At the end of 2025, the American transportation industry faced a sharp tightening of control over drivers with so-called non-domiciled Commercial Driver's Licenses (non-domiciled CDL). This refers to drivers who legally work in the US but do not have a permanent residence...
The situation quickly escalated beyond regulatory discussion and turned into a combination of federal raids, legal proceedings, and license freezes at the state level.
Historically, non-domiciled CDL allowed foreign citizens with work permits in the US to take exams and legally operate commercial vehicles. However, federal regulators stated that several states systematically violated the requirements for verifying the status of such drivers.
According to industry media, it was the differences in state practices that prompted a large-scale review of the rules.
On September 29, 2025, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) issued an interim final rule that sharply narrowed the circle of individuals eligible to obtain or renew a non-domiciled CDL. The document stated that licenses should only be issued to drivers with certain visa categories, and the CDL's validity period cannot exceed the driver's legal stay in the country.
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The FMCSA's official statement emphasized that the measure's goal is to "restore the integrity of the CDL issuance system and eliminate risks to road safety." The corresponding statement was published in September 2025 on the FMCSA's official website: FMCSA Interim Final Rule on Non-Domiciled CDLs.
By November 2025, the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia temporarily suspended the rule pending the outcome of the legal review. Formally, this means that the rule is not fully enforced, but experts emphasize that state audits and checks continue, and legal uncertainty remains.
In parallel with FMCSA's regulatory steps, the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) began a series of joint operations with state highway patrols. During inspections, attention was paid to both immigration status and compliance of driver's licenses with federal requirements.
As reported by industry publication Land Line Media, at the end of 2025, such operations took place, particularly in Texas, Wyoming, and Oklahoma. The publication noted that some drivers were suspended from work due to document issues or non-compliance with CDL requirements: ICE continues to freeze out drivers with non-domiciled CDLs.
Analysts estimate that tens, possibly hundreds of thousands of drivers whose licenses are due for renewal in the coming years may be affected. Carrier representatives warn of the risk of staff shortages and increased administrative burden.
FreightWaves magazine, in an analytical article at the end of September 2025, quoted representatives of the transportation community who called the situation "one of the most serious regulatory shocks to the truck driver labor market in recent years": FMCSA issues emergency rule restricting non-domiciled CDLs.
In the short term, the industry will have to live with uncertainty:
- Drivers with non-domiciled CDL should carefully monitor document expiration dates and changes in requirements;
- Carriers should strengthen internal checks and prepare for potential staff losses;
- All market participants should consider that a court decision could either reinstate the FMCSA rule or force regulators to rewrite it.
One thing is already clear: the topic of non-domiciled CDLs has ceased to be a technical detail and has become a politically and economically significant factor for the entire commercial transportation industry in the US.
