Truck drivers in California who aren’t U.S. citizens or green card holders are suddenly being denied CDL renewals, following new federal rules that kicked in at the end of September.
What’s happening: The Department of Transportation now requires DMVs to only issue CDLs to citizens and permanent residents. This includes drivers who are legally in the U.S. with work visas or seeking asylum.
- Drivers like Vivak Sharma, who has worked in trucking for eight years while waiting on his asylum claim, have already been turned away at the DMV.
- He told reporters, “Now, I will have to start over. The sudden stop in income means I won’t have money to send my family back in India.”
Why it matters: Many trucking companies, especially at big hubs like the Port of Oakland, rely on drivers from all backgrounds. The port’s AB Trucking president, Bill Aboudi, said, “There are 32 languages spoken here. This is a tough business. Trucking is a tough business,” according to ABC7.
- California officials have until the end of October to comply with the new federal rules or risk losing millions in highway funding.
- The Department of Transportation claims the changes are to close loopholes and make roads safer, but some company owners worry this could worsen the driver shortage.
The new rules are already stopping some from keeping their jobs, with more affected drivers expected as renewals come due this month.