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Federal CDL Crackdown Deepens After Pennsylvania Reveals DHS 'Greenlight' Gap

State testimony highlighted a federal verification lapse after a terror suspect stayed cleared for a commercial license even following his arrest.

Overview

  • At a Pennsylvania Senate hearing, PennDOT said DHS’s SAVE system approved Akhror Bozorov’s non‑domiciled CDL in July and still showed him cleared after his Nov. 9 ICE arrest, underscoring communication gaps.
  • The U.S. DOT’s rule limiting CDLs to citizens and permanent residents is driving state pauses on immigrant licensing, with New York’s DMV confirming a halt and unions joining a D.C. Circuit challenge.
  • DOT has threatened to cut highway funds to states over licensing lapses, and FMCSA estimates the eligibility rule could sideline nearly 200,000 immigrant drivers nationwide.
  • PennDOT and industry witnesses warned of training loopholes, noting FMCSA recently removed about 3,000 entry‑level driver training providers from its federal registry.
  • Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said nearly 9,500 commercial drivers have been taken off the road for failing federal English‑language requirements during stepped‑up enforcement.