Data / Federal rules / 2026-02965
Restoring Integrity to the Issuance of Non-Domiciled Commercial Drivers Licenses (CDL)
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration published this final rule in the Federal Register on February 13, 2026. It took effect on March 16, 2026.
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What the agency says
FMCSA amends the Federal regulations for State Driver's Licensing Agencies (SDLAs) issuing commercial driving credentials to non-domiciled individuals. This final rule reaffirms, with minor changes, the provisions of the interim final rule (IFR) published on September 29, 2025. Specifically, this final rule limits eligibility for non-domiciled Commercial Learner's Permits (CLPs) and Commercial Driver's Licenses (CDLs) for foreign-domiciled individuals to those who hold specific, verifiable employment-based nonimmigrant status. This rule reaffirms the IFR requirements, aligning the issuance of non- domiciled CDLs with FMCSA's statutory mandate to ensure the fitness of all drivers who operate a CMV. By limiting eligibility to statuses subject to enhanced consular vetting of driver history and interagency screening, FMCSA restores the integrity of the CDL system, closes a significant safety gap, and enhances the safety of the traveling public.
Key facts
- Document number
- 2026-02965
- Type
- Final rule
- Action
- Final rule
- Agency
- Transportation Department; Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
- Published
- February 13, 2026
- Takes effect
- March 16, 2026
- Dates
- This final rule is effective March 16, 2026.
- Docket
- Docket No. FMCSA-2025-0622
- Regulation ID (RIN)
- 2126-AC98
- Code of Federal Regulations
- 49 CFR 383; 49 CFR 384
- Topics
- Administrative practice and procedure; Alcohol abuse; Drug abuse; Highway safety; Motor carriers
- Pages
- 60
Other documents from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
| Document | Type | Published |
|---|---|---|
| Clarification to the Applicability of Emergency Exemptions; Response to Petitions for Reconsideration 2026-20325 | Final rule | Oct 5 |
| Fees for the Unified Carrier Registration Plan and Agreement 2026-17893 | Final rule | Sep 1 |
| English Language Proficiency; Out of Service Criteria 2026-16288 | Proposed rule | Aug 10 |
| General Technical, Organizational, Conforming, and Correcting Amendments to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations 2026-14701 | Final rule | Jul 21 |
| Completed Inspection Report Disposition 2026-12450 | Final rule | Jun 22 |
| Removal of Self-Reporting Requirement 2026-12449 | Final rule | Jun 22 |
| Rescinding the Requirement for Electronic Logging Device Operator's Manual Located in Commercial Motor Vehicles 2026-12448 | Final rule | Jun 22 |
| Fees for Commercial Driver's License Information System 2026-09943 | Proposed rule | May 18 |
Everything from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration · Rules on administrative practice and procedure · Rules on alcohol abuse · Rules on drug abuse · Published in February 2026
Read from the Federal Register API, last updated 2026-10-23. The document on federalregister.gov is the official record; dates and dockets can change through later corrections. Free to reuse with credit to SpecStream under CC BY 4.0.