USPS bans unvetted non-domiciled CDL drivers from transporting mail starting May 1

The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) will no longer allow unvetted non-domiciled Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) to haul mail, starting next month.

Effective May 1, 2026, USPS will no longer allow the transportation of mail by a non-domiciled CDL driver who has not been screened or badged by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), according to an April 16 letter from Vice President of Transportation Strategy Peter Routsolias addressed to suppliers.

The letter informs suppliers that they must “ensure any driver assigned to Postal Service work has satisfied all applicable screening and clearance requirements before performing service.”

In January 2026, USPS officials said that they would “begin working with … contracted trucking providers to phase out any use of non-domiciled CDL operators who have not been thoroughly vetted by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.”

Postal service officials said that the decision came as a result of stricter U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) policy with respect to non-domiciled CDL drivers. “These actions are consistent with the Administration’s goals as expressed in the DOT’s recent interim final rule titled ‘Restoring Integrity to the Issuance of Non-Domiciled CDLs,'” USPS officials said.

“By tightening the use of non-domiciled CDL drivers by our third-party (contracted) providers, USPS seeks to improve transportation safety and accountability and add yet another layer of protection and safety,” USPS stated in January. “USPS strives to promote a culture of safety to minimize accidents among employee and contract drivers. This includes monitoring industry and government data relating to our contractors.”

USPS moves 55,000 loads by truck daily, covering nearly 2 billion miles per year.