Texas Trucking Licenses at Risk: $182 Million Federal Funding in Jeopardy

Federal Audit Uncovers CDL Compliance Issues in Texas

• ⚠️ Federal regulators have warned the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) that systemic problems in issuing Commercial Driver's Licenses (CDLs) could jeopardize $182 million in federal highway funding.
• 🔍 An audit revealed that DPS allowed some CDLs to remain valid for years beyond the holder's legal work authorization, with some expiring 4, 6, or even 8 years after the visa expiration date.

Non-Domiciled CDLs and Compliance Failures

• 🎯 Texas currently issues over 9,600 non-domiciled CDLs or commercial learner permits to individuals temporarily allowed to work in the U.S., often on a visa.
• 📊 A review of 123 such licenses issued between June 2024 and August 2025 found that nearly half failed to comply with federal standards.
• 🚚 This is considered an overall safety issue that has reportedly gone unchecked for a significant amount of time.

DPS Actions and License Removals

• ⚡ In response, the Texas DPS has paused the issuance of non-domiciled CDLs and learner permits while it reviews the program.
• ✅ The agency is auditing records to identify non-compliant licenses and has promised to void or rescind those that should not have been issued.
• 📈 As of December 7th, Texas had removed commercial driving privileges from nearly 5,900 individuals, with that number expected to rise to over 6,400.