CDL Prep Hero

CDL Rule Changes Heading Into 2027

Several federal CDL rules are already in effect going into 2027. Two state testing dates land in 2027. One English-proficiency change is still a proposal.

By Evergreen Comply, LLC Editorial Staff · Last reviewed

The short version

  • A final rule effective March 16, 2026 limits who can hold a non-domiciled CLP or CDL. It applies to foreign-domiciled applicants who hold specific, verifiable employment-based nonimmigrant statuses. 91 FR 7044.
  • CVSA out-of-service criteria have treated an English language proficiency violation as out of service since June 25, 2025. FMCSA published a proposal on August 10, 2026 to write that into the federal safety regulations. The proposal is not a final rule. 91 FR 51422.
  • Since November 18, 2024, states must check the Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse before issuing, renewing, upgrading, or transferring a CLP or CDL, and must downgrade a driver reported as prohibited. 49 CFR 383.73.

Non-domiciled CDL final rule

FMCSA published “Restoring Integrity to the Issuance of Non-Domiciled Commercial Drivers Licenses (CDL)” on February 13, 2026. The citation is 91 FR 7044. The Federal Register dates line says the final rule is effective March 16, 2026. The docket number is FMCSA-2025-0622.

The notice abstract says the rule limits eligibility for non-domiciled commercial learner’s permits and commercial driver’s licenses for foreign-domiciled individuals to those who hold specific, verifiable employment-based nonimmigrant status. Read the regulatory text in the notice before you rely on a particular immigration category. This page does not list visa classes beyond that abstract.

State agencies have posted their own instructions. California DMV says that, until further notice, it cannot issue, reissue, or renew limited-term legal presence (non-domiciled) CDLs. The August 30, 2026 copy of New York DMV’s get-a-CDL page says offices were temporarily unable to accept a CLP or CDL application from an applicant who is not a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident.

Sources: Federal Register: Non-domiciled CDL final rule (91 FR 7044); California DMV: Commercial driver licenses; New York DMV: Get a commercial driver license

English language proficiency

On August 10, 2026, FMCSA published a notice of proposed rulemaking, “English Language Proficiency; Out of Service Criteria,” at 91 FR 51422. Docket No. FMCSA-2026-0826. The action line is “Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).” The dates line says comments were due on or before October 9, 2026. The document does not give a final-rule effective date. It proposes to codify the English language proficiency driver qualification requirement as an out-of-service violation.

The same notice says that on May 1, 2025, CVSA voted to incorporate violations of 49 CFR 391.11(b)(2) into the North American Standard Out-of-Service Criteria, effective June 25, 2025. That is the agency’s account of the CVSA criteria. The federal proposal to copy that condition into the safety regulations is still a proposal.

Testing rules are separate from the roadside out-of-service criteria. Under 49 CFR 383.133, a state may give a knowledge test in a foreign language, provided no interpreter is used. Skills tests are different: interpreters are prohibited, the applicant must understand and respond to the examiner’s verbal commands in English, and neither the applicant nor the examiner may communicate in a language other than English during the skills test.

States can set a stricter knowledge-test language than the federal option. Texas DPS states that, effective June 1, 2026, it will exclusively administer all CDL knowledge examinations in English, and that Spanish-language versions of those knowledge tests will no longer be offered. The same page says skills tests continue to be conducted in English.

Sources: Federal Register: English language proficiency out-of-service proposal (91 FR 51422); 49 CFR 383.133: Test methods; 49 CFR 391.11: General qualifications of drivers; Texas DPS: How to apply for a commercial driver license

Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse

Beginning November 18, 2024, 49 CFR 383.73 requires the state to request information from the Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse before it issues, renews, upgrades, or transfers a CLP or CDL. If the response says the applicant is prohibited from operating a commercial motor vehicle under 49 CFR 382.501(a), the state must not complete that issuance, renewal, upgrade, or transfer.

The same section says that, beginning November 18, 2024, when a state receives notice that a CLP or CDL holder is prohibited, it must start its downgrade procedures. The downgrade must be completed and recorded on the CDLIS driver record within 60 days of the state’s receipt of that notification.

FMCSA’s Clearinghouse II notice, dated November 18, 2024, describes the same compliance date. It says drivers in a “prohibited” status lose state commercial driving privileges until they complete the return-to-duty process, and that a prohibited status results in losing or being denied a CDL or CLP.

Sources: 49 CFR 383.73: State procedures; FMCSA Clearinghouse: Clearinghouse II and CDL downgrades

Entry-level driver training

49 CFR 380.600 says compliance with the entry-level driver training rules is required on or after February 7, 2022. Under 49 CFR 380.609, a person applying for the first time for a Class A or Class B CDL, or upgrading to a Class A or Class B CDL, must complete training from a provider listed on the Training Provider Registry. A person seeking a passenger (P), school bus (S), or hazardous materials (H) endorsement for the first time must complete the training for that endorsement from a registry provider.

49 CFR 380.603 lists exceptions. One of them: drivers issued a Class A CDL, Class B CDL, or a P, S, or H endorsement before February 7, 2022, are not required to comply with that subpart for the credential they already held. Except for the H endorsement, theory and behind-the-wheel training must be completed within one year of finishing the first portion. Use the Training Provider Registry to confirm a school, and read the exception text before you assume you are covered or exempt.

Sources: 49 CFR 380.600: ELDT compliance date; 49 CFR 380.609: General entry-level driver training requirements; 49 CFR 380.603: Entry-level driver training applicability; FMCSA Training Provider Registry

Dates that fall in 2027

New York DMV’s transit-bus page says the FMCSA exemption of the engine-compartment, or “under-the-hood,” component of the pre-trip inspection for Limited Transit Bus road tests is effective from July 16, 2025 through July 16, 2027. Applicants who use it must finish the listed steps on or before July 16, 2027. The page says the exemption requires the intrastate-only (K) restriction and the Transit Bus Only (T1) restriction. After the exemption expires, a CDL with the T1 restriction cannot be renewed. Keeping a CDL then requires a permit, a full CDL road test, and the required fees.

Maine BMV’s CDL exam page says a new Vehicular Inspection Module will be required for all applicants on November 1, 2026, and that modernized testing will be required for all applicants on September 1, 2027.

Sources: New York DMV: Transit Bus Only restriction; Maine BMV: Commercial driver's license exam

What to watch

The open federal item with a docket, among the rules on this page, is the English language proficiency proposal. Docket No. FMCSA-2026-0826. The August 10, 2026 notice is a proposal to codify the out-of-service condition. It is not a final rule, and this page does not predict whether FMCSA will adopt it.

The non-domiciled rule in docket FMCSA-2025-0622 is already a final rule, effective March 16, 2026. The Clearinghouse state-query and downgrade duties have a compliance date of November 18, 2024. Entry-level driver training has a compliance date of February 7, 2022.

Practice the knowledge-test subjects on the web, or see what the CDL Prep Hero app includes. Practice on this site is not the official exam and does not satisfy entry-level driver training.

Sources: Federal Register: English language proficiency out-of-service proposal (91 FR 51422); Federal Register: Non-domiciled CDL final rule (91 FR 7044); 49 CFR 383.73: State procedures; 49 CFR 380.600: ELDT compliance date

Questions from this page

What did the non-domiciled CDL rule change?

FMCSA published a final rule on February 13, 2026, at 91 FR 7044. It is effective March 16, 2026. The rule limits eligibility for non-domiciled commercial learner's permits and commercial driver's licenses for foreign-domiciled individuals to people who hold specific, verifiable employment-based nonimmigrant status. The docket is FMCSA-2025-0622.

Are English language proficiency violations out of service?

FMCSA's August 10, 2026 notice says the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance made violations of 49 CFR 391.11(b)(2) an out-of-service condition effective June 25, 2025. That notice proposes to codify the same out-of-service condition in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations. It is a notice of proposed rulemaking, docket FMCSA-2026-0826, and it does not set a final-rule effective date. Separately, 49 CFR 383.133 allows a knowledge test in a foreign language without an interpreter, and it requires the skills test to be conducted in English.

How does the Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse affect a CDL?

Beginning November 18, 2024, 49 CFR 383.73 requires a state to request Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse information before it issues, renews, upgrades, or transfers a commercial learner's permit or commercial driver's license. If the Clearinghouse reports that the person is prohibited from operating a commercial motor vehicle, the state must not complete that transaction. When a state is notified that a holder is prohibited, it must downgrade the credential and record the downgrade on the CDLIS driver record within 60 days.

Is entry-level driver training still required?

Yes for the credentials named in 49 CFR 380.609, on or after February 7, 2022. That section requires training from a provider on the Training Provider Registry for a first Class A or Class B CDL, an upgrade to a Class A or Class B CDL, and a first passenger, school bus, or hazardous materials endorsement. 49 CFR 380.603 lists exceptions, including a driver who was issued that CDL or endorsement before February 7, 2022.

Which CDL testing dates fall in 2027?

New York DMV says its transit-bus under-the-hood exemption runs from July 16, 2025 through July 16, 2027. Maine BMV says modernized CDL testing will be required for all applicants on September 1, 2027. Maine also says a new Vehicular Inspection Module will be required for all applicants on November 1, 2026. Other states set their own dates.

Sources and editorial notes

Editorial attribution: Evergreen Comply, LLC Editorial Staff. Each section links the official page the statement comes from. These pages do not replace your state manual, a registered training provider, or instructions from your licensing agency.

  • Federal Register: Non-domiciled CDL final rule (91 FR 7044)
    Published February 13, 2026. Effective March 16, 2026. Docket No. FMCSA-2025-0622. Limits non-domiciled CLP and CDL eligibility for foreign-domiciled individuals to specific, verifiable employment-based nonimmigrant statuses.
  • Federal Register: English language proficiency out-of-service proposal (91 FR 51422)
    Notice of proposed rulemaking published August 10, 2026. Docket No. FMCSA-2026-0826. Comments were due on or before October 9, 2026. The notice describes CVSA out-of-service criteria effective June 25, 2025. This document is a proposal and does not set a final-rule effective date.
  • 49 CFR 383.133: Test methods
    FMCSA question pool. Knowledge tests may be in a foreign language without an interpreter. A retake uses a different version. Skills tests are in English, in order: pre-trip inspection, basic vehicle control, on-road skills.
  • 49 CFR 391.11: General qualifications of drivers
    Except as provided in subpart G, a person is qualified to drive a commercial motor vehicle if at least 21 years old, and must be able to read and speak English as that section describes.
  • Texas DPS: How to apply for a commercial driver license
    Effective June 1, 2026, Texas administers CDL knowledge examinations in English only. The page lists the knowledge-test order and a 14-day CLP hold before skills tests.
  • 49 CFR 383.73: State procedures
    Beginning November 18, 2024, the state must request Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse information before issuing, renewing, upgrading, or transferring a CLP or CDL, and must downgrade a prohibited driver.
  • FMCSA Clearinghouse: Clearinghouse II and CDL downgrades
    November 18, 2024 is the compliance date. A prohibited Clearinghouse status results in losing or being denied a CDL or CLP until the return-to-duty process is complete.
  • 49 CFR 380.600: ELDT compliance date
    Compliance with entry-level driver training is required on or after February 7, 2022.
  • 49 CFR 380.609: General entry-level driver training requirements
    First Class A or B, an upgrade to Class A or B, and a first P, S, or H endorsement require training from a provider listed on the Training Provider Registry.
  • 49 CFR 380.603: Entry-level driver training applicability
    Lists exceptions, including a CDL or P, S, or H endorsement issued before February 7, 2022. Except for the H endorsement, theory and behind-the-wheel portions must be finished within one year of the first portion.
  • FMCSA Training Provider Registry
    Search for a registered training provider. A school that is not on this registry cannot be used to meet ELDT.
  • New York DMV: Transit Bus Only restriction
    The exemption runs July 16, 2025 through July 16, 2027. Checked October 26, 2026 against the Internet Archive capture of this page dated June 14, 2026. The live page returned a bot check that day.
  • Maine BMV: Commercial driver's license exam
    A new Vehicular Inspection Module is required for all applicants on November 1, 2026. Modernized testing is required for all applicants on September 1, 2027.
  • California DMV: Commercial driver licenses
    CLP steps include MCSA-5875 and MCSA-5876, a 14-day hold, three knowledge-test attempts, and an application valid for 12 months. The page also says California has paused non-domiciled CLP and CDL issuance until further notice.
  • New York DMV: Get a commercial driver license
    Application fee $10 for written tests taken together; additional $5 for a required test not taken and passed then; road test fee $40. Checked October 26, 2026 against the Internet Archive capture dated August 30, 2026. That page does not publish a General Knowledge question count. The live page returned a bot check on October 26, 2026.

Last reviewed . Next source review due , or earlier if the official guidance changes.

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