Overview
- A Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration audit found 29 of 150 sampled non‑domiciled commercial driver’s licenses in Illinois were issued illegally, and the state reports 10,088 such credentials remain unexpired.
- Violations cited include licenses extending beyond drivers’ lawful presence in the U.S. and cases where lawful presence was not verified.
- Illinois has paused issuing non‑domiciled CDLs and says its policies are substantially compliant as it disputes the federal findings and reviews the audit.
- The FMCSA letter orders immediate steps such as maintaining the pause, identifying and voiding noncompliant licenses, and conducting an internal audit within the 30‑day window.
- Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy framed the enforcement as a road‑safety measure, and the action follows recent federal rule changes that tightened documentation and verification for non‑domiciled CDL applicants.