Federal Court Rejects Stay on Non-Domiciled CDL Rule; Battle Continues

Key Details A three-judge appellate panel has denied requests to block enforcement of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's non-domiciled CDL rule. Two separate lawsuits - one from King County, Washington, and another from labor groups and advocacy organizations - sought to halt the rule's implementation pending court review. Why It Matters The FMCSA's final rule, effective March 16, restricts non-domiciled CDLs to holders of H-2A, H-2B, and E-2 visas. This excludes asylum seekers, DACA recipients, refugees, and those with temporary protected status from obtaining these credentials. One judge indicated he would have granted the stay, signaling potential internal disagreement on the panel. What's Next The cases will move forward on an accelerated schedule. Petitioners' briefs are due June 15, federal responses follow in July, and final briefs arrive August 5. Oral arguments are scheduled for September. Additional parties, including the Teamsters and Sikh Coalition, have been permitted to join as amicus curiae to present their perspectives on this contentious issue affecting driver eligibility nationwide.