Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary Sean Duffy on Sept. 26 announced an emergency action to restrict the eligibility of foreign-domiciled drivers to obtain commercial driver’s licenses and learner’s permits, following a spate of fatal big-rig crashes on U.S. roadways by truckers who aren’t legal American residents.
The ruling was designed to strengthen regulatory oversight on the way states issue commercial driver’s licenses, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) said. A nationwide review launched in June by the agency found widespread noncompliance in multiple states, particularly California, Colorado, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Texas, and Washington.
“Licenses to operate a massive, 80,000-pound truck are being issued to dangerous foreign drivers—oftentimes illegally,” Duffy said….