by Move designed to improve roadway safety by restricting eligibility of commercial driver’s licenses and permits
WASHINGTON — Furniture retailers and logistics operators should be paying close attention to a sweeping emergency action announced last week by U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy, which could significantly impact the trucking workforce that moves their products.
In a dramatic move aimed at improving roadway safety, Secretary Duffy issued a new rule restricting eligibility for non-domiciled commercial driver’s licenses and commercial learner’s permits.
The action comes after a nationwide audit by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration revealed that multiple states, most notably California, were issuing CDLs to drivers who were ineligible or whose legal presence in the U.S. had expired.
“This is a direct threat to the safety of every family on the road,” Duffy said, emphasizing that unsafe drivers would no longer be allowed to operate 80,000-pound trucks. States now must immediately review and revoke improperly issued licenses or risk losing federal highway funds.
Implications for the furniture supply chain
For the furniture industry, which relies heavily on timely and safe trucking operations, the new restrictions could create immediate disruptions.
Non-domiciled drivers make up a significant portion of the trucking workforce in states such as California, Texas and Pennsylvania. Companies could face temporary driver shortages as carriers work to ensure all drivers meet the stricter federal requirements.
“Logistics managers should anticipate potential delays and plan for rerouting or rescheduling shipments,” said transportation consultant Maria Lopez. “This is particularly critical for high-volume periods when warehouses and retail locations depend on just-in-time deliveries.”
The emergency rule also reinforces existing English language proficiency requirements for commercial drivers and expands oversight of noncompliant states. For furniture distributors that contract with carriers across multiple states, compliance verification may become a new operational responsibility.
Next steps for companies
+ Review carrier contracts to ensure all drivers meet federal CDL requirements.
+ Monitor shipments originating from states identified in the FMCSA audit: California, Colorado, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Texas and Washington.
+ Prepare contingency plans for temporary driver shortages or shipment delays.
While the primary goal of the DOT’s action is safety, furniture companies and third-party logistics providers may find themselves navigating a tighter regulatory landscape in the weeks ahead.
Home News Now will provide updates to this story.
To read Duffy’s full statement, click here.
