A federal appeals court in the District of Columbia has temporarily blocked new Transportation Department rules that would have significantly limited which immigrants can obtain commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs) to operate semitrailer trucks or buses. The decision, issued Thursday, halts enforcement of the regulations announced by Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy in September.
The proposed restrictions came after a fatal crash in Florida involving a truck driver who was not authorized to be in the United States. Following this incident, Secretary Duffy called for stricter licensing measures, especially after an audit revealed that California had issued many CDLs to immigrants whose work permits had expired. Earlier this week, California revoked 17,000 commercial driver’s licenses under existing rules due to these findings.
In its ruling, the court found procedural issues with how the new rule was developed. It stated that the federal government “didn’t follow proper procedure in drafting the rule and failed to ‘articulate a satisfactory explanation for how the rule would promote safety.’” The court also cited data from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration indicating that while immigrants hold about 5% of all CDLs, they are involved in only about 0.2% of fatal crashes.
A spokesman for the Transportation Department commented on the decision: “This is not a ruling on the merits of the case. Secretary Duffy will continue working to keep unqualified, foreign drivers off American roads.”
California Governor Gavin Newsom’s office did not immediately respond to questions regarding the ruling but previously stated that California followed guidance from U.S. Department of Homeland Security when issuing licenses to noncitizens.
Secretary Duffy pointed out other recent fatal truck crashes involving drivers without legal status as further justification for tightening CDL eligibility requirements.
Under the now-blocked rules, only immigrants holding H-2a (temporary agricultural worker), H-2b (temporary nonagricultural worker), or E-2 (investor) visas would qualify for commercial licenses. Applicants’ immigration status would need verification through a federal database and licenses would be valid for up to one year or until visa expiration—whichever comes first. If implemented, only about 10,000 out of 200,000 noncitizen CDL holders nationwide would remain eligible; current licensees could retain their credentials until renewal.
Trucking industry groups such as Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association support these changes and have advocated for congressional action to make them law. Todd Spencer, president of this association said: “For too long, loopholes in this program have allowed unqualified drivers onto our highways, putting professional truckers and the motoring public at risk.”
Duffy has accused six states—including California—of improperly issuing CDLs but has so far taken action only against California because it was audited first; reviews elsewhere are delayed due to a government shutdown. The Transportation Department has also withheld $40 million in federal funding from California over alleged failures related to English language requirements and warned it may withhold another $160 million if concerns are not addressed.
Meanwhile, Harjinder Singh—the driver involved in Florida’s deadly crash—appeared before a judge Thursday as his attorneys requested more time before trial; he faces charges including vehicular homicide and manslaughter and has pleaded not guilty.
