At the end of 2025, a heated debate erupted in the US over new federal requirements for issuing commercial driver's licenses (CDL) to non-domiciled drivers. The trigger was an interim final rule (IFR) by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), which, according to several states and industry associations, could impact freight transportation and lead to increased logistics costs.
On September 29, 2025, the FMCSA published a rule tightening the process for issuing and renewing non-domiciled CDL and CLP. According to the document, states are required to:
- issue such CDLs only to drivers with certain types of legal immigration status;
- limit the validity of the license to the duration of immigration documents, but no more than one year;
- require personal presence for renewal and stricter status verification through federal systems.
In an official statement, the regulator emphasized that the goal of the changes is safety. FMCSA representatives stated on September 29, 2025:
"This rule restores the integrity of the CDL issuance process and enhances the safety of commercial motor vehicle operations."
A detailed description of the rule is published in the Federal Register.
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Immediately after the rule's publication, a coalition of states stated that the new requirements could lead to a mass loss of current drivers, especially in regions where a significant portion of the freight labor market relies on non-domiciled CDL holders. Attorneys general of several states pointed out that the FMCSA did not provide convincing data linking non-domiciled drivers to increased accident risks.
Industry media note that, according to state estimates, up to hundreds of thousands of drivers could be at risk, which could lead to reduced supply chain capacity and increased freight rates. This is reported in detail by FreightWaves.
On November 10, 2025, the situation took a new turn: the DC Circuit Court of Appeals issued an administrative stay order, temporarily freezing the implementation of the FMCSA rule pending the outcome of the litigation. The FMCSA confirmed that during the stay, states may continue issuing non-domiciled CDLs under the previous rules.
The corresponding notice is published on the regulator's official website — FMCSA.
Even temporary uncertainty is already affecting the industry. Carriers and shippers face risks:
- reduction in the available pool of drivers;
- increased costs for hiring and training;
- potential rate increases and delivery delays.
Experts agree that the future of the rule will depend on the court and possible political decisions at the federal level. For now, the market lives in anticipation, and any changes in the status of the IFR could quickly affect the entire US logistics system.
If the court overturns the rule, the FMCSA will likely have to return to the full public discussion procedure. If the restrictions are reinstated, the industry will have to adapt to new realities — with potential consequences for prices, delivery times, and supply chain resilience.
For carriers and drivers, the key now is to closely monitor official FMCSA announcements and court decisions, as they will determine the rules of the game in the coming months.
