California CDL Limbo: 13,000 Licenses Still Revoked Despite Court Order

Key Details A California Superior Court judge ruled in February that the state DMV must restore non-domiciled Commercial Driver Licenses and accept new applications within a reasonable timeframe. However, 13,000 affected truck drivers still lack valid CDLs months after the court's decision. Why It Matters The DMV now tells drivers they can reapply, but processing will take approximately one year. Even worse, new federal Department of Transportation rules effective March 16 ban nearly all noncitizens from obtaining CDLs, creating a legal conflict between state and federal requirements. The Current Standoff The federal government has already withheld funding from California and threatened to revoke the state's CDL-issuing authority entirely. The DMV sued the DOT in February over these threats but has not restored the 13,000 licenses as the judge ordered. California argues it faces an impossible choice between complying with state court rulings and federal transportation regulations. What's Next Only seasonal agricultural workers (H2A/H2B visas) and significant business investors (E2 visas) can obtain CDLs under the new federal rules. A judge hearing on April 2 revealed the state is still deadlocked with federal authorities. The case won't be revisited until October 2026, leaving thousands of drivers in legal limbo.