Why the DOT Is Cracking Down
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) is tightening rules for noncitizen truck drivers after three fatal crashes this year involving drivers who should not have been licensed.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the system had been compromised, allowing states to issue CDLs improperly. A nationwide audit revealed problems in California, Colorado, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Texas, and Washington.
California Faces the Biggest Penalties
California came under heavy scrutiny when auditors found that one in four noncitizen CDLs issued there since June should not have been approved. DOT has given the state 30 days to fix its program or risk losing $160 million in federal funding.
Duffy warned that all states must stop issuing CDLs to noncitizens until they can prove compliance with the new rules.
What the New Rules Mean
From now on, only drivers with specific visas can qualify for a CDL:
- H-2A visas (temporary agricultural workers)
- H-2B visas (temporary non-agricultural workers)
- E-2 visas (treaty investors)
Employment authorization documents will no longer be enough.
Officials estimate that 190,000 of the 200,000 noncitizen CDL holders would not qualify under these rules. However, the rules are not retroactive—existing license holders will keep their CDLs.
Support From the Trucking Industry
The American Trucking Associations (ATA) praised the move. ATA President Chris Spear said it’s essential that all states consistently follow federal rules to protect highway safety. The ATA had already called for a federal audit earlier this year.
The Florida Crash That Sparked Change
The crackdown comes after a high-profile crash in Florida. Truck driver Harjinder Singh, who had a CDL issued in Washington and later in California, allegedly made an illegal U-turn that led to a collision killing three people.
The incident sparked a political fight between California Governor Gavin Newsom and the Trump administration, with President Trump and Secretary Duffy using the crash to highlight flaws in the licensing system.
Singh faces vehicular homicide and immigration charges, with an arraignment scheduled for September 29. Federal authorities also plan to transfer him to ICE custody after his criminal case.
Source:
https://www.ttnews.com/articles/dot-rules-noncitizen-drivers
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