Truckers are having their say about the federal government's attempt to strictly limit states' abilities to renew or issue new commercial driver's licenses to the vast majority of non-domiciled foreign truckers working in the U.S.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced an emergency rulemaking in late September in response to several headline grabbing trucking collisions involving foreign drivers. Duffy said he took the action in response to an internal audit of states' CDL operations. It also followed on the heels of a new federal mandate that drivers be proficient in the English language.
Critics of the rule say it could remove as many as 200,000 drivers from the nation's trucking industry. It has been challenged by a lawsuit on behalf of an owner-operator by the Public Citizen Litigation Group, and the American Federation of Teachers and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.
Duffy's rule is in effect, but the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is accepting public comments on it until Nov. 28. So far, more than 4,300 comments have been made.
Here's a selection of what people, many from foreign countries working in the U.S., have been saying. Some comments have been edited for brevity and clarity.
Against the Rule
Ruslan Pelykh: "I entered the US legally with my family under the U4U program. We fled the war that has engulfed our Ukraine, where many innocent people are now dying, including children! Within a few days of my arrival, I passed all the exams to obtain a CDL permit, after which I successfully completed CDL training at a school in Asheville, NC. I've now been working as a truck driver for 1.5 years, and I haven't received a single citation for any violations! I have a large family, and I work alone to provide for them! I urge you to amend this law so that Ukrainians who arrived legally under the U4U (re-parole/TPS) program can renew their CDLs and work safely on the beautiful roads of the US!"
Abdullatif Mangal: I am an asylum seeker in the United States with lawful presence and an Employment Authorization Document (EAD). I legally obtained my Commercial Driver’s License under the previous rules, but now I am unable to renew it. This change has created extreme hardship for me and many other asylum seekers who are legally authorized to live and work in the U.S. Driving trucks is my only profession and the only way I can support my family. Preventing CDL renewals for people with lawful EADs punishes individuals who are following the law and contributing to the economy. I respectfully ask FMCSA to reconsider this rule and allow asylum seekers and parolees with valid EADs to renew their CDL until they receive permanent status. This would ensure road safety while allowing lawful drivers to continue working."
Anna Kryvoruchko: "I strongly oppose the proposed rule that seeks to restrict the ability of people who came to the United States through legal programs to work as commercial drivers. These individuals are just as much a part of our workforce as anyone else. They pay taxes, support the economy, take care of their families, and want to build an honest life in this country. Limiting their right to work in transportation will not make America’s roads safer. On the contrary, it will create additional problems and lead to a shortage of workers in such a critical industry."
Terry Burnside: "Do not do this. Ukraine needs our help and we need the workers...."
Denys Shvab: "It feels deeply unfair that, starting September 29, legal immigrants in the U.S. — truck drivers with work authorization, TPS, or programs like Uniting for Ukraine — are no longer able to renew their driver’s licenses once their work authorization expires. We are here legally. We work hard, pay taxes, and contribute to the economy of this country. Many of us are professional truck drivers who keep America’s supply chain moving — and right now, the trucking industry is facing a severe shortage of drivers. Instead of supporting those who are filling this gap, new restrictions are being placed that make it nearly impossible to continue working. The United States needs us. Without immigrant truck drivers, the supply chain crisis will only get worse. Please reconsider this policy — it hurts not just us, but the entire country."
Stoian Cherno: "I have a TPS status with my family, I got a commercial driver's license, I work responsibly, without violations, I pay taxes, I am the sole breadwinner in the family, my wife and I are expecting our second child, she does not work, we have a mortgage on our house and a truck, and this is our only source of income. I ask that you do not deprive us of the opportunity to renew our commercial licenses, as this will lead to tens of thousands of ruined lives, left without a livelihood!"
Vitalii Siromenko: "It is very concerning that these policies take away jobs from honest people who pay their taxes. Many of us work hard without cheating the system, and we rely on our jobs to support our families. People have children, families, responsibilities — how are we supposed to provide for them if our opportunities are taken away?"
Mahtab Singh: "Totally against that law because we have passed all the tests and got that license at 100% legal terms."
Gurinder Sekhon: "I have held my CDL from 10 years, and when I first applied, I provided all of my valid legal documents as required by law. I am a person with asylum and TPS, and my immigration status is fully legal and recognized by the U.S. government. However, this new rule harms me directly because I do not have a visa, even though I have complied with every requirement and proven my eligibility in the past. The implementation of this rule not only threatens my ability to continue working with dignity, but it also puts at risk the well-being of my family, who depend on my income. It is unfair that after four years of legally holding my CDL and contributing to this country, I am now being penalized for lacking a specific type of visa that was never required for obtaining or maintaining a CDL. I respectfully ask that you consider the reality of people like me, who have followed the law and proven our commitment to this country, and ensure that we are not excluded or punished under this new regulation."
Nata Sem: "I’m a trucking company owner. More than 50% of my drivers will lose their CDL’s according to this regulation. How would you suggest me to survive? Where should I find drivers with citizenship or green card to replace this employees quickly? Is that how new administration planned to support honest business?"
R2G L:ogistics: "I own a trucking company, I have drivers who came here legally under TPS and U4U visas, they paid $4000-$8000 depending on state for their CDL, they all had prior experience as commercial drivers in Europe. They all pay taxes, some taken out credit to buy cars, homes, put their kids in college all being supported by their CDL job. They all speak English and have had zero road incidents. They have very good mechanical knowledge of trucks and trailers. This law in a stroke of a pen has taken their livelihood away. They will lose their houses, cars, won’t be able to support their families. Not to mention that their CDL fee was a waste of time and thousands of dollars. When I go to local CDL school in search of drivers the school owner tells me that 95% of his American students are looking for local work, not OTR. I think FMCSA lives in a bubble, I’m not sure if they understand just how many OTR drivers are immigrants. This is not a popular job for USA citizens. You will create a huge shortage of OTR drivers and shipping rates will skyrocket. This will be very bad for price inflation for everything getting transported by a truck."
Roadking Freightline Inc.: "To measure a person’s capacity to operate a commercial motor vehicle by their immigration status, rather than by their skill and experience, is a profound failure of reason and justice. It presumes that citizenship carries with it some inherent ability to drive safely — an assumption that collapses under even the slightest scrutiny. Consider the contradiction: an individual who has spent years driving semi-trucks under a work permit is suddenly deemed less qualified than a citizen who has never touched the wheel of a Class A vehicle. What logic underpins this? Does a U.S. passport magically reduce the risk of accidents? Does it instill instinct, judgment, or the muscle memory built only through years on the road? Of course not. Safety is learned in the crucible of practice, not bestowed by political documents. If genuine concern for public safety were the motivation, the solution would be obvious: more rigorous training, stricter testing, and higher educational standards for all drivers — immigrant and citizen alike. Such measures would uplift the industry, honor its risks, and genuinely serve the common good. But this rule does none of that. Instead, it exposes itself as a political gesture, a policy of exclusion disguised as protection. It is not safety that is being safeguarded here, but a narrative of fear, tailored to the anxieties of a voting majority."
Daiyrbek Ismanaliev: "I run my own company with 10 trucks with 45k dollars of payments just for trucks and I am feeding my family and kids, I have a mortgage for 440k dollars, what are we going to do? I don’t know."
Adam Stringer: "There are some great drivers that do an awesome job who are waiting on green cards. Don’t take away people livlihood. More focus needs to be on the true problem in trucking. The double brokers and thieves that are stealing loads. By revoking so many CDLs the cost of everything will go up. This will destroy the middle class."
NFT Team LLC: "It's not fair when we followed all the laws, filed the I589 form, and complied with all the prescribed laws, legally obtained the right to work, studied in our state and got a CDL, completed an internship, have been driving for 2-3 years without breaking the rules, speak English, and now you want to decide our work rights! Where is democracy, where is freedom? We came to America to be protected! Not oppressed, so that we could feel freedom and start living in a just country! We pay taxes, maybe even more than those who have a passport, we work hard, all for the good of great America. You need to check those who don't live at the address, don't speak English, and don't pay taxes, and we, who pay taxes, are waiting for a decision to our case! It's not fair to deprive us of our jobs!"
Tred Line LLC: "As an American citizen, I am very ashamed (for) my good friends from Ukraine who have been working in the field of tracking in America for many years. I can only say good things about them, they are honest and hardworking people. We provided shelter to these families during a difficult time for them and it does not look very good that now our country is taking away their right to work. How does this look?"
Morgan Liu: "Please let legal EAD drivers keep working. We worked hard to earn our CDLs"
Tom Ryder: "While I understand the importance of maintaining the integrity of commercial driver’s licenses, I am concerned that the proposed rule may create unnecessary challenges for non-domiciled drivers who are legally authorized to work in the U.S. The process should focus on fair verification rather than adding more bureaucracy. Many foreign drivers play a vital role in the transportation industry, and new barriers could lead to driver shortages and affect the supply chain. I recommend finding a balanced approach that ensures safety without making it harder for qualified international drivers to obtain or renew their CDL."
Pedro Ballestero Ortiz: "I'm a DACA recipient. I was in the process to get my CDL but unfortunately with the new rule I wasn't able to finally get the job. I've been living here all my life more than 20 years. I have 3 kids and just trying to get a better life. I feel that it is not fair for us to not have the opportunity. if we have a legal work permit I hope they would change the rule so I can go back to my training process."
Daniel Ramirez: "It’s unfair that DACA recipients will not qualify for a CDL. We were brought here as children with zero fault of our own and now this new regulation will make it so we don’t qualify for a CDLl. We have a physical address in the USA. The USA is our home. Why take this privilege from us? I work for the county in California. My job requires a CDL and now I’ll loose this job due to this law . It’s not fair and I hope my comment help the secretary of transportation see that we are not criminals, and have to pass a background every 2 years to renew our statues."
Brian Mendes: "To call this final rule "restoring integrity" and referring to it as somehow making the roads safer is the opposite of what I think this rule will do. In New York state, and specifically in New York City, the lack of licensed bus drivers is an emergency. By preventing non-domiciled drivers from entering this sector after they have proven their ability by gaining the credential, will actually make the situation worse. There will be less bus drivers, leaving the existing force with extra routes and create more dangerous conditions for the students they transport. In our state and city, the language skills of many non-domiciled drivers is an asset. Taking the experienced ones off the road is a shame and is hard to explain by anyone concerned with safety. It is shortsighted and political. It will hurt both small business transportation companies and their many children and parents they transport. This sector is full of Republican voters. We know this is misguided. Please reconsider."
Viachesvlav Ulitka: "I would like to express my opinion on the new law. I am a political asylum seeker. For more than 6 years in America, I have not asked for any benefits from the government. I have paid my taxes, supported my wife and three children, who have successfully integrated into American society and are growing up with the understanding that they are members of this society. They respect the laws and traditions of America. I have achieved this by working diligently as a truck driver. I have followed all federal and local laws and obtained my CDL honestly. Thanks to my work, many people besides my family benefit. Gas stations, insurance companies, truck services, and others. All this time, I was confident that I was a law-abiding resident and an honest taxpayer, which allowed me to look forward to my future and that of my family with a sense of security, waiting for the immigration court. However, with the adoption of the new conditions for the Non-Domiciled CDL, many plans to support my family and opportunities for earning money for people in related professions who benefited indirectly from my work are crumbling. I hope that the provisions of this Act will be revised in relation to asylum seekers who still see America as a beacon for an honest and prosperous life. It was these immigrants who made America the greatest country, people who worked every day to contribute to the society in which they lived, and the society treated them with gratitude. I want to address the officials who have the power to determine the fate of thousands of law-abiding individuals who live in America. Please take into consideration the hopes of us, ordinary workers, who are trying to be useful to this country, expecting only the opportunity to live in safety and realize their human potential for the benefit of American society. We are not enemies. We are not criminals. We are not taking anyone's job, we are just doing our own. It is difficult and dangerous. But we are doing it. Professionally and honestly. Sincerely, an immigrant waiting for political asylum, a truck driver with 6 years of experience, a husband, a father of three children, and a taxpayer."
In Favor of the Rule
Steven Carson: "The recent rule and decision to crack down on non-domiciled CDL holders should be applauded. Not all CDL holders drive unsafe. The studies, statistics, and my own experiences do not lie. This is necessary, especially in California where I live, work, and drive. Most of the time I see an 18-wheeler passing me on the freeway or interstate, it is a non-domiciled CDL holder. Punjabis and others, from other countries just don't care about us. I wish this rule could be expanded and extended."
Blind Side Innovation: "We do not need to import folks to take American jobs from Americans. I have built a trucking company, which currently is worthless thanks to the actions of federal and state governments. Stop the madness. Kick these folks out. NOW.
Roger Carroll: "This law went from letting U.S. citizens getting a CDL in a state other than your residence to letting anyone with a pulse get a CDL. It has gotten out of control. I am completely for not giving non-domiciled, non-U.S. citizen a CDL"
Troy Throneberry: "I’ve been a CDL holder for over 30 years. I’ve owned trucks for 10 years. I have interacted extensively through my business through truck stops and every day tasks with many legal immigrants that come to America the right way ,get their CDL the right way, learn English even if they are not very good at speaking, they can read understand and communicate in English. Over the last 10 years or so I have noticed a distinct change in the type of person that I run into at shippers receivers and truck stops. They either do not speak English or refuse to speak English. They cannot follow simple communications and they have no understanding when you try and communicate with them about simple problems on their truck or trailer. This problem has been building for years, and I believe it is culminating in extremely dangerous situations where foreigners who do not qualify to obtain a CDL in the United States are being given them under fraudulent circumstances. Since they have broken the law many times to get here and to obtain work they have no problem breaking the many laws that regulate safe and practical truck driving they disregard signage they disregard instruction they disregard safety this needs to stop now. I don’t have the answer on how to fix this and I would prefer that good, well-meaning legal immigrants not be swept up in the frenzy to remove all non-domicile CDL holders, but if that’s what we need to do to reset the system to make it safer to make it better for the general public than so be it."
Alice Jez: "Thank you Mr Duffy for making this emergency ruling!! I have been a driver for 21 years now and was considering leaving driving because our roads have been so unsafe due to these people. Since the ruling went into effect each week the roads are improving. These drivers do not have proper training, they don’t understand English and they drive these trucks like cars, speeding, tailgating, blindly following their GPS. It’s frustrating at shipper offices and truck stops because they don’t understand English. States like California hand non-domiciled CDLs out like candy, yet those who do things the right way have to pay thousands for school, do all the testing and comply with the rules set for us but the foreigners get a free pass and cheat the system with their ghost driver ELD systems, not filing IFTA, failing to be properly insured and operating under shady foreign based companies. Rates are undercut and lives at risk. Please make having a CDL only for citizens or green card holders. Make people do things the right way and follow the guidelines we had been following for many years before this invasion into this industry."
James Stephens: "I would think that keeping non-citizens from operating a commercial vehicle on public roads would be a given from a road safety perspective. I have come to understand that the use of the non-domiciled driver is a key part of the foreign owned trucking company’s ability to operate. They lease trucks to drivers that can be coerced into running illegally, charge them a premium for equipment, liability insurance, fuel and administrative fees, leaving the driver with pennies on the dollar and, if the driver gets in trouble, they can cut them loose and hire another driver from the same pool. If the problem created by the driver is too big to dodge, they cease operations, reincarnate as a new carrier, and keep doing the same thing as before. It’s the business model of using these dangerous drivers to make a quick buck and the understanding that eventually the carrier will have to reincarnate several times to avoid accountability for accidents that has allowed so many of these companies to expand rapidly within the last couple of years. By removing this key factor, the non-domiciled driver, from the carriers that reap the most benefits from them they will have to either adapt and become a compliant and safe carrier or be driven out of the industry."
Tracy Carter: My husband is a truck driver and we applaud FMCSA for their ruling on non domiciled drivers. They have ruined rates for us American truckers plus they can't speak english or obey our laws. Tired of the truck stops being littered with urine bottles and them littering all over lots. They wash their nasty feet in the bathrooms while other truckers are trying to use the bathrooms. Total disgrace. Yall need to look into these illegal brokers as well. Any major company hiring these illegals should be fined or totally put of of business. Y'all need to think of the American truck driver first!"
Shane Guth: "I feel that our nation is in extreme danger with states offering CDLs to non-citizens of the US for different reasons. Not only do they hurt the economy with cheap labor and without a full understanding of English and our laws and safety regulations. It puts, in my opinion, the public at risk. Until we can get a handle on how many illegal or fake CDL licenses are out there I totally support putting a pause on non-domicile CDLs."
Joel Ramsey: "I for one, am totally against any foreigner operating a large commercial vehicle. They learned whereever they're from with their country's "unwritten rules of the road", that simply can't be ran here because we as Americans basically follow the real rules. Just watch a video from any other country at how they drive and it will be clear."
Michael Jenkins: "Non-domicile CDLs should never be issued to anyone who cannot read, write, or competently speak the English language. This includes not being able to take and pass the written and computerized testing without an interpreter. All phones and any earbudy type devices should be made to be left outside the testing facility. As a Class A CDL holder, my safety and the safety of those around me are of utmost importance to me. Being able to read write, and speak the English language is extremely important in the transportation and logistics industry."
William Cheney: "As a 33-year Class A CDL holder. I support the emergency ruling, and I support its being made permanent."
Thomas Banks: "Non-domiciled CDL issuance needs to stop. The program is rife for abuse (as evidenced by states like California) which is a massive safety risk and a way for predatory companies to artificially depress freight rates, hurting American workers."
James Drudge: "I'm not sure maintaining a residence outside the U.S. makes someone a bad driver, but the inability to speak and more importantly read English proficiently is absolutely a public safety issue and the two seem to have a strong correlation. I stress the ability to read English because drivers must be able to read and comprehend signage quickly, including electronic signage that isn't static and easily recognizable based on shape and color. That said, this emergency rule, regarding non-domiciled drivers makes sense and I support it."
Ron Herbst: "Get these non domicile drivers off the road and out of this country please."
Erich Waples: "No non-US citizen should be allowed to possess a CDL in the United States and that includes green card holders. Green card holders should only be allowed to be in this country if they get their US citizenship within ten years of getting here, or they should be deported. All CDL holders in this country should be US citizens and they should be proficient in the English language. All the work visas for foreign drivers should be one hundred percent pulled."
