CDL Crackdown: What Brokers, Shippers, and 3PLs Need to Know
In response to several fatal crashes and a nationwide audit that uncovered widespread licensing irregularities, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has implemented sweeping restrictions on who can hold a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL).
The new rules target non-domiciled CDL holders—largely non-U.S. citizens with temporary immigration status—and are having a significant impact across the freight and logistics industry.
This post breaks down what’s happening, who is affected, and how risk management platforms like Indemni can help brokers and shippers stay compliant in this shifting regulatory landscape.
Why the Crackdown Now?
In 2025, a series of deadly truck accidents drew national scrutiny. One involved a driver who had failed the CDL test 10 times before receiving a license, then caused a crash that killed three people. Another high-profile case involved a recently licensed asylum seeker behind the wheel of a fatal accident in California.
Amid growing public pressure, the DOT launched a federal audit that found six states—including California, Texas, and New Jersey—had issued thousands of non-domiciled CDLs in violation of federal rules. In some cases, licenses were granted to individuals without valid work authorization or allowed to remain active long after a visa had expired.
Officials labeled it a “two-front crisis” threatening public safety and the integrity of commercial licensing.
Who Can (and Can’t) Drive Under the New Rules
The emergency rule, issued in September 2025, dramatically limits who is eligible to hold a CDL unless they are a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
✅ Still Eligible
Foreign workers on short-term H-2A (agricultural), H-2B (non-agricultural), or E-2 (treaty investor) visas
Canadian and Mexican drivers, under longstanding international reciprocity agreements
❌ Now Ineligible
DACA recipients, asylum seekers, refugees, TPS holders, and others with temporary work authorization
Anyone whose immigration status is not directly employment-based
Drivers with expired visas or work permits
Even drivers who have safely operated trucks for over a decade—including many who arrived as minors or through humanitarian programs—are now barred from renewing or holding CDLs unless they fall into the narrow visa exceptions.
The FMCSA estimates nearly 200,000 commercial drivers will be affected.
State-Level Failures and the “No Name Given” Controversy
The audit revealed major compliance issues in several states:
California issued CDLs valid until 2030 for drivers whose immigration documents expired in 2026.
Texas and South Dakota were found to have loose expiration and identity matching procedures.
New Jersey came under fire for previously allowing fraudulent testing schemes.
A particularly viral case involved a CDL issued in New York to an Indian national named “Anmol.” Because he has only one legal name, his license displayed “No Name Given Anmol,” sparking outrage and claims of identity fraud.
In fact, the license was legitimate, and the “No Name Given” field was a standardized placeholder. But the optics fueled public distrust and added momentum to the crackdown.
What This Means for Brokers, Shippers, and 3PLs
For logistics stakeholders, the fallout is already being felt:
Reduced driver pool: With nearly 200,000 drivers at risk of losing their CDLs, capacity constraints could tighten—particularly in markets that relied heavily on immigrant labor.
Increased liability exposure: If a broker or shipper contracts a driver whose CDL is later found invalid due to immigration status, they could face legal or insurance consequences.
Stricter shipper requirements: Major freight clients, including the U.S. Postal Service, are reportedly blocking the use of non-domiciled drivers altogether to avoid compliance risks.
There is also growing pressure from insurers for brokers and carriers to verify the licensing and work eligibility of every driver they contract.
When Should Non-Domiciled Drivers Be Allowed?
Most industry experts agree that a non-citizen driver should be allowed to work if they:
Hold valid, verifiable work authorization
Pass the same CDL testing and training as domestic drivers
Can speak and read English
Have a clean driving record
At the same time, drivers without proper documentation, with expired visas, or who cannot meet regulatory testing standards should not be operating commercial vehicles.
The new rule, however, applies a blanket ban to many qualified, safe drivers based solely on their immigration classification.
How Indemni Helps: Real-Time CDL and Domicile Verification
With compliance risks rising, brokers and shippers need a solution that can automatically verify every driver’s eligibility before a load is assigned.
That’s where Indemni comes in.
Our platform validates the legitimacy of any CDL in real time, checking:
Whether the license is active, suspended, or expired
If the driver’s name and credentials match government databases
Whether the license is domiciled or non-domiciled
If a driver’s CDL is no longer valid, or if their domiciled status raises compliance flags, Indemni can block them from being assigned a load—preventing exposure to regulatory fines or claims.
Shippers and brokers use Indemni to ensure every driver meets the latest federal and state standards without manually reviewing every single licensing document.
In a post-crackdown world, this automated compliance layer is no longer a nice-to-have. It’s essential.
Final Thoughts
The CDL crackdown marks a major shift in how the federal government regulates who can drive commercial trucks. While the policy is framed around safety, it has also created substantial uncertainty and disruption for many long-standing drivers and the companies that depend on them.
For brokers, shippers, and 3PLs, the key takeaway is clear: know who’s behind the wheel.
Verifying license validity and domicile status is no longer optional. It’s now central to staying compliant and protecting your bottom line.
With Indemni, you can manage this risk efficiently, proactively, and with confidence.
