Court Lets the Non-Domiciled CDL Rule Stand for Now

We covered the non-domiciled final rule back in February and March. Here is a quick update on where the legal fight stands.

The ruling

On May 5 a federal appeals court in Washington turned down a request to put the rule on hold while the lawsuit plays out. The challengers had asked for an emergency pause. The court said they had not shown they were likely to win the case, so the rule stays in effect.

In plain terms, nothing changes on the ground right now. The FMCSA rule still limits new non-domiciled CDLs to drivers on H-2A, H-2B, or E-2 visas. Licenses already issued are good until they expire, but they cannot be renewed unless the driver meets the new requirements.

What happens next

The case is not over. Briefing runs through the summer and the court has set oral arguments for September. A decision could come not long after, so carriers that lean on non-domiciled drivers should keep tracking expiration dates and have a backup plan ready.