3. Non-Domiciled CDLs

What is a non-domiciled CDL holder and why does it impact flatbed capacity?

Non-domiciled CDL holders refer to non-U.S. citizens living and working in the U.S. with a commercial driver’s license.

As part of the federal government’s continued focus on highway safety and enforcement, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has increased pressure on states improperly issuing commercial driver’s licenses (CDL). Nineteen states so far have been put on notice by FMCSA for non-compliance with federal regulations, and federal funding may be withheld without corrective action. As federal standards become more restrictive, FMCSA will continue pressuring states to change their licensing practices. CDLs are issued at the state level and not by the federal government.

In addition to ordering states to revoke non-compliant licenses, FMCSA has made it nearly impossible for non-U.S. citizens to receive a CDL or renew an existing CDL. Some estimates show that these actions will remove 194,000 CDL drivers over the next two years, further tightening flatbed trucking capacity in the industry.