Federal CDL policies linked to thousands of lost trucking jobs

Trucking industry affected by CDL regulations and English-language proficiency requirements

The final rule issued by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) on non-domiciled commercial driver’s licenses and drivers who fail to meet English-proficiency requirements was published at the end of September, although stricter inspections had already begun in August. The regulation projected the elimination of nearly 200,000 non-domiciled CDLs, which would have a drastic impact on employment within the industry.

The industry began facing challenges in May, when Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced that the Department of Transportation would begin enforcing out-of-service orders for violations related to English-language proficiency. Since then, numerous such orders have been issued.

In recent months, raids have been carried out that have left hundreds of drivers out of service. In November alone, 177 truckers were removed from the roads for lacking proper legal documentation, in operations conducted in Indiana and, most recently, in Texas.

“When illegal immigrants break the law and drive illegally on our roads, they endanger the lives of countless Americans,” said Texas Governor Greg Abbott.

This mindset has prevailed among authorities in recent months, driving an increase in raids and inspections related to English-language proficiency and non-domiciled CDLs. As a result, the trucking industry has experienced an even greater loss of workers.