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Transportation Officials Say a Loophole Closed on CDL Drivers
The new rule removes about 194,000 non-domiciled commercial drivers lacking proper vetting to reduce crashes and deaths linked to unqualified foreign drivers, DOT said.
- On Feb. 11, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration unveiled a final rule changing how nondomiciled commercial driver's licenses are issued, tightening standards for states.
- Audits found systemic noncompliance in multiple states, leading FMCSA Administrator Derek Barrs to say a safety gap allowed unqualified drivers to operate commercial vehicles.
- Applicants must present an unexpired foreign passport and Form I‑94, and states must query SAVE to verify lawful status.
- About 194,000 nondomiciled CDL holders will exit the freight market, and the rule becomes effective 30 days after Federal Register publication, placing the compliance date in about mid‑March.
- Legal challenges put the prior interim rule on hold after September 2025, while Owner‑Operator Independent Drivers Association and major trucking trade associations urged action as congressional proposals remain pending.
22 Articles
22 Articles
Trump admin ends major loophole tied to fatal wrecks involving illegal alien truckers
Trump admin ends major loophole tied to fatal wrecks involving illegal alien truckers –Reform formally codifies the policy into federal regulations | 12 Feb 2026 | The Department of Transportation (DOT) announced Wednesday that it has officially closed a major loophole that allowed unqualified drivers, including illegal immigrants, to operate commercial trucks, following several fatal crashes last year involving non-domiciled drivers. “For far t…
DOT closes major commercial trucking loophole blamed for illegal immigrants causing fatal crashes
DOT closes commercial trucking loophole as Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy announces new rules preventing unqualified foreign drivers from obtaining licenses.
Foreigners want to drive a big rig? They'll need more than work authorization papers, Duffy says.
Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy took action on Wednesday to prevent unqualified foreign drivers from operating semi-trucks. This decision comes in response to several fatal crashes involving non-domiciled commercial driver's license holders, a situation that has gained national attention over the past year.Duffy issued a final rule, "Restoring Integrity to the Issuance of Non-Domiciled Commercial Drivers Licenses," which aims t…
InsideNoVA.com
Transportation officials say a loophole closed on CDL drivers
(The Center Square) – CDL drivers causing 17 fatal crashes and 30 deaths in 2025 are no longer eligible to get a nondomiciled commercial driver’s license, according to a new rule issued by Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy.
Under Trump’s Direction, DOT Moves to Bar Unvetted Foreign Drivers From U.S. Trucking Industry
The Trump administration finalized a major safety reform on Wednesday that blocks unvetted foreign nationals from obtaining commercial driver’s licenses, ending a system that allowed tens of thousands of drivers with unknown or dangerous histories to legally operate heavy trucks and buses in the United States. Department of Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy said the rule “ends a safety loophole that has wreaked havoc on our roadways.” The p…
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