Ohio Joins States Rewriting Who Can Drive America's Trucks
Summary
Ohio has started to restrict or take away commercial driving licenses (CDLs) from about 1,200 foreign-born truck drivers because their documents no longer meet new federal rules. This is part of a larger national effort that includes stricter rules about which drivers can get or keep these licenses, focusing on road safety and proper immigration status.Key Facts
- Ohio is reviewing about 5,000 commercial driver's licenses as part of a federal audit.
- Around 1,200 drivers in Ohio have had their licenses downgraded due to not meeting new federal requirements.
- New federal rules, started in 2025 and finalized in 2026, limit CDLs for non-permanent residents to certain visa types like H-2A, H-2B, and E-2.
- The U.S. Department of Transportation conducted a nationwide audit finding some states had issued licenses to ineligible drivers or allowed expired licenses.
- Other states like Oregon, Pennsylvania, Colorado, Washington, Texas, and California have paused or restricted issuing or renewing non-domiciled CDLs.
- Texas added English proficiency checks for commercial driver applicants as part of stricter enforcement.
- These changes aim to improve roadway safety and ensure drivers have proper legal status to work in the U.S.
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