Thousands of immigrant truck drivers across California have lost their ability to work after the state canceled their commercial driver’s licenses. The cancellations are the result of mismatched expiration dates between drivers’ commercial licenses and their Employment Authorization Documents (EADs).

The issue affects about 20,000 drivers statewide, according to the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).

Last week, a judge ruled the DMV must create a path for drivers whose licenses were canceled to potentially reapply. However, the agency has not yet explained what that process will look like.

In a recent update on March 6, advocates said the court did not grant an emergency motion that sought to stop the DMV from canceling the licenses. The request was supported by advocacy groups including The Sikh Coalition, the Asian Law Caucus, and the Jakara Movement.

Because the court denied the request, the DMV can continue canceling some commercial driver’s licenses while the lawsuit moves forward.

If a driver’s CDL expiration date does not match the expiration date on their Employment Authorization Document (EAD), the advocacy groups recommend downgrading the license to a regular Class C license so the driver can still legally operate a regular vehicle for now. 

If a driver’s CDL expiration date matches their EAD, or if their EAD had already expired when they applied, they are encouraged to contact the California Department of Motor Vehicles to request a review of their documents.

The advocacy groups also recommend that affected drivers contact the DMV as soon as possible while the state works on a clearer solution.

The dispute follows from federal transportation guidelines requiring commercial driver’s licenses for certain immigrants to match the expiration date of their employment authorization documents. 

Advocates with the Jakara Movement, a nonprofit that works with Punjabi and Sikh communities, the Asian Law Caucus and the Sikh Coalition, filed a lawsuit against the state agency in December after the cancellations began. 

The group argued the licenses were improperly canceled due to an administrative issue involving employment authorization documents, or Employment Authorization Documents (EADs).

“Even though the ruling was in our favor, many community members are still going to be affected,” said Jagmeet Singh of the Jakara Movement, after the DMV was ordered to create a path for canceled licenses. “Most of them are still going to lose their licenses, and the DMV hasn’t outlined a process yet for them to get them back.”

For many drivers, the loss of a license means losing their main source of income.

“These are primary breadwinners,” Singh said. “Families are worried about how they’re going to keep a roof over their heads and feed their children.”

Singh said many immigrant drivers, particularly in the Central Valley, work in trucking because it offers stable pay without requiring a college degree. 

“Trucking is a ladder for upward mobility,” he said. “It’s a way for people to build a life here and support their families.”

Singh said the organization has received calls from drivers across multiple immigrant communities, including Punjabi and Latino drivers, who are struggling to find work while their licenses remain invalid.

Some drivers have tried turning to other jobs, such as ride-share driving or delivery work, but opportunities are limited.

“There’s not enough demand for thousands of people to suddenly become Uber drivers,” Singh said.

Singh warned the issue could also affect California’s economy, particularly in the Central Valley, where agriculture and trucking are closely linked.

According to agricultural production statistics from the California Department of Food and Agriculture, California produces nearly half of the nation’s vegetables and more than three-quarters of its fruits and nuts. Singh said many of the truck drivers who transport those goods across the country are immigrants.

“With thousands fewer drivers available, it could impact supply chains,” Singh said. “It could drive up food prices or create delays in getting products to other states.”

On stereotypes about immigrant truck drivers, Singh said immigrant truck drivers often face false assumptions about their skills and ability to communicate in English. 

“The narrative that immigrant drivers can’t read English or road signs is false,” he said. 

Under federal regulations (49 CFR § 391.11(b)(2)), a commercial driver must be able to read and speak English well enough to understand highway signs, respond to official inquiries, and complete required reports. California enforces language proficiency as part of its CDL testing and licensure process, conducting all road and skills exams in English.  

“They wouldn’t be able to do the job otherwise,” Singh said.

He also added that immigrant drivers are sometimes wrongly accused of “stealing jobs” from other workers. 

“These drivers are providing a critical service to the state and the country,” Singh said. “They’re transporting fruits, vegetables, and other goods that feed communities across the nation. Their work supports the economy, and their contributions are often overlooked.”

Singh, whose father worked as a truck driver for more than 30 years, said the profession has long been a source of pride in immigrant communities.

“My dad came to the United States and built a life for our family through trucking,” he said. “He helped put all of his kids through college.”

In a statement following the ruling, the Jakara Movement criticized the state’s handling of the issue.

“We are outraged that tens of thousands of hardworking immigrant drivers are being forced to pay the price for the DMV’s own failures. Stripping people of their livelihoods without a clear and fair process is unacceptable. Our communities will not stand by as vulnerable immigrant workers are sacrificed for funding. We will keep fighting until all receive the justice they deserve,” the organization said. 

Singh said their immediate goal is for the DMV to create a clear process that allows affected drivers with valid work authorization to regain their licenses and return to work.