Federal CDL policies linked to thousands of lost trucking jobs

Federal government measures regarding CDLs and English-language proficiency requirements have resulted in the loss of thousands of jobs in the trucking industry.

Federal government measures regarding commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs) for non-domiciled individuals and English-language proficiency requirements have resulted in the loss of thousands of jobs in the trucking industry. According to the most recent federal report, nearly 7,000 positions were eliminated in the sector in September—the largest monthly decline in more than a year, since May 2024.

Although the total number of trucking jobs has stabilized, this year has been marked by significant instability in business conditions, caused in part by the implementation of new tariffs. Throughout 2025, the industry has experienced notable fluctuations, and data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics confirms that September was one of the most damaging months for the sector.

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.

Is there an immediate impact?

The immediate impact of the FMCSA’s interim final rule on employment in the trucking sector may never be fully known, LandLine reported. The employment report does not specify the reasons behind job losses in the industry; however, there is a clear connection between the decline in trucking jobs and President Donald Trump’s push to tighten control over truck drivers. Additionally, due to the government shutdown, there will be no October employment report, meaning analysts will need to fill in the missing data in the November report, which will be released in mid-December.