The U.S. Department of Transportation announced Feb. 12 that it has finalized a rule closing what officials described as a major loophole in commercial driver licensing. The change follows multiple fatal crashes in 2025 involving non-domiciled commercial driver’s license holders.
Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy said the reform ends the ability of certain foreign drivers to obtain CDLs without verified driving histories. “For far too long, America has allowed dangerous foreign drivers to abuse our truck licensing systems, wreaking havoc on our roadways. This safety loophole ends today,” Duffy said. He added that unqualified foreign drivers will no longer be able to obtain licenses to operate heavy commercial vehicles.
Background and Enforcement Actions
The final rule codifies an emergency action Duffy took last September to halt the issuance of non-domiciled CDLs to truckers whose driving histories could not be verified. According to the DOT, federal regulators increased enforcement efforts after a series of fatal crashes last summer involving non-domiciled drivers.
In 2025, at least 30 people died in 17 crashes caused by non-domiciled drivers, the DOT reported. The agency also stated that at least 30 states issued CDLs to drivers later deemed ineligible.
Federal officials explained that while states can review U.S. drivers’ records through national databases for prior violations, including driving under the influence or crash history, they cannot access comparable records from foreign countries. As a result, regulators said Employment Authorization Documents did not provide sufficient information about an applicant’s prior traffic violations, accidents, or license suspensions abroad.
Key Provisions of the Final Rule
Under the new rule, state driver’s licensing agencies may no longer issue CDLs to foreign drivers without verified driving histories. The DOT will end reliance on Employment Authorization Documents as proof of eligibility. Officials said that reliance on EADs led more than 30 states to issue tens of thousands of licenses to ineligible drivers.
Applicants seeking a CDL must now present an unexpired foreign passport along with the appropriate Form I-94, which tracks a noncitizen’s entry to and exit from the United States.
Eligibility will be limited to foreign nationals holding temporary work visas, including H-2B, H-1B, or E-2 treaty investor visas. In addition, states must verify each applicant’s lawful immigration status through the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements system.
The DOT said these measures aim to prevent state licensing agencies from issuing CDLs without confirming lawful status and verified driving backgrounds.
Crash Incidents Cited by DOT
The agency pointed to several fatal crashes in 2025 as part of its rationale for the reform. In August, a driver attempting an illegal U-turn on the Florida Turnpike reportedly triggered a crash that killed three people. In October, another driver failed to stop on a California highway, resulting in an eight-vehicle collision that also claimed three lives. In December, a truck reportedly collided with a train at a marked crossing in Ontario, California, killing a crew member.
Duffy also referenced the case of Dalilah Coleman, a 5-year-old girl who suffered serious injuries after a crash last September involving an 18-wheeler driven by an individual described as an illegal immigrant. “These truck drivers should NEVER have received a commercial driver’s license. And this rule makes sure that it won’t happen again,” Duffy wrote in a post on X.
Additional Safety Measures
The final rule is expected to take effect in approximately one month, around March 15.
The DOT also cited other transportation safety initiatives. In May, Duffy signed an order establishing new guidelines to strengthen enforcement of English language standards for commercial truck operators. Under those standards, commercial motor vehicle drivers who fail English proficiency tests will be placed out of service.
According to the DOT, the licensing reform and language enforcement measures are part of broader efforts to address roadway safety concerns related to commercial trucking.
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