FMCSA Targets Non-Domiciled CDLs
The war between state and federal governments continue, as the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration plans to tighten access to Non-Domiciles Commercial Driver’s Licenses (CDLs), essentially the trucking equivalent of a green card for non-citizens. What does this have to do with state government? A good number of them come from one particular golden state.
Details
This change comes hot off the heels of recent accidents caused by immigrant drivers in 2025.
“Licenses to operate a massive, 80,000-pound truck are being issued to dangerous foreign drivers—oftentimes illegally. This is a direct threat to the safety of every family on the road, and I won’t stand for it,” Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said in a statement. “Today’s actions will prevent unsafe foreign drivers from renewing their license and hold states accountable to immediately invalidate improperly issued licenses.”
The short version is that getting a non-domiciled CDL is going to become harder to obtain, requiring an unexpired foreign passport that proves the person entered the country legally, and renewal will be on an annual basis. With the decision being published into the Federal Register as an emergency rule, it is effective immediately.
Where California comes in is that the state is disproportionally responsible for improper issuance of previous non-domiciled CDLs, and as such the Department of Transportation is applying some pressure. If California does not stop issuing non-domiciled CDLs and revoke those already issued that do not fit the new criteria, the FMCSA will withhold highway funding to the tune of $160 million per year.
Conclusion
While California is the prime target for the FMCSA right now, it is not the only state that has seen inconsistencies with how it issues these special CDLs. Other states such as Texas, Oregon, and Washington, have shown less-than-stellar results in their issuance, but have not done so to the extent that the FMCSA and DOT would threaten to withdraw funding.
“California must get its act together immediately or I will not hesitate to pull millions in funding,” Duffy said.
Ultimately, only time will tell where this chapter in the clash between California and the Trump Administration ends.
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