Commercial Trucking and Licensing

A nationwide FMCSA audit found widespread improper issuance of non‑domiciled commercial driver’s licenses, with California confronting roughly 17,000–20,000 problematic CDLs and North Carolina found to have 54% of reviewed non‑domiciled licenses issued unlawfully; DOT has ordered affected states to pause issuance, identify and revoke noncompliant licenses, reissue those that can be corrected, and complete internal audits or face federal funding cuts (North Carolina was warned of nearly $50 million withheld; California has had about $200 million frozen). Federal officials, including Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and FMCSA Administrator Derek Barrs, tied the crackdown to safety concerns after fatal crashes and alleged “rampant fraud” at CDL mills, while immigrant groups have filed lawsuits challenging mass cancellations and states have delayed revocations to set up remedies.