Texas lawmakers are considering additional restrictions on foreign-issued commercial driver’s licenses as state officials and trucking industry leaders raise concerns about fraudulent credentials, driver qualifications and highway safety.
The Texas House Transportation Committee held an information session Monday focused on commercial driver’s licenses issued to non-U.S. residents, including when licenses issued by Mexico and Canada should be recognized in Texas.
No legislation was before the committee. Instead, lawmakers used the hearing to gather information ahead of the next legislative session, when the issue could return in the form of new restrictions on CDL eligibility and how foreign credentials may be used within the state.
DPS Raises Concerns Over Mexican CDL Fraud
Texas Department of Public Safety Maj. Omar Villarreal told lawmakers that the state began encountering more questionable Mexican commercial licenses after Mexico transitioned to digital commercial licenses in 2021.
According to Villarreal, individuals who were not Mexican citizens could allegedly obtain the digital credentials through contacts in Mexico by sending money. DPS subsequently saw an increase in commercial vehicle crashes involving drivers using those licenses, he said.
Texas lawmakers moved to address the problem in 2023 by requiring drivers with a Mexican Licencia Federal de Conductor to also possess a valid work visa before Texas would recognize the license.
DPS officials and trucking industry representatives told lawmakers that the change significantly reduced the number of unqualified drivers operating on Texas highways.
But industry officials say a loophole remains.
Foreign-issued commercial licenses are designed in part to facilitate international trade, allowing qualified drivers to transport goods across the Canadian and Mexican borders. Trucking representatives told lawmakers those credentials can sometimes be used for trucking operations conducted entirely within the United States.
Industry representatives urged the Legislature to consider preventing Canadian and Mexican license holders from performing intrastate operations in Texas while continuing to allow legitimate cross-border transportation.
Fatal Austin Crash Adds to CDL Scrutiny
The hearing also touched on serious crashes that have raised questions about how commercial licenses are issued and reviewed.
Among them was the case of Solomun Weldekeal-Araya, the driver of an 18-wheeler involved in a North Austin collision that killed five people and injured several others.
Federal regulators determined that DPS had mistakenly issued Araya a regular CDL rather than a non-domiciled license. Personnel had incorrectly concluded that his employment authorization and refugee status made him eligible for the regular credential.
Araya is facing 22 charges, including five counts of manslaughter.
John Esparza, president and CEO of the Texas Trucking Association, framed the broader issue around whether the people behind the wheel of massive commercial vehicles are qualified to operate them safely.
“This is not about where someone was born or the language they speak at home,” Esparza said, according to KVUE. “It is whether the individual can safely perform that job.”
Not everyone at the hearing agreed with placing additional scrutiny on foreign-issued credentials.
State Rep. Christina Morales, D-Houston, questioned whether the approach could unfairly single out certain drivers.
“It seems like we’re targeting people just because they have the Mexican CDL,” Morales said during the hearing, according to KVUE.
Texas Tightens English Requirements for Commercial Drivers
The debate comes as Texas has already tightened other parts of its commercial licensing system.
In June, DPS announced that commercial driver license and commercial learner permit knowledge exams would be administered only in English. The agency said the change aligns with federal English-language proficiency requirements and is intended to ensure commercial drivers can communicate safely while operating on Texas roads.
Gov. Greg Abbott also ordered DPS in September 2025 to strictly enforce existing English proficiency requirements for commercial drivers, including drivers holding intrastate licenses. Commercial Vehicle Enforcement troopers were directed to conduct English Language Proficiency reviews of drivers during enforcement activities.
Federal officials have reported that roughly 26,000 drivers were removed from the road over the past year for failing English proficiency requirements. About 30,000 commercial licenses were also canceled after authorities determined they had been issued illegally.
Federal regulators have identified CDL issuance problems in multiple states, adding another layer to Texas officials’ concerns.
Trucking industry representatives argue that state-by-state enforcement can only go so far. An improperly issued CDL obtained in another state can potentially be transferred or used by a driver who later operates in Texas, making consistent national standards an important part of the industry's push for tighter oversight.
Legislature Could Take Up CDL Changes Next Session
For now, lawmakers have not settled on what additional restrictions Texas should adopt.
The questions before them include whether foreign CDL holders should be limited to international or cross-border commerce, how Texas can better verify that drivers meet licensing requirements and what safeguards are needed to prevent fraudulent or improperly issued credentials from being used on the state’s highways.
Any legislative response will have to balance those safety concerns against the role Canadian and Mexican drivers play in cross-border trade.
