Published 2 days ago • loading... • Updated 1 day ago

FAIR Exposes How States Gave Foreign Truck Drivers a License to Kill

The Pennsylvania Senate passed SB1295 to require English-only CDL testing and crack down on so-called "CDL mills." The legislation aims to reinforce competency standards and ensure all commercial drivers can communicate effectively on state highways.
Released Wednesday, the Federation for American Immigration Reform's investigative report details systemic noncompliance across state CDL programs. The study, titled "License to Kill," documents more than 128,000 risky credentials issued in one state and lower pass rates for non-English speakers.
Research documents at least 17 fatal crashes involving foreign national CDL-holders in 2025, claiming more than 30 American lives. Victims include five-year-old Dalilah Coleman and Pennsylvania State Trooper Michael Pahira, killed on Interstate 81 while inspecting a commercial vehicle.
Pennsylvania's new law increases maximum fines to $25,000 and mandates one-year license suspensions for first-time violators. PennDOT will enforce English-only testing, while trucking companies knowingly hiring unqualified drivers face fines up to $3,000.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has already capped CDL validity at one year and restricted non-domiciled eligibility. FAIR's report urges Congress to lock in these executive gains through permanent statutory reform to restore long-term program integrity.

Insights by Ground AI