California Chinese Truck Drivers Association has filed a lawsuit against federal agencies and applied for a temporary restraining order (TRO) in court, seeking to restore the renewal of non-domiciled Commercial Driver’s Licenses (CDL) in California. The application has been rejected by the judge.
The background of this case lies in the standoff between California and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). In December 2025, California announced an extension until March 2026 to revoke 17,000 commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs). FMCSA believes that California’s actions violate federal standards, leading to the withholding of over $150 million in federal funds.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy stated that, according to federal regulations, the deadline for revoking illegally issued and unreviewed foreign truck driver licenses is January 5, 2026.
The federal government warned that if California does not make corrections, future federal funding may be further withheld, and the certification eligibility of the entire California commercial driver’s license program may even be revoked.
Subsequently, California began complying with other measures required by FMCSA, including suspending the renewal of commercial driver’s licenses for non-residents.
On January 7, the American Chinese Truck Drivers Association filed a lawsuit against FMCSA. The association listed nine affected members, arguing that California’s Department of Motor Vehicles’ blanket policy of suspending the renewal, replacement, and extension of non-resident commercial driver’s licenses deprived individuals of case-by-case reviews.
Last Tuesday (20th), Judge Jesus Bernal of the Central District Federal District Court in California rejected the Chinese Truck Drivers Association’s application for a temporary restraining order.
The judge pointed out that FMCSA had clearly stated that California issuing non-resident commercial driver’s licenses (including renewals) is prohibited. Therefore, the plaintiff’s claim that California’s actions were taken out of “hypothetical fear” of federal policy consequences does not hold.
Judge Bernal stated that the plaintiff’s argument underestimated the losses California has suffered so far due to the dispute with FMCSA.
The judge believed that if the court forced California to restore renewals, FMCSA could further cancel the eligibility of the entire California commercial driver’s license program, resulting in a “catastrophic” paralysis of the state’s commercial driver’s license certification system, with far-reaching impacts on all drivers and public interests beyond the current struggles of some non-resident commercial driver’s license holders.
The judge expressed sympathy for the nine affected drivers but believed that their individual interests were not sufficient to override the interests of the entire state and the public in maintaining the ability to issue commercial driver’s licenses.
The judge also noted that even if he approved the temporary restraining order to allow California to resume renewals for non-resident truck drivers, triggering further federal sanctions such as revoking the California commercial driver’s license program, the drivers currently affected by delayed renewals would not be in a better situation.
In 2025, California’s commercial driver’s license program became a focus of national attention due to several fatal semi-truck accidents involving illegal immigrant drivers who obtained licenses in California.
A federal audit report found that California illegally issued 17,000 truck driver licenses. The report indicated that some licenses remained valid long after immigration work permits expired, and some were issued by the state government without proof of the driver’s legal immigration status.
The California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) stated that California plans to collaborate with representatives from the federal Department of Transportation to resolve concerns related to commercial driver’s license issuance by March 6.