The United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) have announced potential financial sanctions against the state of Pennsylvania due to alleged violations in issuing non-domiciled commercial driver's licenses (CDL). This involves a potential fine and withholding of federal funding amounting to up to $75 million.
The news became public at the end of November 2025 after FMCSA sent the state an official notice of preliminary non-compliance with federal requirements. This was detailed by the industry publication Overdrive Online.
According to FMCSA, an audit analyzed a sample of 150 cases related to CDL issuance. As a result, the agency reported several issues:
- In certain cases, the validity period of the CDL exceeded the driver's legal stay in the US;
- Several transactions lacked proof that the state required evidence of legal status;
- Instances were found where non-domiciled CDLs were issued to individuals with permanent resident status, who should formally receive regular CDLs.
Additionally, FMCSA pointed out systemic and procedural shortcomings in PennDOT's IT infrastructure, including the lack of documentation on which specific immigration documents were checked during license processing.
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In the official notice from FMCSA dated November 19, 2025, it is emphasized that such violations could be considered non-compliance with the requirements of 49 CFR Part 384, which regulate state CDL programs.
The next day, on November 20, 2025, the US Department of Transportation publicly intensified its rhetoric, warning of the risk of financial sanctions. The USDOT statement emphasized that the state must either rectify the identified violations or face consequences up to the withholding of federal funds.
According to agency representatives, this is not only about formal errors but also about issues of national and road safety.
PennDOT rejected the accusations of illegal issuance of driver's licenses. State representatives stated that the federal system for verifying legal status, SAVE, managed by the US Department of Homeland Security, is used in CDL processing.
In a comment published at the end of November 2025, a PennDOT representative noted:
"We are confident that we acted in accordance with federal requirements and will provide FMCSA with a full response within the established timeframe."
State authorities also pointed out that federal agencies have not provided a single proven case of issuing a CDL to a person completely ineligible to receive it.
The situation in Pennsylvania could set a precedent for other states. If FMCSA's position is confirmed, it could lead to:
- Stricter federal oversight of CDL programs;
- Temporary suspension of issuing non-domiciled CDLs in certain states;
- Additional checks of existing licenses for foreign drivers.
For carriers and drivers, this means increased regulatory risks and potential delays in document processing.
Pennsylvania has limited time to present a corrective action plan and prove compliance with federal requirements. The final decision by FMCSA will determine whether this case becomes the largest financial conflict between federal regulators and a state in the CDL field in recent years.
