removed, this is the text as it existed at that time.
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Press Release
Press Release DPU Plans to Enhance Rideshare Safety through New Regulations
The proposed regulations will be nation-leading in protecting both passengers and drivers
For immediate release: 4/24/2026
- Department of Public Utilities
Media Contact
Alanna Kelly, Communications Director
Phone
Call Alanna Kelly, Communications Director at 857-283-3794
Online
Email Alanna Kelly, Communications Director at alanna.kelly@mass.gov
Today, the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities (DPU) opened a rulemaking proceeding to enhance public safety for all rideshares across the state. The DPU’s TNC Division is updating its regulations that pertain to both the Transportation Network Companies (TNCs)—companies providing rideshare services such as Uber and Lyft—and drivers certified by the DPU to operate in Massachusetts. The regulations, once implemented, would reinforce Massachusetts’s position as a national leader in state oversight of rideshare services through a rigorous, safety-focused program.
Through its TNC Division, the DPU has the authority to regulate rideshare companies, the services provided by each company, and rideshare drivers in the state since 2017. There are currently five permitted TNCs authorized to conduct business and over 104,000 certified rideshare drivers in Massachusetts. Over the past nine years, the DPU has completed over 800,000 background checks, thousands of appeals, and assessed over $6 million in civil penalties to the TNCs for lack of compliance with state laws. The DPU does not regulate on-demand food delivery rides, like UberEats and Doordash: these companies must obtain operating permits from municipalities.
“Massachusetts has the opportunity to set the standard for safety and oversight of the TNC industry with these updated regulations,” said Chair Jeremy McDiarmid. “The proposed changes reflect our top line goal of promoting passenger safety and ensuring driver fairness and dignity in the background check process.”
“Safety always comes first,” said Commissioner Liz Anderson. “We are extremely committed to passenger safety. The regulatory changes that we’re proposing would create new standards for rideshare companies and drivers to make sure both passengers and drivers have the safest ride possible.”
“The proposed regulations promote safety for riders and drivers and kickstart an equitable transition to the electrification of rideshare vehicles,” said Commissioner Staci Rubin. “Massachusetts is capitalizing on this unique opportunity to help ensure that the use of climate friendly vehicles is fair to drivers while we reduce environmental impacts from the transportation sector, the largest source of GHG pollution in the state.”
The new draft regulations impose more rigorous standards for driver certification and for the background checks conducted by both the TNCs and the DPU. The regulations expand driver disqualifications, such as suspended or revoked driving privileges in any state or allowing another driver without a background check to provide services on a TNC driver’s behalf, to better protect the safety of passengers and require continuous background check monitoring of drivers for any criminal or traffic violations. TNCs must also conduct new background checks whenever they become aware of changes to a driver’s personal information, such as obtaining a new driver’s license from another state. The regulations expand the scope of TNC background checks to cover criminal and motor vehicle driving history from every state where a potential Massachusetts TNC driver has resided or held a license in the past seven years. The third-party companies the TNCs use for background checks are also now subject to accreditation requirements to ensure their policies and work product are reliable and comply with state and federal laws. TNCs would be fined $500 for certain driver-related violations under the DPU’s final regulations.
The regulations seek to enhance the DPU’s current appeals process to make it more robust and transparent by providing standards for the DPU to review incident reports created by law enforcement and applicable to a driver’s appeal of certificate denial or revocation. The DPU will also now review any subpoenas in connection with a driver or company appeal.
Through the new regulations, the DPU looks to provide passengers with more transparency and enhance Ride Authentication protocols used in the TNCs’ apps so that passengers can verify quickly and easily that they are getting in the vehicle that they ordered. Additionally, the DPU’s regulations would make it easier for passengers to share their ride details with trusted parties and law enforcement in case of emergencies.
TNCs will be required to provide their drivers with annual educational training on safe driving and public interaction, distracted driving prevention, human trafficking awareness and prevention, and serving riders with disabilities, such as riders with service animals or riders using wheelchairs. Minors under 16 would be required to be accompanied by an adult when using rideshare services.
In addition to the strengthened suitability requirements, the TNCs must now annually check for safety recalls of vehicles before they can be used to provide rideshare services. Along with increasing safety oversight, the draft regulations would promote the electrification of rideshare vehicles and require the TNCs to submit biennial reports on their progress advancing their electrification programs, required by Massachusetts law. Since 2024, MassCEC’s Ride Clean Mass program has helped rideshare drivers by providing rebates to significantly reduce upfront costs when rideshare drivers purchase or rent electric vehicles. As of December 2025, Ride Clean Mass has disbursed roughly $1,446,800 in vouchers to roughly 300 rideshare drivers to electrify their vehicles. Rebates are still available to qualifying drivers.
Following the publication of the draft regulations by the Secretary of the Commonwealth, the DPU will hold two hearings to gain feedback from drivers, stakeholders, and the public. All members of the public and stakeholders are welcome to provide written comments by July 2, 2026. More information can be found at the DPU’s page on the rulemaking proceeding.
Media Contact
Alanna Kelly, Communications Director
+
Phone
Call Alanna Kelly, Communications Director at 857-283-3794
Online
Email Alanna Kelly, Communications Director at alanna.kelly@mass.gov
Department of Public Utilities
The Department of Public Utilities (DPU) oversees investor-owned electric power, natural gas, and water companies in Massachusetts. In addition, the DPU regulates the safety of bus companies, moving companies, and transportation network companies. We also oversee the safety of natural gas pipelines.
Media Contact
Alanna Kelly, Communications Director
Phone
Call Alanna Kelly, Communications Director at 857-283-3794
Online
Email Alanna Kelly, Communications Director at alanna.kelly@mass.gov
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