California (Rajeev Sharma): California has temporarily halted plans to revoke nearly 17,000 commercial driving licences after a legal challenge from Sikh and immigrant rights organisations, offering short-term relief to thousands of truck and bus drivers across the state. The licences will now remain valid until March while authorities review eligibility and compliance issues.
The decision follows a class-action lawsuit filed by the Sikh Coalition and the Asian Law Caucus, which alleged that immigrant drivers were being disproportionately targeted despite holding valid qualifications. The groups argued that sudden licence cancellations threatened the livelihoods of drivers who depend on commercial driving for employment.
The move comes against the backdrop of strong pressure from the federal government. US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has warned that California risks losing up to $160 million in federal transportation funds if it fails to meet a January 5 enforcement deadline. According to federal officials, $40 million has already been withheld over concerns that the state has not strictly enforced English proficiency standards for commercial drivers.
California began issuing notices invalidating licences after federal audits highlighted cases where licences reportedly remained active even after drivers’ work authorisations had expired. Similar compliance concerns have been raised in Pennsylvania, Minnesota and New York, with federal funding also at stake in those states.
Duffy has taken a hard line on the issue, publicly stating that the delay does not amount to permission for California to ignore federal safety laws. He has emphasized that stricter oversight is aimed at reducing risks on US roads and preventing unqualified drivers from operating heavy vehicles.
Safety concerns intensified following a series of fatal accidents involving immigrant drivers, including a deadly crash in Florida last year and another in California months later. These incidents fueled national debate over licensing standards and immigration enforcement within the trucking industry.
Advocacy groups, however, maintain that broad enforcement actions unfairly impact legal drivers. Munmeeth Kaur, legal director of the Sikh Coalition, said the postponement provides critical breathing room for affected drivers, many of whom face immediate financial hardship if their licences are revoked.
Immigrants make up an estimated 20 percent of the trucking workforce in the US, while non-domiciled commercial licences account for a small share of overall licences. With the March deadline now set, California officials are expected to conduct a more detailed review to determine which drivers remain eligible to stay on the road.
