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🚨Texas Is Quietly Downgrading Non-Domiciled CDLs

On Friday I was sent a message from a friend of mine who is a dispatcher asking if I had heard anything about CDLs being downgraded in Texas, because one of her drivers found out their CDL had been randomly downgraded. I hadn’t heard anything at the time of the message, but then all of a sudden trucking social media started floodming with screenshots of a letter allegedly sent by the Texas Department of Public Safety. The notice informs non-domiciled Commercial Learner’s Permit (CLP) or CDL holders that their commercial driving privileges have been cancelled effective immediately due to non-compliance with federal regulations.

What the Letter Says

The letter circulating online is direct. According to DPS, the agency conducted an internal review of the driver’s application and lawful status documentation and determined the license was not issued in compliance with federal requirements.

As a result:

• Non-domiciled commercial driving privileges are cancelled immediately

• The driver may no longer operate a commercial motor vehicle

• Continued operation could result in criminal penalties

• Personal (non-commercial) driving privileges remain valid

One key detail matters more than most realize:

That says this isn’t random, and it didn’t start this week.

There’s no indication these downgrades are tied to:

• Traffic stops

• Roadside inspections

• Crash investigations

• Enforcement sweeps

These actions appear administrative, not enforcement driven. The trigger isn’t new violations on the road, it’s a review of how licenses were originally issued.

That distinction is incredibly important especially as the internet likes to pull these topics apart. It is pointing to to a process failure, not driver behavior.

Why Texas, and Why Now?

Texas has long taken a stricter posture than many states when interpreting federal guidance around non-domiciled CDLs. That puts it at the crossroads of some pressure

Federal scrutiny of state CDL programs
Over the last two years, multiple states have faced criticism for weak documentation controls, inconsistent issuance standards, or examiner misconduct.

A patchwork national system
There is no single, uniform standard for verifying non-domiciled CDLs beyond broad federal guidance. States interpret and implement those rules differently.

Post issuance audits catching past approvals
The timing suggests licenses that were once approved are now failing newer, or more strictly applied, compliance checks.

What This Is — and What It Is Not

Let’s separate facts from assumptions.

This is:

• A state-level administrative action

• Focused on documentation compliance

• Targeting how licenses were issued, not how drivers performed

• Likely connected to audits or federal pressure

This is not:

• Proof of increased crash risk

• Evidence of misconduct by all non-domiciled CDL holders

• A blanket ban on non-domiciled drivers

• Confirmation of a federal mandate (so far)

Social media is filling in gaps the documents themselves do not support.

Why This Matters to Carriers and Owner-Operators

For carriers — especially small fleets — this isn’t an abstract policy debate.

If you employ or lease on drivers with Texas-issued non-domiciled CDLs, the risk is real:

• Sudden loss of driver availability

• Insurance complications

• Missed loads and service failures

• Compliance questions during audits

The most troubling part is the lack of advance notice. An “effective immediately” downgrade leaves no runway for planning.

That’s not political. That’s operational reality.

The Bigger Issue Beneath the Surface

This situation exposes a long-standing structural problem in the industry:

• States issue licenses under differing interpretations

• Federal oversight is inconsistent

• Data systems don’t track outcomes cleanly

• Drivers and carriers absorb the risk

When a state later decides its own approvals weren’t compliant, the consequences fall on drivers and businesses — not the agencies that issued the licenses.

That’s the real tension here.

What We Still Don’t Know

Several critical questions remain unanswered:

• How many non-domiciled CDLs is Texas reviewing or downgrading?

• Are specific visa categories or documentation gaps involved?

• Will other states take similar retroactive action?

• Will federal agencies issue clarification or guidance?

Until those answers exist, claims about safety, immigration, or fraud remain incomplete at best.

Tale Lites will continue tracking this as verified information becomes available.

Do you know anyone impacted? I want to hear from you! For Driver Submissions, questions, and comments contact me at: [email protected] or Text me directly at 423-275-2444

Tale Lites Throwback

I’m traveling this week to the Truck Parking Clubhouse in Ringgold, GA this week, but check out this trucker throwback from our friend Gord!

🚦 Feds Say New York is the “Worst Offender” in Illegal CDL Issuance

According to the FMCSA, New York State has been routinely issuing unlawful or illegal non-domiciled commercial driver’s licenses, many of them valid for up to eight years, to foreign applicants who no longer had valid visas or work authorization.

What the Audit Found

FMCSA reviewed more than 32,000 non-domiciled CDLs issued by New York and determined that 53%, nearly 17,000 licenses, failed to comply with federal law.

FMCSA Administrator Derek Barrs addressed the findings alongside Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy at a press briefing in New York:

According to Barrs, the audit revealed that New York:

• Issued non-domiciled CDLs with eight year expiration dates, extending well beyond lawful presence limits

• Relied on expired immigration or lawful-presence documents to approve CDL applications

• Failed to conduct adequate verification checks before issuance

Basically licenses were being approved long after drivers were legally authorized to be in the country.

Federal Orders to New York

FMCSA has directed New York to take immediate corrective action, including:

• Pausing all issuance of non-domiciled CLPs and CDLs

• Conducting a full audit of every non-domiciled CDL already issued

• Voiding, rescinding, and reissuing any license found to be non-compliant

“A 53% failure rate is unacceptable, and FMCSA will not look the other way,” Barrs said. “We expect New York to come into compliance.”

The state has 30 days to respond and begin corrective measures.

Federal Funding on the Line

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy made it clear that failure to comply will carry financial consequences.

“If New York refuses to come into compliance, we’re going to pull tens of millions of dollars in federal funding from the state,” Duffy warned.

Not an Isolated Case

New York isn’t alone in this. Federal enforcement actions involving non-domiciled CDLs are already underway or recently initiated in:

• California

• Minnesota

• Washington

New York, however, now holds the distinction of being labeled the worst offender uncovered so far.

No Rule Changes, Just Enforcement

When asked whether these audits could disrupt freight movement, particularly during peak shipping season, Duffy dismissed the concern.

“We don’t see this as impacting the ability to ship products across the country,” he said. “The point is to do this safely.” Something Duffy said also shows he has been talking or getting information from correct sources from within the industry saying “We have capacity.” Duffy knowing the market being oversaturated with carriers speaks volumes as to how much effort his leadership has taken listening to the industry

Duffy also emphasized that no regulations have changed.

According to DOT leadership, the issue is the lack of enforcement. Which is a credible argument considering what New Yorkers pay in taxes, they should get the job done right.

The current directive, he said, is simple: enforce existing law and hold states responsible.

Why This Matters to the Industry

For carriers and O/O and drivers, this is about assessing risks

When states issue licenses improperly, the consequences don’t fall on the agencies that approved them. They fall on:

• Drivers who suddenly lose credentials

• Carriers facing unexpected staffing gaps

• Insurers and compliance audits

• Freight networks forced to absorb disruption

New York’s 53% failure rate underscores a deeper problem: states control issuance, but drivers and carriers bear the fallout when those systems fail.

States have normalized putting CDL enforcement in the back seat. I’d go as far to say they got used to the money coming in, and because no one said anything, everything must be fine! Now, federal regulators are no longer tolerating inconsistent or lax enforcement of non-domiciled CDL rules, and New York just became the poster child of what happens when oversight collapses.

📩 What are your thoughts on this?
Reply to this email or text (423) 275-2444 

🩺 Health Tip of the Week - 10 Benefits of a Night Time Stretch Routine

1. Reduces Low-Back and Hip Pain

Sitting for 8–11 hours shortens the hip flexors and overloads the lower back. Nighttime stretching helps decompress the spine and loosen tight hips, which are the #1 pain complaint among drivers.

2. Improves Sleep Quality

Stretching activates the parasympathetic (“rest and digest”) nervous system. That helps drivers fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer, which is important with a sporadic sleep schedule

3. Decreases Nighttime Cramping

Calves, hamstrings, and feet take a beating from pedals, clutches, and prolonged sitting. Gentle stretching before bed reduces muscle tightness and helps prevent painful leg cramps that wake drivers up.

4. Speeds Up Recovery for the Next Day

Stretching increases blood flow to tight tissues, delivering oxygen and nutrients that help muscles recover overnight, so you wake up less stiff and ready to drive.

5. Offsets Poor Cab Ergonomics

Even with a good seat, cab posture isn’t natural. Stretching counteracts rounded shoulders, tight necks, and forward head posture that build up mile after mile.

6. Helps Manage Stress and Mental Fatigue

Trucking isn’t just driving. You have dealing with traffic, brokers, and parking. All of which elevate stress hormones. A short stretch routine lowers cortisol and clears mental fog, improving mood and focus.

7. Improves Mobility for Safe Driving

Loose hips, hamstrings, and thoracic spine improve pedal control, mirror checks, and emergency reactions, stretching is indirectly a safety tool.

8. Reduces Injury Risk Over Time

Tight muscles and restricted joints are more likely to strain or tear. Consistent nightly stretching helps drivers avoid chronic injuries that shorten careers.

9. Creates a Sleep Routine (Consistency Wins)

When it comes to health and fitness, people thrive on routines. Stretching before bed becomes a physical “off switch” that signals the body it’s time to recover, which is especially important for peoplewith irregular schedules.

10. Takes Very Little Time

Just 5–10 minutes in or next to the truck is enough to see benefits. No equipment. No gym. No excuses.

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