Transportation Department tightens non-citizen truck driver rules after fatal crash in Florida

AP via ABC News ^ | 09/26/2025 | JOSH FUNK

[DFG]

The Transportation Department will immediately tighten up the requirements for non-citizens to get commercial drivers licenses after three fatal crashes this year that officials say were caused by immigrant truck drivers who never should have received licenses.

The nationwide audit of these licenses began after a fatal U-turn crash in Florida that killed two people caused by a truck driver who officials said was in the country illegally. But Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said fatal crashes caused by truck drivers who shouldn’t have had licenses were also found in Texas and Alabama earlier this year.

Duffy also threatened to revoke $160 million in federal funding for California because investigators found that one in four of the 145 commercial drivers licenses for non-citizens issued since June that they reviewed should have never been issued under the current rules. That state has 30 days to audit its program and come up with a plan to comply or it will lose funding.

Duffy said the current rules aren’t strict enough and a number of states aren’t following them. The audit found licenses that were issued improperly in California, Colorado, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Texas, and Washington.

“We have a government system designed to keep American families on the road safe. But that system has been compromised,” Duffy said.

Previously, Duffy threatened to pull some federal funding from California, Washington and New Mexico for failing to enforce English proficiency requirements for truckers that went into effect this summer. The Transportation Department is still reviewing the responses from those states.

All states must pause issuing commercial drivers licenses to non-citizens until they can comply with the new rules.

[GOPJ]

Duffy also threatened to revoke $160 million in federal funding for California because investigators found that one in four of the 145 commercial drivers licenses for non-citizens issued since June that they reviewed should have never been issued under the current rules.

Every day in every way California sucks. Gavin must be so proud - we need to send him another MAGA hat.

[Tell It Right]

CDL's should have these new requirements.

1. Must speak English.
2. Must pass a driver's test that's not 3rd world style driving.
3. Must pass a swim test.
4. When asked "Check all photos of women above the age of consent" he can't pick ones as low as 12.

Those would probably solve 99% of the problems we're facing today.

[T.B. Yoits]

These drivers need to be tied to the front of vehicles "Road Warrior" style back and forth between their trial hearings.

[lightman]

Also MUST know that there are 5280 feet per mile since the DOT insists on posting construction and other warning signs as “1000 feet” etc even though most modern odometers display tenths of a mile.

“2/10” mile would make better sense.

[jughandle]

Standards are lower for foreigners to get a CDL than they are for citizens?? What dolt came up with that?

[Tell It Right]

Standards are lower for foreigners to get a CDL than they are for citizens?? What dolt came up with that?

No doubt the trucking companies wanting cheap labor.

[Buffalo Bob]

These drivers need to be tied to the front of vehicles "Road Warrior" style back and forth between their trial hearings.

The Mell Gibson Road Warrior movie never grows old for me. Scene to scene it is one the best cinematic achievements ever.

The scene where those two poor hostages meet their fate is terrifying. The wind blows the bags off their heads 2 seconds before their vehicle crashes into another - killing them instantly.

[Vaduz]

DHS: Biden-Era Illegal Alien Truck Driver from India Cripples 5-Year-Old Girl in California.

Breitbart 9/26/25

[deport]

issued improperly in California, Colorado, Pennsylvania,
South Dakota, Texas, and Washington.

****************

Got to keep dem wheels a rolling with what ever doggie
you can find. Round ‘em up, ride ‘em in and and move
the merchandize on down the line.

[gildafarrell]

Past time for DOT to make rules more stringent. #1 rule should be all drivers must read, write and understand English comprehensively in order to obey the rules of the road.

[gitmo]

I read a post somewhere from a driver who said when he stops at weigh-stations they now have him read aloud from a sheet of paper they handed him, then he has to explain what it means.

[Mr Radical]

1. The fatal U-turn crash in Florida killed three people not two.
2. Before they tighten up the requirements they should start by simply applying the existing rules - and rescind the licenses that were issued improperly in states such Kalifornia.