Posted on 09/28/2025 4:04:19 AM PDT by xxqqzz
A major shift in trucking safety rules is underway and it could change how California truck accident cases are fought and won. The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) have announced an emergency CDL new law restricting who can hold a commercial driver’s license (CDL) if they are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents. These changes came after multiple deadly crashes and a federal audit that found California issued thousands of licenses in violation of safety standards.
For anyone hurt in a truck crash, this isn’t just a policy update. It’s new legal ground that can affect fault, insurance payouts, and the strength of a personal injury claim.
What changed in the CDL new law The emergency rule, effective September 29, 2025, forces states to pause issuing “non-domiciled” CDLs — licenses for foreign nationals — until they meet stricter federal standards. Under the new requirements, drivers must:
Present an unexpired foreign passport and Form I-94 linked to specific work visas (H-2A, H-2B, or E-2). Pass a mandatory federal immigration status check using the Department of Homeland Security’s SAVE system. Renew in person each year and comply with tougher recordkeeping. Previously, many drivers qualified with only an employment authorization card or older paperwork. According to FMCSA, this leniency allowed unqualified drivers to operate 80,000-pound vehicles across the country. California was singled out for especially poor oversight, about one in four non-domiciled CDLs reviewed this year were issued improperly, sometimes valid long after the driver’s legal work status expired.
(Excerpt) Read more at bojatlaw.com ...
Article mentions several accidents involving illegal alien truck drivers. This includes a June 2025 accident involving a Hispanic semi driver in Texas who fell asleep at the wheel, and killed 5 people. Trucking company managers were also indicted for falsifying his records.
Hopefully, these new regulations will reduce the problems of illegal alien drivers who didn't really pass the commercial drivers exam.
In my former life I investigated a lot of crashes involving trucks.
The vast majority were the smaller vehicles fault.
How about printing the application forms and written test only in English. That alone would solve much of the problem
I think the commercial drivers license test is in English, but they pay off people at the DMV to give them licenses without taking the exam.
I think the commercial drivers license test is in English, but they pay off people at the DMV to give them licenses without taking the exam.
>> Truck accidents are good for personal injury lawyers
... and if you doubt that, the shyster billboards that line the highways in major burgs (e.g. Houston) are a constant reminder...
“Pusch and Nguyen! We PUSH, you WIN!”
gag me
This situation should be delcared a national emergency and those licenses immediately revoked...like, right now! Those caught driving with em should be immediately arrested and deported. Those morons issuing such licenses need to be held accountable in a very serious way.
Happened Friday night. Driver of the truck still not ID'd
3 Cass City residents killed, 5 hurt after semi runs stop sign in Tuscola County
Something to note about the above report: It was written by the rag's assistant editor. Does he normally help out with MVA reporting, or was there a different reason for why he was tasked with the write-up of this accident?
I don’t understand how they get insurance breaking all those rules. It should be bad for the defense that everything was illegal. Don’t trucks have to have close to $1 million limits of liability? They could also go after the trucking company’s assets.
I don’t understand how they get insurance breaking all those rules. It should be bad for the defense that everything was illegal. Don’t trucks have to have close to $1 million limits of liability? They could also go after the trucking company’s assets.
Great idea!
Apparently aliens with illegally issued CDLs are working hard to upend that statistic.
Riiiiight...
Or they pay a ringer to take the written test for them.
They'd be much better off just taking a crash course.
I think it’s USC 8 Section 1234, which provides that if an illegal alien kills someone, the person who hired him is subject to life in prison.
I think it’s USC 8 Section 1234, which provides that if an illegal alien kills someone, the person who hired him is subject to life in prison.
That family is sort of well-known from reality TV. The article claims the truck driver was a “Florida native” and he has not been identified because not yet arraigned.
No doubt there was some bribery going on, but I also believe foreigners have gotten themselves employed in key bureaucratic roles where they can “help” each other.
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