Alabama passes bill requiring foreign CDL holders to have valid work authorization & demonstrate ELP, fines drivers & companies

Alabama passed a bill Wednesday requiring foreign CDL holders to have a valid work authorization and demonstrate English Language Proficiency, and designates fines for both the driver and trucking company. 

Alabama Governor Kay Ivey signed SB242 into law on Wednesday, March 11th. 

The bill requires any CDL holder operating in Alabama with a foreign CDL to possess a valid US work authorization and demonstrate sufficient ELP. The law also makes it a criminal offense to present a false foreign CDL to law enforcement. If found violating this law, the truck driver will be fined $1,000, the trucking company will be fined $2,000, and the truck will be impounded. 

“Alabama’s economy is booming, and our hardworking truckers play a vital role in keeping goods moving across our state and across this country. At the same time, Alabama families travel these same highways every single day, and they deserve to know the rules are being enforced,” said Governor Ivey. “If you cannot read, write and speak English, you do not need to be driving a commercial vehicle on our roads.”

“The passage of the Highway Safety and Fairness Act helps ensure fairness, accountability and safety across Alabama’s transportation system,” said Rep. Clouse. “By establishing clear requirements for commercial drivers and meaningful penalties for those who violate the law, the Legislature has taken decisive action to protect the traveling public. I am grateful to Governor Ivey for her leadership in signing this important bill into law.”

“Under Governor Ivey’s leadership, Alabama continues taking meaningful steps to strengthen highway safety and hold commercial drivers to the highest standards,” said Secretary Taylor. “This legislation reinforces the work our Motor Carrier Safety Unit is already doing to ensure drivers operating large commercial vehicles on our roads are properly qualified, legally authorized to work and able to communicate during inspections and emergencies. The results of these efforts are already evident, as Alabama has seen a measurable decline in commercial motor vehicle fatalities and crashes. ALEA will continue working with our partners to remove unsafe and unqualified drivers from our highways and protect the traveling public.”

The law will go into effect on October 1st, 2026.