Lawmakers go after CDLs

Rules for truck drivers are under the microscope. Lawmakers from Washington, D.C., to state capitols are moving fast to tighten control.

States are now lining up behind federal action as safety worries keep growing.

Last fall, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration sounded the alarm. The agency called non-domiciled CDLs a “national emergency” and a “threat to public safety.”

After pressure from OOIDA, the U.S. DOT stepped in and narrowed the eligibility criteria for those licenses.

The FMCSA also called out states that were handing out non-domiciled CDLs without following federal rules. Several states have already been forced to fix their systems.

Now, a new wave of state laws is rolling out to clamp down on non-domiciled CDLs.

Idaho

Idaho is the latest state to take action on truck driver safety.

Starting July 1, a new law wipes out the state’s program for non-domiciled CDLs and permits. Bottom line: if you don’t live in Idaho, you can’t get a CDL there anymore.

Anyone who wants an Idaho CDL must now become a resident and complete the full licensing process from start to finish.

The change also strips out language that lets non-domiciled CDL applicants skip proving residency.

Rep. Clay Handy, R-Burley, said Idaho is done issuing CDLs to non-residents. Drivers who want one, he said, will have to look elsewhere.

Opponents say the move cuts off drivers who already hold permits from other states or countries. Without moving to Idaho, they have no clear path to a CDL there.

Missouri

A Missouri bill, halfway through the statehouse, pushes a tougher, two-part plan for truck driver rules.

Rep. Carolyn Caton, R-Blue Springs, is behind HB2741. The bill goes after both non-domiciled CDLs and English-proficiency standards.

The bill would require non-domiciled CDL holders to have a valid work visa. It would also require proof of citizenship.

Break the rules, and drivers could face fines up to $1,000 and as much as 90 days behind bars.

They would also be sidelined from driving in Missouri until they show proper documentation.

Carriers would also feel the hit. Companies that use an illegal driver could be fined $3,000.

After penalties are paid, a qualified truck driver could take over the truck.

OOIDA Executive Vice President Lewie Pugh told lawmakers the goal is simple: keep roads safe.

Arizona

Arizona tried to go even further, but the effort stalled.

SB1511 aimed to require truck drivers with non-domiciled CDLs to prove legal status during traffic stops. Just showing an out-of-state or foreign license wouldn’t cut it.

If a truck driver can’t show proof, police could impound the truck – and the cargo with it. Both would stay locked up until every ticket and charge is cleared.

That leaves the truck owner stuck paying the full impound bill.

Sen. Frank Carroll, R-Sun City West, said CDLs should come with strict standards. He warned that some states are ignoring visa limits tied to how long someone can stay in the U.S. Those limits should also apply to how long a non-domiciled CDL stays valid.

He pointed to deadly crashes involving drivers who should not have been on the road.

“We want to get those people out from behind the wheel who have an expired visa. Therefore, their license should have expired,” Carroll said.

Lawmakers in both chambers passed different versions of the bill. They were unable to settle on one final plan before the session ended. LL