17,000 Non-domiciled CDLs To Be Revoked in California

California Faces Federal Action Over Non-domiciled CDLs

FMCSA Audit Flags 17,000 Non-domiciled CDLs in California

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) plan to revoke about 17,000 non-domiciled CDLs issued by the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). The move follows a federal audit that found widespread problems in how California issued licenses to drivers who are not legally domiciled in the state.

Audit Finds Major Compliance Problems

According to FMCSA, about one in four of California’s non-domiciled CDLs did not meet federal standards. The audit found licenses that stayed valid even after the driver’s legal stay in the U.S. had expired. Others were issued to people who were not eligible for these licenses under federal law.

The review also found issues with California’s process for verifying a driver’s lawful presence before issuing a license. FMCSA said these mistakes could allow people to hold CDLs even when their federal authorization had expired.

Federal Rules on Non-domiciled CDLs

Federal law allows non-domiciled CDLs only for drivers who are legally in the U.S. but do not live permanently in the issuing state. The CDL must expire when the driver’s legal stay ends. States must also confirm that each applicant meets the eligibility rules before the license is granted.

The FMCSA said California did not always follow these steps. As a result, the DOT ordered the state to review all its non-domiciled CDLs and cancel any that do not comply with federal law.

17,000 Non-domiciled CDLs Set for Cancelation

California is now required to contact the affected drivers. The DMV has reportedly started sending letters to notify about 17,000 non-domiciled CDL holders that their licenses will expire in 60 days. Drivers will have to reapply once proper documents are verified.

The DOT said California must also provide a full audit to prove it has fixed the system before it can continue issuing new non-domiciled CDLs.

Federal Funding Could Be Withheld

The DOT warned that California could lose up to $160 million in federal highway funds if it does not comply. Earlier this year, the agency had already withheld more than $40 million over a separate issue tied to English Language Proficiency (ELP) standards for commercial drivers.

Transportation officials said the goal is to make sure all commercial drivers are properly licensed and meet federal safety standards.

Impact on Truck Drivers and Carriers

Truck drivers with non-domiciled CDLs issued by California may soon lose their active license status. Motor carriers are being urged to verify their drivers’ credentials to avoid compliance problems.

The revocations could create delays for drivers waiting for reissued licenses. Carriers that rely on California-based drivers might need to adjust operations until those drivers are recertified.

Broader Enforcement Effort Across States and Non-domiciled CDLs

California is not the only state under review. The FMCSA has also sent warning letters to Colorado, Texas, Washington, and South Dakota over similar issues with non-domiciled CDLs.

Federal officials said these steps are part of a larger effort to ensure that all state licensing systems meet federal safety and eligibility standards.

What Happens Next

The California DMV must identify all non-domiciled CDLs that were issued in error and report its progress to the DOT. FMCSA will monitor the process to make sure the state stops issuing licenses that do not meet federal rules.

It remains unclear how many drivers will be able to reapply or how quickly new licenses will be processed. The audit results are expected to be released later this year.

Summary

Federal regulators are revoking non-domiciled CDLs issued by California after finding major compliance issues. Around 17,000 licenses are affected. The state could lose federal funding if it fails to fix the problems and verify all licenses issued under the program.