A concerning incident on a Missouri interstate has prompted a federal investigation into the licensing of truck drivers in Minnesota.
The incident involved a Minnesota-licensed trucker driving an 18-wheeler the wrong way on an interstate. After crossing the median, the driver was pulled over by state troopers.
Investigators determined the driver possessed a valid commercial driver’s license issued by Minnesota. However, during a roadside inspection, the driver was unable to demonstrate English proficiency, specifically struggling to read and comprehend road signs. The driver was placed out of service, according to Sgt. Dallas Thompson of the Missouri State Highway Patrol. “During that test, the trooper noticed that he wasn’t able to read and comprehend the road signs. At the completion of that inspection, the driver was placed out of service,” Thompson said.
The driver was cited and released, and another licensed driver completed the trip. The driver is employed by Cargo Transportation LLC, which is listed as being located at an apartment complex in Hopkins, Minnesota.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is now investigating the carrier. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed the investigation on X, formerly known as Twitter. The Department of Homeland Security was contacted regarding the driver’s immigration status, but did not respond.
This incident comes after previous scrutiny of Minnesota’s commercial driver’s license issuance practices. In December, Secretary Duffy alleged that Minnesota had illegally issued hundreds of non-domiciled commercial driver’s licenses – licenses issued to individuals who are not U.S. Citizens or permanent residents.
Minnesota Driver and Vehicle Services acknowledged “identified and corrected some administrative errors with issuing non-domiciled CDLs” and has since paused the issuance of such licenses.
In response to the Missouri incident, a spokesperson for the Minnesota Department of Public Safety stated that they are awaiting the results of the FMCSA investigation. The spokesperson confirmed that Minnesota follows federal regulations (CFR 383) when issuing commercial driver’s licenses and that all applicants must pass knowledge and behind-the-wheel tests in English.
President Trump has called on Congress to pass legislation banning undocumented immigrants from obtaining commercial driver’s licenses.
Frequently Asked Questions
What prompted the federal investigation?
A Minnesota-licensed trucker drove the wrong way on a Missouri interstate and subsequently failed an English proficiency test during a roadside inspection.
Has Minnesota acknowledged any issues with its CDL process?
Minnesota Driver and Vehicle Services stated it “identified and corrected some administrative errors with issuing non-domiciled CDLs” and has paused issuing them.
What is a non-domiciled CDL?
A non-domiciled commercial driver’s license is issued to drivers who are not U.S. Citizens or permanent residents.
How might this incident impact commercial driving regulations in the future?
