breaking

SBTC pushes court to strip New York, California of CDL authority

The Small Business in Transportation Coalition has escalated its legal challenge seeking federal decertification of commercial driver's license programs in New York and California. SBTC filed arguments before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, contending that federal law mandates the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration revoke state CDL authority upon findings of substantial noncompliance. The coalition petitioned DOT for decertification on May 27, 2025, and alleges the agency has unlawfully delayed action. SBTC also seeks immediate suspension of both states' CDL authority pending compliance determinations. However, transportation attorneys question the coalition's legal prospects. Greg Reed, a transportation attorney at Hanson Bridgett LLP, says the Department of Transportation retains substantial enforcement discretion under federal statute, with multiple compliance tools available beyond mandatory decertification—including withholding federal highway funding while states remediate deficiencies.