On September 25, 2025, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) approved a new rule that significantly changes the process for issuing and renewing Commercial Driver’s Licenses (CDL) for individuals who are not U.S. citizens and do not hold a Green Card.
The decision has been published in the Federal Register and will take effect immediately after its official release.
📌 Key changes
- Only certain work visas are now accepted. CDLs will now be issued or renewed only for drivers holding specifically approved work visas (such as H-2A, H-2B, E-2).
- One-year maximum validity. Non-domiciled CDLs and CLPs will be valid for no longer than one year or until the driver’s visa or authorized stay expires — whichever comes first.
- Mandatory immigration status verification. All applicants’ information will be checked through the SAVE (Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements) system.
- In-person renewals required. Drivers must appear in person to renew; remote or proxy renewals will no longer be allowed.
Stricter state compliance enforcement. States that fail to follow these rules risk losing federal highway and infrastructure funding.
Who will be affected
Industry experts estimate that up to 200,000 CDL drivers currently working in the U.S. without citizenship or a Green Card could lose their licenses or be forced to leave the industry under the new restrictions.
For fleet owners, this means you may need to:
- Reassess and verify the immigration status of your drivers.
- Plan ahead for potential driver shortages.
Prepare for higher competition and rising pay rates to keep qualified drivers.
Potential impact on the trucking market
- Driver shortages. Small and mid-sized fleets that rely heavily on foreign drivers will feel the impact first.
- Higher freight rates. Reduced driver availability could push transportation costs up across the market.
More complex hiring and compliance. Carriers will need to carefully review immigration documents and may need legal support to stay compliant.
How Unity ELD supports carriers
At Unity ELD, we closely monitor FMCSA regulations to help our clients stay compliant and avoid unexpected risks or penalties.
Our solutions include:
- Guidance on adapting to new FMCSA rules
- Timely updates on compliance and safety standards
- Integrated fleet management tools to simplify document tracking
If your drivers rely on work visas, now is the time to evaluate their status and plan for changes before the new rule impacts your operations.
👉 Stay ahead of FMCSA compliance changes with Unity ELD.
We help fleets operate safely, efficiently, and fully compliant with U.S. regulations.