The Transportation Department is implementing significant changes to the eligibility standards for non-domiciled commercial learner’s permits (CLPs) and commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs). These changes arise as the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) conducts an audit into licensing practices across the country.
Under the new requirements, only non-citizens with valid employment-based visas will qualify for a non-domiciled CDL. This marks a shift from previous guidelines, which allowed more lenient access to such licenses. As part of these changes, the department will enforce a mandatory federal immigration status check using the SAVE system.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, in a recent announcement, stressed the gravity of the findings of the audit. He declared, “What my department uncovered in its investigation of licensing practices should disturb and anger every American.” Duffy raised concerns that licenses were being granted to unsafe foreign drivers, describing this issue as a “direct threat to the safety of every family on the road.” He asserted, “I won’t stand for it,” vowing to take action against the states that failed to uphold proper standards.
The FMCSA’s audit revealed troubling non-compliance in multiple states, identifying California’s practices as particularly glaring. The report highlighted that CDLs were issued to individuals who were not eligible, including those whose licenses were still valid even after their lawful presence in the U.S. had lapsed. These lapses in compliance, according to the report, stem from inadequate oversight, insufficient training, and programming errors within the system.
Duffy did not hold back in his criticism of California, condemning the state’s oversights as “disgusting.” He pointed out that this situation undermines the trust of American citizens who rely on their government for public safety. He warned California officials that they must rectify their CDL issuing practices quickly or risk facing severe consequences. “California must get its act together immediately, or I will not hesitate to pull millions in funding,” said Duffy, emphasizing the urgency of the situation.
This issue gained further prominence following a tragic incident involving an illegal immigrant trucker from California. In 2024, the trucker, who had obtained a limited-term CDL, was involved in a crash in Florida that resulted in the deaths of three individuals. The driver, Harjinder Singh, was charged with vehicular homicide, bringing renewed scrutiny to California’s CDL issuance policy.
The Transportation Department has set a 30-day deadline for California to comply with the new standards. If the state fails to do so, it stands to lose significant federal funding, reportedly estimated at nearly $160 million in the first year. Although California is the central focus of this announcement, Duffy issued a broader warning to governors across the nation, urging them to ensure their non-domiciled CDL systems are up to standard. “You do not want the blood of more traffic deaths on your hands, governors,” he cautioned in his remarks.
This development in transportation regulation reflects a growing concern over safety implications tied to licensing practices. The new measures, aimed at tightening eligibility, demonstrate a commitment to prioritizing public safety and accountability among states in issuing commercial licenses.
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