Concerns about Mexican commercial driver’s licenses for heavy vehicles and cabotage were at the center of the Texas House Transportation Committee hearing
The Texas House Transportation Committee held a hearing on Monday to address the issues that continue to affect the trucking industry.
The hearing took place at the Texas State Capitol in Austin on Monday, August 17.
According to KVUE, the Texas House of Representatives heard testimony regarding concerns that some drivers are operating solely with a Federal Driver’s License or a Mexican driver’s permit. Commander Omar Villarreal of the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) states that the Mexican government began using digital licenses in 2021, which has allowed drivers of all nationalities to fraudulently obtain a Mexican driver’s license. Mexican commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs) are still recognized as legal in the United States to facilitate the transport of goods between the two countries, but these CDLs—while technically legal—raise concerns regarding safety, driver eligibility, and cabotage.
“In April 2021, Mexico adopted the digital commercial driver’s license, and this change opened the door to this type of fraud,” said Commander Omar Villarreal of the Texas DPS. “A driver in the U.S.—who had never been a Mexican citizen—would contact someone in the Mexican government through word of mouth, send money via wire transfer, and instantly receive a digital Mexican license.”
Texas DPS officials say the switch to virtual Mexican CDLs led to an influx of foreign drivers into the state, which led to the passage in 2023 of a law requiring drivers with a Mexican CDL to also hold a work visa in order to drive legally in the state. Authorities say this legislation reduced the number of unqualified truck drivers on Texas roads and lowered the number of truck-related accidents, but that much work remains to be done to make Texas a safer place to drive.
During the hearing, leaders from the trucking industry urged lawmakers to reconsider the legality of Mexican and Canadian CDL-type driver’s licenses in the country. These leaders claim that Mexican drivers are using their CDLs to transport goods within the U.S.—a practice known as “cabotage”—rather than crossing the border. This practice is depriving American drivers of jobs and income, and endangers citizens on the road. Canadian drivers also engage in cabotage, but this practice appears to be less widespread than among drivers from Mexico.
“If we look back at the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and the USMCA, the intent of the reciprocal agreement regarding that Mexican license (LFC) was for the international transport of goods. It was never intended to be used for intrastate purposes,” Villareal stated. “These drivers are here in Texas, undermining the U.S. labor market and working for U.S. companies. They are unqualified drivers and are endangering the public.”
No legislative proposal was presented at the hearing, but lawmakers heard arguments in favor of a state ban on CDL-type driver’s licenses issued by Mexico and Canada.
“We’re talking about people driving 80,000-pound vehicles or heavier on our highways, right alongside Texas families,” said John Esparza, president and CEO of the Texas Motor Carriers Association. “It’s not about where someone was born or what language they speak at home. It’s about whether that person can do the job safely.”
