New Rules for Truck Drivers Who Aren't U.S. Citizens
- Anthony
- Oct 3
- 4 min read
A big new rule for some truck drivers started on September 29, 2025. This rule is for drivers who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents and have a special license to drive big trucks.
It affects about 200,000 drivers. The government agency in charge, called the FMCSA, made it much harder for these drivers to get or renew their special license.
This blog will explain, in simple terms, why this happened, what the new rules are, and what this means for drivers and the companies they work for.
Why Did This Happen So Fast?
The government made this change so quickly because it saw two big problems that it called an "imminent hazard to public safety".
There were several serious and deadly truck crashes in 2025 involving drivers with these special licenses.
The government believed the old rules were "dangerously permissive," meaning they were too easy and allowed people who weren't qualified to get behind the wheel of a huge truck.
The government checked up on the state offices that issue these licenses, like the DMV. It found that many states were not following the rules correctly and were giving licenses to drivers who should not have received them.
What Are the New Rules?
The new rules change who can get a license, what papers they need, and how they
renew it.
Who Can Get a License Now?
Before, many people who were allowed to work in the U.S. could get this special truck driving license.
Now, only people with three specific types of work visas can get one:
H-2A visa: For farm workers who are here for a season.
H-2B visa: For other temporary workers.
E-2 visa: For people from certain countries who invest in a U.S. business.
This means that just having a work permit (an Employment Authorization Document or EAD) is no longer enough. People who are here as refugees, asylees, or under DACA are now not able to get these licenses.
What Papers Do You Need?
To get or renew a license, drivers must now show two main things:
A passport from their home country that has not expired.
A Form I-94 Arrival/Departure Record that has not expired and shows they have one of the three approved visas.
How Are Renewals Different?
Renewing a license is also much stricter.
New Check: The DMV must now use a federal computer system called SAVE to check that the driver's papers are real and that they are in the country legally.
In-Person Only: Drivers must show up in person at the DMV every year to renew. They cannot do it online or by mail anymore.
New Expiration Date: The license will now expire when the driver's I-94 form expires, or in one year, whichever comes first. This makes sure a driver cannot keep their license if they are no longer allowed to be in the U.S.
What This Means for Drivers and Companies
This new rule is a big deal for current drivers and the companies that hire them.
For the 200,000 Current Drivers
If you are one of the 200,000 drivers with this special license, your license is still good until it expires.
However, when it's time to renew, you will have to meet the new, much stricter rules.
The government expects that most of these drivers will not be able to renew their licenses over the next two years and will have to stop driving big trucks.
For Trucking Companies
Trucking companies must now be much more careful. They need to check the files of all their drivers to see who has this special license.
They also have to change how they hire new people to make sure every new driver has the exact right visa and papers that the new rule requires.
What Happens Next?
Because this is an emergency rule, things are moving fast. Here is a look at what state DMVs are doing right now, and how you can make your voice heard.
State DMVs Are on Pause
The government has ordered all states to immediately stop giving out these special licenses until they can follow all the new rules.
States like Texas and Pennsylvania have already announced they are pausing these services.
This means no new licenses and no renewals until the DMVs have updated their systems.
You Can Share Your Opinion
Even though this rule started right away, the government is asking for people's opinions.
There is a 60-day public comment period that ends on November 28, 2025. If you want to give feedback, you can do so on the official government website for rules, under Docket No. FMCSA-2025-0622.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is a non-domiciled CDL?
It is a special commercial driver's license for people who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents but are legally in the country for work. It allows them to drive large trucks.
2. Why did the rules change so suddenly?
The government called it a "national emergency" because of recent deadly crashes and because a nationwide check found that states were improperly giving out these licenses.
3. Who can get a non-domiciled CDL now?
Only people with one of three specific work visas can get a license: H-2A (farm workers), H-2B (other temporary workers), or E-2 (investors). People with other statuses, like refugees or DACA recipients, are no longer eligible.
4. I have a work permit (EAD). Can I still get a non-domiciled CDL?
No. A work permit (EAD) by itself is no longer enough to get this license. You must have one of the three specific visas (H-2A, H-2B, or E-2).
5. I already have a non-domiciled CDL. Is it still valid?
Yes, your license is still valid until it expires. However, you will not be able to renew it unless you meet the new, stricter visa requirements.
6. What new documents do I need to show at the DMV?
You must now show an unexpired foreign passport and an unexpired Form I-94/94A that proves you have one of the three approved visas.
7. Can I still renew my license online or by mail?
No. All renewals must now be done in person at the DMV. Online and mail-in renewals are no longer allowed.
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