Court Blocks CDL Ban as Data Shows Immigrant Truckers Are Among the Safest on U.S. Roads

(AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

A federal appeals court in Washington, D.C. has paused a new Department of Transportation rule that would have stripped commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs) from most non-citizen truckers. The court said the agency did not follow proper rule-making procedures and failed to provide evidence that the restrictions would improve road safety.

The blocked rule would have allowed only immigrants with H-2A, H-2B, or E-2 visas to hold CDLs. Out of roughly 200,000 non-citizen commercial drivers nationwide, only about 10,000 would have remained eligible effectively forcing more than 180,000 experienced drivers off the road.

Data Contradicts the Government’s Safety Claims

Federal transportation numbers reviewed by the court show:

• Immigrant and non-citizen drivers hold about 5% of all CDLs.

• They are involved in only 0.2% of fatal commercial-vehicle crashes.

This made it difficult for regulators to justify the rule, especially during a national driver shortage.

Key Political Figures

• Sean Duffy, U.S. Transportation Secretary, announced the rule, arguing it was necessary for safety.

• Gavin Newsom, Governor of California, was pulled into the debate after his state revoked 17,000 immigrant CDLs earlier this year following an audit tied to a fatal crash.

• OOIDA, a major trucking association, supported the restriction, though opponents argued that available safety data did not match the group’s claims.

  
  

What Happens Now

The stay is temporary, but it keeps current CDL rules in place while the court reviews whether the government legally and logically supported its new policy. The final decision could shape the future of immigrant workers in the trucking industry and the stability of the U.S. supply chain.

Tariff-Driven Uncertainty Is Freezing Truck Orders Across the U.S. — Here’s What’s Really Happening

Right now, the U.S. trucking industry is stuck in a strange spot. Ever since the 25% tariff on imported medium- and heavy-duty trucks took effect on November 1st, truck orders have slowed to a crawl. Not because carriers don’t need equipment, but because no one knows what new trucks will actually cost.

OEM Pricing Is a Mystery

Manufacturers still haven’t released firm pricing after the tariff change. That uncertainty alone is enough to freeze fleet owners, owner-operators, and buyers across the semi truck market. Why commit to a new truck if the price could jump or drop next month?

Used Trucks Are Becoming the Safe Bet

With new truck quotes on hold, the used truck market is heating up. Dealers report more calls, quicker sales, and rising demand for clean, low-mileage units. If OEMs announce major price increases in the coming weeks, used truck prices could climb fast.

Small Fleets Feel the Pressure

Large carriers can wait. Smaller fleets can’t. Their expansion plans depend heavily on predictable equipment costs, and today’s uncertainty is pushing many toward used trucks or delaying purchases altogether.

The Ripple Effect

This tariff confusion is affecting more than new truck orders. It’s impacting:

• trailer sales

• parts pricing

• repair shop delays

• equipment financing

When the cost of a tractor is unclear, the entire trucking supply chain slows down.

What Comes Next?

If OEMs release stable, post-tariff pricing soon, orders could rebound. If not, the slowdown will continue, and the used market will become even more competitive heading into 2026.

For now, one thing is clear:The tariff didn’t disrupt the trucking industry as much as the uncertainty behind it.

The 600K Trucker Purge: What’s Really Happening?

The trucking industry is bracing for what analysts are calling the largest driver purge in history — up to 600,000 truckers could be pushed out of the market.

Why?New crackdowns on:

1.CDL & immigration compliance

2.English-proficiency rules

3.Fraudulent CDL programs

4.Driver qualification checks

5.Basically — if paperwork isn’t clean or training isn’t legit, you’re off the road.

At the same time, freight demand is still shaky. That means we’re entering a weird phase where the market is soft, but capacity might suddenly evaporate.

What this means:

For the industry

• Fewer drivers = tighter capacity

• Rates may jump fast

• Smaller carriers could shut down

• More pressure on compliant fleets

For drivers

• Keep docs clean

• Stay compliant

• English & CDL rules are real now

For shippers & brokers

• Lock in reliable carriers now

• Expect volatility

• Build backup capacity plans

Bottom Line

The purge isn’t about a driver shortage — it’s about a compliance reset.

Those who play by the rules will stay.Those who don’t… won’t.

Big shake-up coming. Stay ready.