The U.S. Department of Transportation has issued an emergency final rule that restricts the ability of non-citizens to obtain a commercial driver’s licence (CDL), potentially resulting in the removal of up to 194,000 drivers from U.S. highways. (Screen grab)Duffy said during a Sept. 26 press conference that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has identified at least five fatal crashes involving non-domiciled CDL holders so far in 2025. The new rule only allows noncitizen drivers with H-2a, H-2b or E-2 visas to receive a CDL. DOT downplays rule’s impact on freight capacityFMCSA estimates there are 200,000 non-domiciled CDL holders, accounting for about 5% of the 3.8 million active CDL holders. He said about one in four non-domiciled CDLs issued by the state were not compliant with federal requirements.