Committee hears competing views on non‑domiciled CDLs and driver shortages

The committee heard sharply divergent testimony about non‑domiciled commercial driver licenses (CDLs), enforcement steps taken by Texas agencies and the effect of revocations on drivers and the trucking workforce.

Texas Department of Public Safety representatives and the Texas Trucking Association described cases in which fraudulent foreign CDLs or improperly maintained immigration/work‑authorization records were linked to unqualified drivers on Texas roads. Major Omar Villarreal said prosecutions and enhanced verification measures were needed because some foreign‑issued credentials had been obtained improperly and used in intrastate commerce.

John Esparza and Jeff Langloss for the Texas Trucking Association urged stronger English‑language testing, better national transparency on non‑domiciled issuances, and enforcement to prevent cabotage (unlicensed intrastate hauling by non‑U.S. domiciled CDL holders). "Safety remains the standard, and the standard should apply to everyone," Esparza said.

Civil‑rights advocates and several witnesses urged caution: Danny Woodward of the Texas Civil Rights Project told the committee that many non‑domiciled drivers are lawfully present, have work authorization, and that large‑scale downgrades or revocations without notice had already removed thousands of drivers from the workforce. He and other witnesses asked the committee to require notice and due process for affected drivers and to avoid policies that unintentionally harm lawfully authorized workers. "We still do not have adequate nationwide transparency regarding how many non‑domiciled CDLs have been issued," the trucking association acknowledged, urging national standards and consistent enforcement.

Lawmakers asked parties for data quantifying relative crash rates by license type and for follow‑up material; civil‑rights and industry witnesses both offered to provide further records and analysis to the committee.