Colorado Under Fire for CDL Violations Amid Nationwide Enforcement Initiative

Colorado has recently found itself in the crosshairs of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) as the agency intensifies its enforcement of federal commercial driver’s license (CDL) regulations across the country.

On December 22, DOT Secretary Sean Duffy issued a stern warning to Colorado, threatening to withdraw $24 million in federal funding unless the state promptly revokes commercial driver’s licenses that have been deemed issued illegally. Duffy indicated that decertification of Colorado’s entire CDL program could also be on the table if corrective action is not taken.

“Colorado doesn’t get to pick and choose what federal rules it follows – especially when the driving public is at risk,” Duffy stated in a news release. “It’s been nearly two months since Colorado admitted that they knowingly broke the law and issued trucking licenses to Mexican nationals. Colorado has two options: revoke the licenses immediately, or I will pull federal funding.”

The Findings of the Audit

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) conducted a nationwide audit earlier this year, revealing that about 22% of Colorado’s non-domiciled CDLs were issued in violation of federal regulations. Many of these licenses were issued to Mexican nationals, which violates existing federal rules.

The Associated Press reported that Colorado Governor Jared Polis referred to the situation as a case of “crossed wires,” indicating that letters would be sent to affected drivers holding improperly issued licenses.

However, DOT officials have expressed frustration with the state’s slow response. In a letter, the department emphasized that Colorado is permitting improperly credentialed drivers to operate 80,000-pound trucks while the situation remains unresolved.

A Nationwide Concern

Colorado is not alone in facing scrutiny. The audit unearthed broader issues related to how various states issue non-domiciled CDLs, inciting a wave of warning letters and funding threats across the nation. Here are some notable findings:

• New York: Labeled the “worst offender,” 53% of the sampled non-domiciled CDL records were issued unlawfully, threatening up to $73 million in federal funding.
• Minnesota: Received a warning letter addressing compliance with federal licensing requirements, including English language proficiency.
• California: The state’s audit revealed that over 25% of non-domiciled CDLs were issued in violation of federal standards, leading to the revocation of approximately 17,000–21,000 licenses.
• Pennsylvania: Received a federal compliance letter regarding issues in its non-domiciled CDL practices.
• New Mexico: Paused the issuance of non-domiciled CDLs to comply with new federal requirements, asserting that they remain compliant with federal law.
• South Dakota: Received a DOT letter raising concerns about CDL compliance related to non-domiciled drivers.
• Texas: Flagged during the audit, the state received a letter regarding non-domiciled CDL issuance and was warned about potential enforcement actions.
• Washington: Also notified by DOT about compliance concerns involving non-domiciled CDLs.

As the review continues, federal officials have indicated that additional states could be added to this list, suggesting that the jurisdictions facing scrutiny may expand in the coming months.