New article on Zerohedge:
Trump Admin Closes CDL Loophole That Let Illegal Immigrants Drive Big-Rigs
Here is the rundown:
The Trump administration has taken a decisive step to enhance road safety and protect American truckers by closing a longstanding loophole in the Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) system that allowed illegal immigrants and foreign nationals with unverified driving histories to operate big rigs.
Through the Department of Transportation, this new rule eliminates the use of Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) for CDL applications, requiring instead verifiable documents like passports and I-94 forms checked via the SAVE system.
This move addresses safety concerns highlighted by multiple fatal crashes in 2025, ensuring only qualified drivers with clean, accessible records can hit the highways— a win for truckers who’ve long called for stricter standards to level the playing field and reduce risks.
- Loophole Closure Details: Previously, at least 30 states issued non-domiciled CDLs to foreign drivers using just EADs, which don’t reveal prior violations, accidents, or suspensions, allowing potentially dangerous operators behind the wheel of 80,000-pound vehicles.
- New Requirements: Applicants must now provide an unexpired foreign passport and Form I-94, with eligibility limited to those with temporary work visas (e.g., H-1B, H-2B) or E-2 investor visas; states must verify lawful status through the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) system.
- Safety Implications: The reform plugs a critical gap where U.S. drivers’ records are nationally accessible but foreigners’ were not, aiming to prevent unqualified drivers from causing havoc—evidenced by 17 crashes in 2025 that killed at least 30 people, including multi-vehicle pileups and a train collision.
- Broader Enforcement Efforts: This builds on other Trump-era actions, like enforcing English proficiency for CDL holders and cracking down on fraudulent carriers, prioritizing public safety and accountability.
- Official Reactions: Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy called it an end to “dangerous foreign drivers abusing our systems,” while FMCSA Administrator Derek D. Barrs emphasized that unverified histories mean no CDL, putting American safety first under Trump’s leadership.
So once again, we’re seeing good news for driver demand and wages! I’ll keep my fingers crossed that they continue to move in this direction, restoring and revitalizing driver demand and wages!