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OOIDA Pushes Congress to Permanently Restrict Non-Domiciled CDLs After Trooper Fatality

The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association is urging House Speaker Mike Johnson to advance legislation permanently codifying federal restrictions on non-domiciled commercial driver's licenses. OOIDA President Todd Spencer sent a letter Wednesday backing H.5688, which would close what the association calls critical safety gaps in the CDL system. The push follows the July 1 death of Pennsylvania State Trooper Michael Pahira Jr. The truck driver involved maintained a valid non-domiciled CDL from Massachusetts despite having lost immigration parole status. OOIDA argues current administrative rules by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, effective earlier this year, are insufficient without congressional action. The association contends non-domiciled CDLs have allowed inadequately vetted non-citizens and non-permanent residents to operate commercial vehicles. States have struggled verifying driving histories spanning up to 10 years when records exist outside the U.S.