Trucking coalition says 194,000 non-domiciled CDLs affected by carrier reforms

Cross-border trucking reforms

Among the report’s biggest areas of progress is what TAEC calls “Cross-Border Workforce Integrity.”

According to the report, federal agencies expanded enforcement of English-language proficiency requirements and cabotage restrictions in border regions while increasing coordination with U.S. Customs and Border Protection. 

TAEC said those efforts resulted in approximately 3,200 visa revocations tied to cabotage enforcement, one of the report’s most notable statistics.

Cabotage laws generally prohibit foreign motor carriers from transporting domestic freight between two U.S. points except under limited circumstances.

The report also highlights increased enforcement activity targeting unauthorized commercial operations in border regions, stating that stronger oversight is helping create a more level competitive environment for trucking companies that comply with federal regulations.

Non-domiciled CDL reforms

TAEC also pointed to significant progress involving non-domiciled commercial driver’s licenses, an issue that has become one of the most closely watched regulatory developments affecting the trucking industry.

The report estimates that more than 194,000 existing non-domiciled CDL holders—roughly 97% of current license holders—will eventually become ineligible under the new federal eligibility requirements, with some states already revoking improperly issued licenses.

TAEC also said all 50 states have undergone audits of their CDL programs and non-domiciled CDL issuance as regulators work to improve oversight and ensure licenses are issued only to qualified applicants.

The group’s original action plan recommended restricting eligibility for non-domiciled CDLs, strengthening verification of immigration and work authorization documents, improving information sharing among federal agencies and states, and increasing enforcement against fraudulent licensing practices.

Many of the milestones highlighted in TAEC’s report—including FMCSA’s new non-domiciled CDL eligibility rule, increased English-language enforcement, visa revocations tied to cabotage violations, and state crackdowns on CDL fraud—have unfolded over the past year through a series of regulatory actions covered by FreightWaves. 

The report represents one of the first industry efforts to compile those initiatives into a single assessment of their collective impact.

Related: Truck enforcement sweeps hit 32 drivers, 45 vehicles across US

Industry says reforms are producing measurable results

The report notes that more than 20 states have enacted or proposed legislation addressing CDL integrity, English-language proficiency, non-domiciled CDL oversight, cargo theft and commercial driver qualifications, while additional states have updated enforcement policies to align with recent federal initiatives.

FMCSA Administrator Derek Barrs said the agency remains focused on removing unsafe operators while supporting compliant carriers.

“The overwhelming majority of motor carriers and professional drivers operate safely and responsibly. Our responsibility is to support those operators by identifying bad actors, enforcing the law and closing gaps that threaten highway safety and the integrity of the trucking industry,” Barrs said in a statement.

TAEC: One year of trucking enforcement by the numbers

Why it matters: The report underscores how rapidly evolving federal and state enforcement policies are changing the regulatory landscape for cross-border trucking, particularly for non-domiciled CDL holders and international carriers operating in the United States.