The Trump administration has unveiled sweeping new federal regulations that significantly narrow eligibility for foreign nationals seeking to obtain Commercial Driver’s Licences (CDLs) in the US, marking one of the most restrictive overhauls of the program in recent yearsUnder the revised framework, only foreign nationals holding H-2A (temporary agricultural worker), H-2B (temporary non-agricultural worker), and E-2 (treaty investor) non-immigrant visas will be eligible to apply for a CDL. The new rules effectively end the longstanding practice of allowing non-citizens with Employment Authorisation Documents (EADs) to seek commercial driving privileges.Previously, individuals with valid work authorisation — including asylum seekers, refugees, recipients of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), and those granted Temporary Protected Status (TPS) — were permitted to apply for CDLs if they met state and federal requirements.Under the updated policy, EADs will no longer be accepted as proof of eligibility, significantly tightening access for many categories of legally authorized workers.The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), which announced the changes, said the new regulations are aimed at addressing safety and compliance concerns.According to the agency, at least 17 fatal crashes in 2025 involved non-domiciled CDL holders whose qualifications could not be fully verified and who would not have qualified under the revised standards.The FMCSA also alleged that more than 30 states had improperly issued non-domiciled CDLs in ways that did not align with federal guidelines.Several fatal highway accidents in recent months involved drivers identified as Harjinder Singh, Jashanpreet Singh, Rajinder Kumar, and Kamalpreet Singh — all described as being of Indian origin and holding non-domiciled CDLs. Federal officials cited these incidents as examples underscoring what they characterise as systemic weaknesses in verification and oversight processes.Under the new rules, state motor vehicle agencies are now required to verify each foreign applicant’s lawful immigration status through the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) system before issuing a commercial license.The administration says this step will ensure that only individuals with qualifying visa categories can legally operate heavy commercial vehicles in the US.US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy defended the policy shift in a public statement, arguing that prior practices created vulnerabilities in the licensing system.“For far too long, America has allowed dangerous foreign drivers to abuse our truck licensing systems — wreaking havoc on our roadways,” Duffy said. “Moving forward, unqualified foreign drivers will be unable to get a license to operate an 80,000-pound big rig.”Duffy also indicated that the administration would intensify enforcement of existing English-language proficiency requirements for commercial drivers, another area federal officials say has been inconsistently applied.Supporters of the new regulations argue that the changes will strengthen highway safety, standardize compliance across states, and restore integrity to the CDL issuance process.Critics, however, contend that the measures could exacerbate ongoing driver shortages in the trucking industry and disproportionately affect immigrant communities who have been legally authorised to work in the US.The policy shift represents a significant tightening of federal oversight in commercial driver licencing and is expected to prompt legal and political debate as states move to implement the new verification requirements.