ILLINOIS — A new federal transportation audit under former President Donald Trump’s administration has placed Illinois, Texas, and California in the spotlight — focusing on a surge in commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs) issued to immigrant and non-domiciled drivers.
The initiative, announced by Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy, centers on an aggressive nationwide audit of non-domiciled CDLs, citing “unusual growth patterns” in select states. The crackdown could have major consequences for local economies — particularly in cities like Chicago, where immigrant truckers are a vital part of supply chains.
Illinois in the Crosshairs
Illinois is under special scrutiny due to its sharp increase in non-domiciled CDL issuance. In 2015, only 80 such licenses were issued. But by 2025, these licenses represent 40% of all new CDLs issued in the state. That’s over 13,668 non-domiciled licenses in under a decade — a statistic federal regulators say raises red flags.
According to Overdrive, this sudden spike is why Illinois, despite not being the largest state in volume, is one of the top audit priorities.
How the Audit Will Work
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) will conduct compliance reviews to ensure states are following federal standards for CDL issuance. Audits will target patterns of abuse, including fraudulent testing or license trafficking.
94% of audits in 2024 already uncovered violations, according to Foley Services, with over $27 million in fines. Violations like allowing drivers with suspended CDLs to operate were among the most common.
Why Chicago’s Logistics Sector May Suffer Most
Chicago has 49,000 immigrant truck drivers, or 30% of its trucking workforce — the second-highest concentration in the U.S. That workforce powers a $700 billion logistics sector, positioning the city as a Midwest freight nerve center.
As noted by Blue Signal Search, any disruption in driver availability here could cascade across rail yards, shipping centers, and road networks — especially amid ongoing driver shortages.
Nationwide Impact: Texas and California Next
While Illinois is notable for its percentage growth, Texas leads in sheer numbers — with over 51,993 non-domiciled CDLs issued since 2015. Key freight hubs like Houston depend on these drivers to move energy-sector goods.
California, although it doesn’t publicly track these licenses, is vulnerable due to its massive port infrastructure. According to LAist, the Port of Los Angeles/Long Beach complex handles 31% of all U.S. containerized imports, most moved by immigrant drivers classified as independent contractors.
Fraud and Enforcement Trends
The audit is fueled in part by recent CDL fraud cases. In California, the Eastern District prosecuted 20 DMV employees in a license-selling scandal involving bribes up to $9,000. Texas and Florida have seen similar fraud rings, with hundreds of licenses issued through bribes or fake testing records.
The federal government is also adding pressure through Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse compliance. As of late 2024, states must verify all CDL applicants against a list of flagged drivers — a rule now being strictly enforced with over 91,000 violations pending return-to-duty processes.
Industry Sounds the Alarm
The American Trucking Associations warn that these audits are coming during a national crisis: an 80,000-driver shortage that could double by 2030. Nearly 720,000 truckers in the U.S. are foreign-born, and a significant portion operate under non-domiciled licenses.
If restrictions tighten without alternatives, critical trade corridors like I-10 (Los Angeles to Houston) and I-95 (East Coast ports) could slow down, delaying consumer goods, groceries, and medical supplies nationwide.
What do you think? Should Illinois continue issuing non-domiciled CDLs to immigrant drivers, or does the federal audit raise valid concerns? Join the conversation and share your thoughts with us at ChicagoSuburbanFamily.com.
