In a significant policy shift, the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) has announced the suspension of certain commercial driver license (CDL) issuances in response to an emergency rule change by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). This suspension affects non-domicile CDLs and those held by non-citizens who are refugees, asylees, or Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients, effective Sept. 29.
The DPS clarified that the new measures prohibit the issuance, renewal, or reissuing of CDLs and commercial learner's permits (CLPs) for the specified groups. The department confirmed that any pending licenses would not progress to the testing phase as long as this suspension remains in effect, applying a sudden brake to many applicants' plans. According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, this includes halting any written or skills testing for customers with a pending issuance.
These moves align with Texas Governor Abbott's recent directive, which saw the DPS Commercial Vehicle Enforcement (CVE) Troopers and inspectors initiating English Language Proficiency reviews on the state's roads for commercial vehicle drivers. This has been described as part of a broader initiative to ensure the safety of Texas roadways, a narrative the DPS has maintained.
