New federal changes to commercial driver's licenses already impacting CA truck drivers

"Last week, Vivak Sharma went to the DMV to renew his trucking license. But he was denied. The problem is new rules surrounding the process. As he explains in Hindi, he was told only green card holders and U.S. citizens can have their commercial trucking license renewed. Sharma has been in the United States legally for the past 10 years, seeking political asylum. His final court case is next year. He has been driving a truck for the past eight years. But now he can't."

"The U.S. Department of Transportation issued emergency rules that requires the DMV to stop issuing commercial driver's licenses, or CDLs, to drivers who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents. Even those with legal work visas, like Sharma, will be denied. It says it is doing so improve traffic safety and close loopholes in the law. Here at the port. There are 32 languages spoken. So that gives you the diversity of people that are working the port."

"Aboudi said business has slowed down due to the tariffs. But even still, there is a shortage of drivers. One of his concerns is that the situation could evolve into what happened during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. 'It was a logjam of containers. We can't deliver. We can't service. The drivers fit everywhere. They deliver everything that you receive. And so, when you don't have enough of them, everything just gets backed up,' Aboudi said."

The U.S. Department of Transportation issued emergency rules requiring DMVs to stop issuing commercial driver's licenses to individuals who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents, including legal work visa holders and asylum seekers with pending cases. Affected drivers with years of experience now face sudden license denial and loss of income, jeopardizing family support and careers. Trucking employers report existing driver shortages and warn the rule could cause severe supply chain disruptions similar to pandemic-era container logjams. The DOT frames the measure as improving traffic safety and closing legal loopholes, while California is being specifically targeted.

Read at ABC7 San Francisco