FAIR Report Links Foreign-Language CDL Testing to Deadly Crashes

The investigation highlights a surge in non-domiciled commercial driver's licenses, particularly in California, where over 128,000 such credentials were issued between 2022 and 2025. Data indicates that applicants taking knowledge tests in languages other than English faced significantly lower pass rates, with Arabic and Punjabi speakers succeeding at roughly one-third the rate of English-speaking candidates. Beyond language barriers, the report identifies widespread irregularities, including licenses issued to individuals without valid immigration status and credentials that bypassed national database reporting requirements.

Federal oversight has intensified in response to these findings. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration sanctioned both California and New York, withholding highway funds due to noncompliance with federal safety mandates. While the Trump administration has implemented tighter restrictions—including an April 2025 executive order reinforcing English-language proficiency and a March 2026 rule limiting CDL validity—FAIR officials argue these measures remain vulnerable to reversal. The organization is calling on Congress to codify permanent reforms, including a legislative package dubbed "Dalilah's Law" to mandate English-only testing and restrict licensing eligibility to legal residents.