The state of Oklahoma on Wednesday passed a bill to increase the requirements for foreign commercial drivers that imposes $3,000 fines, shut-down penalties, and potentially up to 90 days in jail for subsequent offenses, aimed at non-domiciled commercial drivers who don't meet the new documentation standards or can't demonstrate they can understand English.
The Oklahoma Secure Roads and Safe Trucking Act of 2025 establishes the new requirements for commercials driver's licenses, includes an English language proficiency clause, and targets holders of non-domiciled CDLs, licenses some states, including Oklahoma, issue both to non-citizens of the country and to citizens that live in other states. An Overdrive review of non-domiciled CDL issuance found a growing number of these CDLs issued in at least five states.
Service Oklahoma, which issues CDLs in the state, told Overdrive it began issuing non-domiciled CDLs in 2022 and has since issued 602 total (including renewals) with 253 active non-domiciled CDLs currently. The non-domiciled CDLs issued by Oklahoma to non-citizens expire when the driver's work authorization documents expire.
In April, neighboring Arkansas passed a similar piece of legislation, which included fines of $500 for drivers that can't demonstrate English language proficiency, also amending rules around foreign CDLs.
[Related: Arkansas to fine drivers $500 if they can't speak English proficiently]
Under the new bill in Oklahoma, "a person holding a non-domiciled commercial driver license or non-domiciled commercial learner’s permit within this state shall also possess a valid work visa and provide proof of citizenship to validate his or her identity while operating a commercial motor vehicle," according to the bill's text. "Proof of citizenship shall be demonstrated through presentation of a birth certificate, naturalization certificate, or valid passport."
A carrier whose driver can't prove their citizenship or show a valid work visa will be subject to a fine of $3,000 for each violation, with that money going toward Oklahoma's Weigh Station Improvement Revolving Fund. Similarly, drivers found unable to speak English up to the requirements of federal regulations -- 49 CFR 391.11(b) -- also face fines of up to $3,000.
Additionally, that driver would be prohibited from operating a commercial motor vehicle within Oklahoma until the driver can to meet the ID requirements. If that driver keeps driving despite the prohibition, they face a misdemeanor charge and a fine of up to $1,000 and potentially also up to 90 days in jail. The proceeds from those fines will go to Oklahoma's Trauma Care Assistance Revolving Fund.
If the driver gets put out of service by this law, the employing trucking company will be notified of the location of the truck and can get the equipment back only "upon payment of the fine in full and presentation of a driver who meets all requirements to operate a commercial motor vehicle" in Oklahoma, according to the legislation. "If the commercial motor carrier is unable to either pay such fine or present such driver within twelve hours after notification," Oklahoma will contact the owner of the cargo and allow them to transfer the load.
“This legislation puts an end to the days of foreign drivers slipping through the cracks and putting our citizens at risk,” said Oklahoma state Rep. Jonathan Wilk in a press release. “President Trump showed us the importance of securing our borders and standing up for American workers. SB 20 brings that same America First mindset to Oklahoma roads. We are no longer going to tolerate drivers who can’t prove who they are, can’t speak the language, and can’t follow the law."
American Truckers United, an activist group who lobbied for this bill and the one in Arkansas, said it celebrated the bill's passage and that it would "immediately restore safety to Oklahoma’s highways and provide vital relief to our hardworking American truck drivers" once signed into law by the governor.
Oklahoma Trucking Association CEO Jim Newport told Overdrive that while his organization didn't request this particular bill, OTA supports it.
The Secure Roads and Safe Trucking Act of 2025 "was completely revised very late in the legislative session," said Newport, reinforcing that wasn't requested by OTA. "Regardless, the OTA informally supported the safety provisions found" in the bill. "In particular, the OTA supported the provisions that reinforced on a state level President Trump's recent Executive Order of May 1 of this year, and more recently, the U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy’s endorsement of the same. Arguably, and in the name of safety for all motorists, the Trump/Duffy coattails provided a smooth pathway to codify those federal requirements into state law, regardless of any future White House administration. While not desiring to run afoul of any federal regulations, the OTA will always support safe practices on Oklahoma highways."
Wilk's press release noted the state House of Representatives expects the governor's signature and the law's full adoption.
[Related: Meeting an out-of-service, non-citizen driver who can't read English]
