DOT Finalizes Rule Blocking Unvetted Foreign Drivers from Commercial Truck Licenses
The U.S. Department of Transportation has finalized a sweeping new rule aimed at tightening eligibility for commercial driver’s licenses, a move officials say will prevent unqualified foreign drivers from operating large trucks and buses on American roads. The announcement was made by Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy, who said the change closes what he described as a dangerous loophole in the licensing system.
According to the Department, at least 17 fatal crashes and 30 deaths in 2025 alone were linked to non-domiciled drivers who, under the new rule, would now be ineligible to obtain a commercial driver’s license. Officials argue that the previous system allowed individuals with unverified or inaccessible driving histories to legally operate heavy commercial vehicles weighing up to 80,000 pounds.
The rule focuses on closing two primary gaps. First, state driver licensing agencies were previously able to issue CDLs to foreign drivers without access to complete driving records from their home countries. Unlike U.S. drivers—whose records are checked against national databases for DUI offenses, reckless driving, and crash histories—states often had no reliable way to review the backgrounds of foreign applicants. Second, the rule eliminates reliance on Employment Authorization Documents as proof of eligibility. Officials say EADs confirm work authorization but do not screen for transportation safety or driving history.
Under the finalized policy, CDL eligibility is now limited to certain nonimmigrant visa categories, specifically H-2A, H-2B, and E-2 status holders, all of whom undergo enhanced interagency vetting. Applicants must present an unexpired foreign passport and specific Form I-94 documentation. In addition, states are now required to verify lawful immigration status through the federal SAVE system before issuing a license.
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Administrator Derek D. Barrs described the rule as a critical fix to a longstanding safety concern. If a driver’s history cannot be verified, Barrs stated, that individual will not be eligible to hold a CDL in the United States.
The new regulation follows an emergency action last summer after a surge of deadly crashes involving non-domiciled drivers. Among the incidents cited by federal officials were a February 2025 multi-vehicle tunnel crash on Interstate 80 in Wyoming that left three people dead and 20 injured; an August 2025 crash on the Florida Turnpike involving an illegal U-turn that killed three; an October 2025 eight-vehicle collision on a California highway that claimed three lives; and a December 2025 train collision in Ontario, California, that resulted in the death of a crew member.
The final rule is also tied to a broader safety push ordered by Donald Trump through an executive directive last year emphasizing stricter roadway enforcement and accountability measures. Since September, a nationwide audit has reportedly uncovered widespread non-compliance in several states—including New York, California, Pennsylvania, Minnesota, Colorado, and North Carolina—related to the issuance of non-domiciled CDLs.
Transportation officials say the rule will take effect 30 days after publication in the Federal Register. Supporters argue the changes prioritize roadway safety and strengthen screening standards, while critics are expected to debate how the policy will affect workforce availability in the commercial trucking industry. What remains clear is that the federal government is moving to impose tighter oversight on who can legally operate commercial vehicles across the country.
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