Overview
- Federal officials said notices went to roughly 17,000 non‑domiciled CDL holders in California advising their licenses will expire in 60 days.
- The nationwide FMCSA review identified systemic non‑compliance in six states, with California’s sample showing over one in four records out of compliance and errors such as licenses extending beyond work authorization.
- The Transportation Department has already withheld more than $40 million tied to English proficiency enforcement and is threatening up to $160 million more over CDL compliance.
- California disputes the federal characterization, saying the revocations address state‑law violations, affected drivers had federal work authorization, and the state followed DHS guidance.
- DOT’s enforcement push followed fatal crashes that triggered the audit, and new rules announced in September restrict future CDL eligibility to H‑2A, H‑2B, or E‑2 visa holders for up to one year, without retroactive effect.