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Ohio Revokes CDLs for 1,200 Foreign Truckers
State Stops Issuing, Renewing Non-Domiciled CDLs After FMCSA Review
Key Takeaways:
- Ohio plans to revoke or downgrade about 1,200 non-domiciled CDLs and will not issue or renew such licenses going forward.
- The action follows a federal halt and audit requiring stricter visa documentation for foreign truck drivers.
- Most CDL holders in Ohio are unaffected and impacted drivers can request hearings to challenge revocation notices.
Ohio is revoking driver licenses for 1,200 foreign truckers and has ended issuing non-domiciled commercial driver licenses.
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Norman
Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles Registrar Charlie Norman announced 5,000 truckers holding non-domiciled CDLs will receive either a revocation notice or a letter that states the license is only valid until it expires.
“The state of Ohio does not intend to resume issuing new non-domiciled CDLs in the future nor will it renew any of the existing revalidated non-domiciled CDLs after they expire,” BMV spokesman Bret Crow said to Transport Topics. “At this time, the BMV has not finalized this full downgrade list. Approximately 1,200 individuals were sent notice of downgrade letters as part of the initial review batch.”
Ohio stopped issuing non-domiciled CDLs in September when Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy imposed a nationwide halt on states issuing commercial driving credentials to foreign truckers. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration began auditing all states issuing these licenses after a series of multiple-fatality crashes across the country allegedly caused by undocumented foreign truckers and linked to states accused of illegally issuing these CDLs.
Crow said FMCSA and the Ohio BMV have been working together since the audit to complete a review of Ohio’s licensees and address any noncompliance.
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Crow
The BMV emphasized Ohio has 406,000 CDL holders, most of whom remain unaffected by the revocations.
The non-domiciled CDL “reverification process does not apply to full CDL holders or CDL holders with legally established permanent residence,” according to BMV.
Foreign nationals who have non-domiciled CDLs are legally authorized to work in the United States but lack permanent residency.
“Those who previously submitted documentation that does meet FMCSA’s updated rules will receive a letter stating that their credential remains valid until its expiration date,” BMV stated.
The CDLs for the 1,200 foreign truckers were revoked based on documents initially provided to BMV. Those documents no longer comply with FMCSA’s updated rules mandating H-2A, H-2B or E-2 visas.
These individuals will see their CDLs downgraded to a Class D passenger driver license 30 days after receipt of the notice and be prohibited from using their Ohio license to drive a commercial vehicle in the United States.
Those receiving the revocation notice who believe their documents meet updated federal standards may request a BMV hearing to dispute the downgrade and/or submit additional documentation to prove eligibility.
Acceptable documents
- An unexpired Employment Authorization Document issued by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services that is valid on the most recent CDL/CLP issuance date.
- An unexpired foreign passport with an unexpired USCIS Form I-94. Both documents must be valid on the most recent CDL/CLP issuance date.
Ohio Follows Other States
Ohio is the latest state to stop issuing non-domiciled CDLs since Oregon took a similar step.
Oregon revoked the driving credentials of 900 foreign truckers as it decided to permanently stop issuing limited-term CDLs and commercial learner’s permits March 12. That day, the Oregon Transportation Commission approved a request by Driver and Motor Vehicle Services Administrator Amy Joyce to end issuing the licenses.
Joyce told commission members FMCSA threatened to pull federal funding from Oregon due to noncompliance in issuing its licenses.
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Joyce
“We were the 25th state to receive one of those noncompliance letters. It indicated that unless we corrected our problems, we risk losing $23.5 million in federal funds in fiscal year 2027, double that in fiscal year 2028 and years subsequent and loss of our ability to even issue CDLs,” Joyce said.
Oregon Department of Transportation spokeswoman Chris Crabb said the state would face numerous challenges complying with FMCSA regulations if it resumed issuing those licenses and permits.
Nevada opted last November to cease issuing its version of non-domiciled CDLs and CLPs.
“By phasing out the Limited-Term CDL Program, we are protecting federal highway funding, maintaining program integrity and ensuring that Nevada’s licensing system remains fully compliant with national standards,” announced Tonya Laney, director of the state’s Department of Motor Vehicles.
While most states issue non-domiciled CDLs, those that don’t are Alabama, Arkansas, Mississippi, Tennessee and West Virginia.
