INDIANA — Indiana officials are pulling thousands of commercial drivers off the road as new federal and state restrictions target non-domiciled commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs).
The Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) said it mailed notices on March 16 to 1,790 drivers, informing them their CDLs would be canceled. The move follows updated Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) requirements and Indiana House Enrolled Act 1200 (HEA 1200), which took effect April 1.
BMV officials said nearly all non-domiciled CDL holders in the state have now lost their driving privileges. These licenses applied to operators of semi-trucks, buses, and delivery vehicles.
Federal Rule Narrows Eligibility
FMCSA limited eligibility for non-domiciled CDLs to drivers with specific employment-based nonimmigrant visas. Those categories include H-2A for temporary agricultural workers, H-2B for temporary non-agricultural workers, and E-2 for treaty investors.
The federal rule is facing a legal challenge. Critics argue there is not enough data to show non-domiciled CDL holders cause more crashes than citizen drivers. Federal officials have acknowledged that point during public discussions of the policy.
Indiana Law Adds Enforcement Measures
Indiana’s HEA 1200 follows the federal restrictions and adds state-level enforcement. Commercial drivers must now demonstrate English language proficiency. The law makes it a Level 6 felony to present false records or operate without proper CDL documentation.
The BMV can revoke CDLs for drivers who do not meet documentation requirements. Businesses that hire undocumented individuals to operate commercial vehicles can face fines of up to $50,000.
Previous CDL Requirements in Indiana
Before the changes, Indiana issued non-domiciled CDLs to applicants who provided Real ID documentation, proof of lawful status, and a Social Security number. Applicants also needed an unexpired work permit, an expired permit with a receipt or approval notice, or a valid foreign passport with an approved I-94 arrival/departure record.
Drivers from Canada and Mexico remain exempt under reciprocal agreements and can operate in the U.S. with valid licenses from their home countries.
Crashes Highlighted Amid Crackdown
Officials are rolling out these changes as scrutiny increases on commercial driver vetting following several fatal crashes in Indiana.
Authorities cited an October crash in Porter County involving a semi and a passenger vehicle that killed a 54-year-old Mishawaka man, where the semi driver reportedly held a regular Illinois license. In February, a crash in Jay County involving a commercial driver from Kyrgyzstan killed four people, and ICE later detained the driver. In March, authorities charged a 24-year-old driver in Hendricks County after a crash that killed a 64-year-old motorist.
Officials said affected drivers were notified because they did not meet the updated documentation requirements.
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