Federal CDL Proposal Sparks Industry Concerns Over Driver Availability
A new federal rule targeting non-domiciled commercial driver's licenses is drawing significant opposition from trucking organizations who worry it could make the ongoing driver shortage even worse.
The proposed regulation would limit CDLs issued to drivers who aren't actually domiciled in the state issuing the license—a practice that's become common in the industry. While details of the specific restrictions weren't outlined in the announcement, trucking groups are already voicing concerns about the potential impact on workforce availability.
Why This Matters for 3PLs and Carriers
The timing couldn't be worse for an industry already struggling with driver recruitment and retention. Any regulation that potentially reduces the pool of qualified CDL holders creates immediate operational challenges for carriers and third-party logistics providers who depend on driver availability to meet customer commitments.
Non-domiciled CDLs have served as one tool for drivers to navigate varying state requirements and for carriers to maintain staffing flexibility. Restricting this practice could force companies to rethink their hiring strategies and potentially limit their ability to scale operations across different regions.
The trucking industry's unified opposition suggests this rule could face significant challenges before implementation, but 3PLs and carriers would be wise to monitor developments closely and prepare contingency plans for potential workforce impacts.
