Jump to:

A recent federal rule from the U.S. Department of Transportation has created major barriers for many immigrant workers seeking to obtain or renew commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs). The “Restoring Integrity to the Issuance of Non-Domiciled Commercial Driver’s Licenses” rule, which took effect this fall, limits eligibility for CDLs and commercial learner’s permits (CLPs) to a narrow set of nonimmigrant visa holders specifically those in the H-2A, H-2B, and E-2 categories. This change excludes entire groups of immigrants and refugees who have long worked in the transportation industry, including asylum seekers, asylees, refugees, and DACA recipients. For these individuals, a CDL often represents access to steady, well-paying employment in a field that faces chronic worker shortages. In Vermont, the Department of Motor Vehicles has temporarily paused all CDL testing for non-domiciled applicants while the agency updates its systems to comply with the new rule. Once implemented, only applicants with the eligible visa categories will be able to apply for or renew a non-domiciled CDL. U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents will continue to qualify for “regular” CDLs and CLPs. Advocates warn that this policy not only harms individuals and families but also hurts the economy. “It cuts off access to a better-paying job in an industry that is chronically understaffed,” one advocate noted. “This is another way to financially squeeze those already facing major barriers.”