USPS’s Attempt to Ban Immigrant Truck Drivers Backfires

The recent announcement by U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy has triggered significant upheaval in the trucking industry. On September 29, 2025, a new emergency interim final rule was issued by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). This rule aims to restrict non-domiciled Commercial Driver’s Licenses (CDLs), which have been the subject of widespread abuse, particularly among immigrant drivers.

New Regulations on Non-Domiciled CDLs

This emergency rule requires states to stop issuing new non-domiciled CDLs immediately. However, there is a two-year phase-out period before all existing non-domiciled CDLs will become invalid. These licenses were originally created in 2017 to allow drivers residing in one state to obtain a license in another state. Unfortunately, they have been misused to issue licenses to non-U.S. residents often lacking proper work permits.

• At least 200,000 non-domiciled CDLs have been issued.
• Over 25% of these licenses were improperly granted in California.

In 2019, FMCSA issued guidance that allowed foreign drivers with specific documentation to acquire these licenses. However, a lack of verification by states has led to fraud concerns and raised safety issues.

USPS’s Policy Change and Its Impact

In an attempt to align with evolving federal guidelines on immigration and transportation, the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) recently banned the loading of trailers utilizing drivers with non-domiciled CDLs. This policy aimed to enhance safety across its operations but resulted in immediate disruptions. Several加载 were canceled, leading to missed deliveries and delays.

Recognizing the critical role these drivers play in operations, USPS quickly reversed the ban. Pete Routsolias, USPS SVP of Logistics, acknowledged the magnitude of the dependency on non-domiciled drivers. He stated, “We didn’t understand the magnitude of how many people were using non-domiciled CDLs.”

Key Insights on Freight Capacity

Since the FMCSA allowed foreign drivers to obtain non-domiciled CDLs in March 2019, more than 200,000 licenses have been issued. Simultaneously, the trucking industry has seen an influx of over 310,000 new trucks. This surge has resulted in excessive trucking capacity, contributing to what is referred to as the Great Freight Recession, which began in March 2022 and continues to affect the market severely.

• The elimination of non-domiciled CDLs could remove over 5% of the total truckload capacity.
• New policies, such as English Language Proficiency (ELP) rules, may further tighten capacity in the near future.

An insurance executive noted that up to 10% of truck drivers could fail an English proficiency test, adding another layer of complexity to the situation. With increased regulatory pressure, the potential for a significant capacity crunch in the trucking industry grows.

As these changes unfold, the long-term future of trucking in the U.S. may be at a crucial juncture. Stakeholders must adapt quickly to navigate the evolving regulatory landscape and its implications for supply chains nationwide.