Overview

• FMCSA issued emergency rules after fatal crashes and a multi‑state audit, requiring DHS SAVE immigration checks, annual in‑person renewals for non‑citizens, and license expiration aligned with work permits.
• Texas DPS immediately halted issuing, renewing, or reissuing non‑domiciled CDLs and CLPs and barred refugees, asylees, and DACA recipients from obtaining CDLs, with pending tests and applications paused.
• Federal officials estimate about 200,000 non‑domiciled drivers could be affected nationwide, and USDOT publicly warned states including California about potential funding consequences for noncompliance.
• Training providers in Texas report pausing students with work visas, and trucking executives caution that reduced driver availability could raise freight costs for consumers.
• Under Gov. Greg Abbott’s directive, Texas is conducting English proficiency reviews of commercial drivers in addition to implementing the new federal requirements.