In early January 2026, USPS announced plans to phase out the use of drivers with non-domiciled CDL in its contract freight network unless such drivers have undergone a full check. The decision immediately caused a wide resonance in the transportation industry and once again drew attention to federal regulation of non-domiciled CDL.
On January 5, 2026, USPS officially stated that it would require contract carriers to cease using non-domiciled CDL drivers who have not been vetted by the United States Postal Inspection Service. This affects contractors serving one of the largest logistics networks in the country, transporting tens of thousands of shipments daily.
In the USPS statement, it is emphasized that the measure is aimed at enhancing safety. USPS Board of Governors Chair Amber McReynolds noted:
“The safety of our employees, customers, and the community at large is an absolute priority for the Postal Service.”
Postmaster General David Steiner added that strengthening contractor requirements should improve the reliability of operations and the resilience of the entire delivery system.
The official USPS release is available on the agency's website: USPS Is Strengthening Requirements for Contracted Trucking Providers.
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It is important to note: USPS did not specify the exact date for the completion of the “phase-out” and did not disclose detailed verification criteria, leaving them at the discretion of postal inspectors and contract terms.
The USPS decision cannot be viewed in isolation from the actions of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). In September 2025, the agency published an interim final rule aimed at “restoring integrity” to the process of issuing non-domiciled CDL.
FMCSA stated that the new measures are designed to address systemic gaps in driver status and document verification, as well as reduce road safety risks. The agency's official statement emphasized that it is about ensuring compliance with federal requirements, not a complete ban on non-domiciled CDL as such.
FMCSA's position is outlined in the publication: Interim Final Rule: Restoring Integrity to the Issuance of Non-Domiciled CDLs.
Despite the tough rhetoric, the situation remains legally complex. At the end of 2025, the effect of the FMCSA interim rule was suspended by an administrative decision of a federal court, and it is currently under judicial review. This means that at the federal level, the new restrictions are not fully applied.
The text of the rule and its justification are published in the US Federal Register: Restoring Integrity to the Issuance of Non-Domiciled Commercial Driver’s Licenses.
Even amid legal proceedings, the USPS step has practical significance:
- USPS contractors are already forced to revise staffing policies and driver verification procedures;
- Carriers relying on non-domiciled CDL face the risk of losing contracts;
- Drivers with such status find themselves in a zone of increased uncertainty, even if they formally operate within current federal rules.
Essentially, USPS demonstrates that large government customers can impose stricter standards than the federal minimum, based on their own safety and trust criteria.
The story with non-domiciled CDL in 2026 is not just a matter of licenses, but an indicator of a broader trend: increased control, pressure on contractors, and shifting the balance of responsibility towards large shippers. Even in the absence of a final federal ban, the market is already beginning to change, and for industry participants, this is a signal to prepare for new rules of the game.
