Drivers without US citizenship, permanent residency or specific visas (E-2, H-2A, or H-2B) and/or are not proficient in English have been put on notice. Additionally, the states which issued their commercial drivers licenses (CDL) have also been put on notice.
The US Department of Transportation recently announced all truck and bus drivers will have to take their CDL exams in English. The purpose is to ensure all CDL holders are proficient enough in English to read road signs and communicate with law enforcement. This announcement creates a national standard versus state-by-state requirements, including California which allowed exams to be taken in 20 different languages.
On the non-domiciled front, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) released their Interim Final Rule (IFR) requiring states to verify CDL applicants are US citizens, permanent residents or holders of E-2, H-2A, or H-2B visas via federal databases. The rule will take effect on March 15th and is for new and renewing CDLs.
Lastly, there is the Dalilah Law named after Dalilah Coleman, who at 5-years-old was a victim in a terrible accident involving a truck. The bill was introduced in the US Senate and would codify both of these agency rules to prohibit future softening or changes.