New California Rules Could Push Sixty One Thousand Truck Drivers Toward Immediate License Loss

Trucks transporting agricultural goods navigated fields near Firebaugh in Fresno County on September 24, 2025. Recent federal mandates may reduce California's truck drivers by approximately 61,000, following an executive order from President Trump that bars specific immigrant groups from obtaining commercial trucking licenses. U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy initiated new regulations impacting refugees, asylum seekers, and DACA recipients, further complicating California's freight transport landscape and potentially leading to elevated shipping expenses. The ongoing dispute between Duffy and Governor Gavin Newsom highlights the tension, with claims from Duffy alleging unsafe practices, while Newsom's office disputes these assertions. Under the new regulations released in September, the California Department of Motor Vehicles has already revoked 17,000 licenses. As more than 300 applications from immigrants have been denied and ongoing legal challenges persist, the future of California's trucking economy hangs in the balance, with significant implications for the industry's workforce.