Illegal CDLs: FMCSA Sends Compliance Warning to Colorado

FMCSA Warns Colorado About Improperly Issued CDLs and Funding Risk

Federal officials are raising new concerns about how Colorado has issued many commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs). The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) says the state must act fast to fix major problems found in a recent audit. If Colorado does not take action, it could lose $24 million in federal highway funds. FMCSA also says it has the power to decertify the state’s CDL program if the issues are not resolved.

FMCSA officials say the delays in correcting these problems create safety risks because many of the CDLs in question are still active. This means some drivers who do not meet federal rules may still be operating large trucks on public roads.

Audit Finds Illegal Colorado CDLs

FMCSA completed a nationwide audit in October. The audit found that about 22% of Colorado’s non-domiciled CDLs were issued outside of federal rules. This high number raised alarms about the state’s licensing system and how it handles driver eligibility.

Non-domiciled CDLs are issued to people who are legally in the country but are not permanent residents. Federal law sets strict limits on who can receive these licenses. FMCSA says many of Colorado’s approvals did not follow those limits.

The audit also found that some CDLs had expiration dates that lasted longer than the dates shown on lawful presence documents. These documents show how long a person is allowed to stay in the United States. When a CDL remains valid longer than this period, the person may still have a valid license even after losing lawful status. FMCSA says this creates a major compliance problem and adds risk on the road.

State Policy From 2016 Tied to Improper CDLs

FMCSA says Colorado confirmed that a statewide policy adopted in 2016 led to many of the improper CDLs. That policy allowed the state to issue them to people who were not eligible under federal law. The agency says this choice resulted in a large number of licenses that should not have been approved.

Federal officials asked Colorado to complete a full review of all CDLs affected by the policy and to revoke any that were issued outside federal requirements. FMCSA says Colorado has not completed these steps and has not provided a full count of all the CDLs involved. Without that information, FMCSA cannot determine how many drivers may still be on the road illegally.

FMCSA Says Colorado Must Act Faster

FMCSA says Colorado has not shown enough urgency in addressing the issue. Officials say the state has not finished its internal audit and has not revoked CDLs that were issued outside the rules. As a result, FMCSA does not know how many drivers may still be using commercial vehicles illegally.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy expressed concern about the pace of Colorado’s response. He said, “Colorado doesn’t get to pick and choose what federal rules it follows – especially when the driving public is at risk.” He also said, “It’s been nearly two months since Colorado admitted that they knowingly broke the law and gave Mexican nationals trucking licenses. Colorado has two options: revoke the licenses immediately, or I will pull federal funding. Every day that goes by is another day unqualified, unvetted foreign truckers are jeopardizing the safety of you and your family.”

FMCSA says these delays increase the risk of unqualified drivers continuing to drive on U.S. highways.

Colorado Risks Losing Funding

FMCSA has warned Colorado that it could lose $24 million in federal highway funds if it does not fix the issues with its CDLs. This loss would have a major impact on the state’s transportation system and budget.

The agency also has the authority to decertify Colorado’s CDL program entirely. If this occurs, Colorado would no longer be able to issue CDLs until the problems are corrected. During that time, the federal government could take over the process. This would likely slow down licensing for new drivers and create challenges for training schools, motor carriers, and state agencies.

Roadway Safety Concerns Linked to Improper CDLs

FMCSA says its main concern is safety. Large commercial trucks can weigh up to 80,000 pounds. Drivers who operate these vehicles must be trained, tested, and approved under federal rules. When CDLs are issued to people who do not meet those rules, FMCSA says the safety risk grows for the traveling public.

Federal officials say they are willing to continue working with Colorado. But they also stress that the state must act soon to review all improper CDLs and revoke any that do not meet federal standards. Until that happens, FMCSA says unqualified drivers may still be operating on U.S. roads.