US Transportation Department tightens licensing for foreign drivers amid FMCSA audit

The Transportation Department announced a broad tightening of eligibility rules for non-domiciled commercial driver’s licenses after an ongoing Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration audit found wide-ranging licensing lapses. Under the plan, non-citizens will not be eligible for a non-domiciled commercial driver’s license unless they meet a stricter set of requirements, including proof of an employment-based visa. The department will also require a federal immigration status check using the SAVE program at the time a license is issued or renewed. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the department’s investigation into licensing practices should disturb and anger every American, as he outlined the steps in a Friday briefing.

FMCSA’s audit showed non-compliance across several states, with California singled out as the most egregious. The department said licenses were issued to drivers who were ineligible or whose lawful presence in the United States had expired, noting weak oversight, insufficient training and programming errors as contributing factors. The disclosure comes as the administration underscores safety concerns after a deadly crash in Florida linked to a trucker who had obtained a limited-term CDL in California; officials described the incident as a vivid example of the potential dangers posed by lax licensing practices.

The new rules bar non-domiciled CDLs unless applicants satisfy an employment-based visa condition and pass a federal immigration status check through SAVE. In addition, the department said it is instituting a mandatory federal immigration status check using the SAVE system for CDL applications, renewals and related licensing actions. Duffy framed the changes as a public safety measure meant to keep heavy trucks — often weighing as much as 80,000 pounds — off American roads when drivers lack proper authorization or credentialing. “Licenses to operate a massive, 80,000-pound truck are being issued to dangerous foreign drivers — often times illegally,” Duffy said in a statement. “This is a direct threat to the safety of every family on the road, and I won’t stand for it.” The department stressed that states must immediately halt the renewal or issuance of non-domiciled licenses to drivers who do not meet the tightened criteria and must invalidate improperly issued licenses.

The FMCSA noted the California case as the most serious instance of non-compliance, but said gaps existed in other states as well. California faces a deadline to demonstrate compliance within 30 days; failure to meet the timeline could expose the state to a decline in federal funding, with officials citing a potential impact of nearly $160 million in the first year. The department added that the audit identified cases where drivers with expired or invalid lawful presence received CDLs, underscoring the need for robust oversight, enhanced training and programmatic safeguards.

The policy shift arrives amid continued political pressure over trucking English-language and safety requirements. Separately, Senate Republicans have pressed for tighter language on licensing and immigration enforcement in response to incidents involving foreign drivers, arguing that lax standards jeopardize road safety. California officials were not immediately available for comment when pressed about the process, but the administration signaled that governors must take swift action to repair licensing systems in their states. Duffy urged governors to align their licensing frameworks with federal expectations, warning that delays could escalate the risk to public safety.

The administration’s push also reflects a broader effort to link licensing with immigration status checks, a policy stance highlighted by the administration as essential to ensuring that CDL holders are both legally authorized and properly credentialed to operate heavy vehicles. The department said the new rules would be implemented through guidance to state agencies and ongoing enforcement actions, with additional updates to compliance standards as the FMCSA audit progresses. The administration emphasized that state actions would be evaluated in the context of national safety data and the goal of preventing unauthorized drivers from obtaining or renewing commercial licenses.

In the Florida incident that has amplified scrutiny, Harjinder Singh, a truck driver who had obtained a limited-term CDL from California in 2024, was later charged with three counts of vehicular homicide after a crash in which three people were killed during an attempted U-turn in Florida. Union officials and safety advocates cited the case as a stark reminder of the potential consequences of insufficient licensing oversight. Singh’s extradition and legal proceedings have drawn attention to cross-state licensing practices and the need for consistent federal standards across jurisdictions.

The department said California has 30 days to come into compliance under the new framework, or risk losing federal funding tied to highway safety programs. While the administration maintained that the measures are designed to safeguard the traveling public, it also acknowledged the potential fiscal and political pushback from states that rely on federal highway funds and from industry groups concerned about hiring and workforce shortages. The administration stressed that the changes would not affect U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents who meet existing CDL requirements but would tighten scrutiny for non-domiciled drivers who historically obtained licenses through weaker processes.

As the FMCSA continues its audit, federal officials say more states could be named as findings evolve, with possible updates to licensing rules, training protocols and data-sharing practices intended to curb improper licensing and improve safety on the nation’s roadways. The department’s action marks a notable shift in how licensing intertwined with immigration status is handled at the federal level, signaling a broader push to tie driving eligibility to verified lawful presence and employment-based credentials.

Officials indicated that this is only the first wave of anticipated steps tied to the FMCSA audit, with further updates and potential state-specific enforcement actions to follow as the review continues. The administration emphasized that the safety of drivers and the traveling public remains the essential objective, and that changes to licensing rules would be accompanied by improved training, stricter verification processes and stronger oversight to prevent improper issuance and renewal of licenses. The department also reiterated its intent to monitor outcomes closely and to adjust policies as necessary to ensure consistent, nationwide enforcement and compliance.