The U.S. Department of Transportation announced an emergency interim final rule to strengthen
federal oversight of how states issue non-domiciled commercial learner’s permits (CLPs) and
commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs). The rule comes in response to a nationwide review conducted by
the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) revealing widespread non-compliance
among state driver licensing agencies and a troubling series of fatal crashes caused by nondomiciled
CDL holders.

On November 13, 2025, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit issued a stay pending review of the interim final rule Restoring Integrity to the Issuance of Non-Domiciled Commercial Drivers Licenses (CDL), 90 Fed. Reg. 46,509 (Sept. 29, 2025) that prevents the interim final rule from taking effect until further notice. Accordingly, until further notice, States are not prohibited from issuing non-domiciled CDLs and commercial learner’s permits in accordance with the FMCSA’s regulations and guidance in effect immediately prior to issuance of the interim final rule. States that are subject to a corrective action plan that imposes a pause on non-domiciled CLP and CDL issuance until evidence of compliance with FMCSA’s regulations and guidance, in effect immediately prior to issuance of the interim final rule, has been provided to FMCSA must continue to comply with the requirements of the plan.