Crackdown on Illegal Foreign Truck Drivers in Ohio

Ohio officials are tightening regulations regarding foreign truck drivers, aiming to revoke over 1,000 commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs). The registrar for the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV), Charlie Norman, stated that about 5,000 drivers with “CDLs without addresses” will either see their licenses revoked or will be informed that their licenses are “valid only until they expire.” This information was reported widely.

Brett Crowe from the Ohio BMV has confirmed that 1,200 truck drivers have been informed about the revocation of their licenses. These licenses were initially issued based on documents that are no longer in compliance with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulations concerning certain types of visas.

While foreign nationals without a CDL can work in the U.S., they don’t have permanent resident status.

The BMV noted that individuals who submitted appropriate documentation in line with FMCSA’s updated regulations will receive notifications indicating that their credentials remain valid until their expiration dates.

The licenses for the 1,200 drivers were canceled due to the original documentation not meeting FMCSA’s current requirements for H-2A, H2B, or E-2 visas.

According to Blau, Ohio does not plan to begin issuing new non-domicile CDLs again, nor will it renew existing ones that have expired. Currently, the BMV has not completed the entire list of downgraded licenses but has sent downgrade notices to about 1,200 individuals in the initial review batch.

Transport Secretary Sean Duffy emphasized the situation on social media, mentioning a specific foreign truck driver who failed to comply with U.S. regulations and couldn’t prove legal residence in the U.S. He stated, “They didn’t follow our rules and couldn’t demonstrate they were here legally, prompting the state of Ohio to take action. More crackdowns are on the horizon!”

Back in April 2025, Duffy cautioned that states failing to adhere to President Trump’s executive order regarding non-domicile CDLs might risk funding cuts. His correspondence with Department of Transportation funders highlighted that these states had “entered into legally enforceable agreements” with the federal government.

Duffy’s letter emphasized that, as recipients of DOT funds, these states are obliged to comply with all applicable federal laws and regulations. This includes various constitutional protections, laws, and policies related to free speech and immigration regulation.