Transportation Secretary Duffy Intensifies Crackdown on Illegal CDLs, Citing Highway Safety Concerns

PHOENIX – Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced heightened efforts to address the issuance of commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs) to improperly vetted immigrants, a practice that has been linked to several fatal accidents on U.S. highways. Speaking ahead of his scheduled appearance at AmericaFest this weekend, Duffy outlined the collaborative work between the Department of Transportation (DOT) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to enhance road safety.

“What we found at DOT is a different set of problems,” Duffy explained, distinguishing his department’s focus from DHS’s broader border enforcement efforts. “Too many states have offered licenses to ineligible foreigners. They’re not qualified to get a license.”

The transportation chief pointed to concerning patterns that emerged during the previous administration, when millions of migrants entered the country. “It seems like states across the country have offered commercial driver licenses to many of those people,” he said, emphasizing the public safety implications.

The DOT’s enforcement efforts gained momentum following a tragic accident on Florida’s Turnpike, where an Indian national with a California-issued CDL allegedly caused a fatal crash after attempting an illegal U-turn. This incident prompted Duffy to expand scrutiny to other states, including Pennsylvania, where similar licensing irregularities were uncovered.

Taking a firm stance against non-compliant states, Duffy warned of financial consequences. “Unless you comply with our rules, we are going to take money away from your state,” he stated, adding that the DOT will “use every resource, every tool” to ensure properly qualified drivers are on American roads.

The crackdown has already yielded significant results. California has revoked 17,000 problematic non-domiciled CDL licenses, while investigations in New York revealed that more than half of such licenses were “issued illegally.” Duffy explained that some holders may not be legally present in the U.S., while others may have improperly converted short-term work permits into seven-year commercial driving credentials.

The safety risk extends beyond commercial trucking. Duffy noted that many CDL holders are also qualified to drive school buses, potentially endangering children. Additionally, the Florida incident demonstrated that drivers with improperly issued licenses don’t remain confined to the states that issued them.

“We are going to maximize everyone’s safety on American roadways, and that means going after states, pulling money from states,” Duffy affirmed.

The transportation crisis reflects broader concerns about vetting processes for immigrants entering specialized workforces. Industry experts have noted that proper screening of commercial drivers is crucial, as these vehicles can cause catastrophic damage when operated improperly. The American Trucking Association has previously advocated for consistent nationwide standards to prevent state-level loopholes that compromise safety.

Duffy also discussed holiday travel concerns, noting that Friday was expected to be the busiest travel day of the year with 51,000 flights scheduled. He acknowledged the sacrifices made by air traffic controllers and other DOT workers during the holiday season while urging travelers to be patient.

“If there’s any issue in any of those spaces—whether it’s the controllers, the weather, mechanical—we will slow down traffic or we will stop traffic because we want you to be safe when you travel,” he explained. “I don’t want your flight delayed, but I’ll take a delayed flight over an unsafe flight every day of the week.”

The DOT’s intensified oversight of commercial licensing represents part of a broader shift in transportation policy under the current administration, which has made infrastructure safety and security central priorities following several high-profile transportation incidents in recent years.