Duffy’s halt of non-domiciled CDLs could wipe out illegal operators Trucking bankrupcties could surge in coming months

Freight Waves ^ | October 5, 2025 | Craig Fuller

[xxqqzz]

On September 26, 2025, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy announced an emergency order requiring states to immediately stop issuing or renewing non-domiciled commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs). This directive ends a widespread practice in many states of issuing CDLs to non-citizens without employment-based visas or extending them well beyond the expiration of holders’ work visas.

Over the past few years, motor carriers have increasingly hired drivers with non-domiciled CDLs. These drivers have been attractive hires because they often accept wages below those of their American counterparts and are willing to violate hours-of-service (HOS) rules without fear of repercussions.

Many non-domiciled CDL holders are individuals who might otherwise be homeless and are prepared to live in their trucks, as living conditions in their home countries are often far worse than those in a truck cab. A significant number of these drivers hail from Eastern Europe or the Indian subcontinent.

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TOPICS: Business/Economy; Crime/Corruption; Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; Government; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: aliens; trucking; unqualifieddrivers

[xxqqzz]

Indicates trucking companies, often owned by people from the country they are hiring, use a highly effective business model. Hire illegal alien drivers, pay them below standard rates, but have them work illegally long hours. That way shipping time is reduced. Drivers live in their trucks, reducing costs. Article indicates many of these firms will be forced out of business if prevented from violating laws on hiring people legally in the country and on how many hours drivers can work in a day.

I don't see what can go wrong having drivers who didn't really pass the CDL test driving 16 hours a day.

Sad about those trucking companies going out of business, and some of the illegal truck drivers maybe becoming homeless.

[CFW]

A few years ago when truck drivers were in high demand, foreigners started trucking companies (where did they get the money?) and hired illegal aliens as drivers. They were able to start undercutting American trucking companies by charging less for each load.

If the CDLs for illegal aliens are wiped out there will be a short term shortage of truckers but they will soon be replaced by American trucking companies and American drivers.

[Tell It Right]

Sad about those trucking companies going out of business, and some of the illegal truck drivers maybe becoming homeless.

They can be homeless back in their old countries. Maybe it'll reduce the instances of truckers doing open defecation like what's common in 3rd world countries.

https://www.nbcpalmsprings.com/2019/10/30/chp-says-officers-having-to-waste-time-citing-truckers-for-leaving-poop-on-roadways

[Dave911]

Uh, they should go out of business. I’m sick of paying to play by the rules and having these scumbags cut corners and endanger everyone at innocent people’s expense.

[ChildOfThe60s]

trucking companies, often owned by people from the country they are hiring

Might go bankrupt? Works for me. I voted for it. They are killing the companies and drivers that are following the law. Which never seems to matter in the never ending stream of sob stories lamenting the prospects of illegals under the Trump administration.

[telescope115]

I’m confused- Sean Duffy is Sec. of Trans AND NASA administrator?

[TheThirdRuffian]

Yep.

[griswold3]

What? You don’t think he can multitask? He has nine kids!!!

[Maskot]

Not sad at all. Seeeee ya! I live in Florida and we recently had n an illegal trucker (sheikh) make an illegal Uturn on the turnpike and wipe out three other illegals. Our media won’t tell you about those three that died because apparently they don’t matter… They matter to their families

However, if any trucking company is employing illegals, they gotta go

[mikey_hates_everything]

Tough. Those companies can sell their assets at pennies on the dollar to American ones that are startups or have managed to remain after all of that cheating.

[servo1969]

If your business is only making a profit because you hire illegal aliens, well, all I can say is F U and your business.

[DIRTYSECRET]

I’m 70. Sounds like some employer just may need my ass, at least for a little while. Should I(we) step up and make ourselves available? I’d do it for the team(Trump).

[gbunch]

Here's that famous picture showing how I (and I'm sure most Freepers) care about the plight of these scumbags:

[Drew68]

I've started playing the game "spot the white semi driver" during my drive-time commute.

I'm about 0 for 100 now.

[fruser1]

I’m surprised anyone still’s willing to be a trucker given the crap they have to go through.

I know one who did it in an on-again, off-again basis.

The last gig he had, they had cameras in the cab with an operator on the other side of the wire ready to ping the driver for anything they thought looked funny.

He said screw it and said never again to CDL. Back to merchant marine for him.

[Dan Zachary]

these drivers hail from Eastern Europe or the Indian subcontinent

Where I live it is Somalians.

[CFW]

“I’m confused- Sean Duffy is Sec. of Trans AND NASA administrator?”

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Apparently, all Trump’s cabinet members and appointees have two or three jobs. Busy..busy...busy they are!

[Does so]

“They can be homeless back in their old countries”.
.
A major doper from Ukraine parents drove for some crooked outfit in Springfield, MA.

First he flipped an 18-wheeler in Texas, crashed another in Connecticut then, one morning, swung an empty open car-hauler across a single lane in Randolph, New Hampshire. After a morning dose of heroin, he rounded a curve and lost control of his rig.

That error killed SEVEN former Marine bikers. (!)

Worse, a jury found him “NOT GUILTY!

[Does so]

“we recently had n an illegal trucker (sheikh) [sic] make an illegal Uturn”
.
“Singh”, as in, “Ive got a “Singhing” feeling”.

[Reddy]

My dad was a driver until his mid 80s, so you are just a young whipper snapper.