Last Week's I-10 Crash in California Left at Least Two Dead
Allegedly undocumented CDL holders keep giving USDOT more reasons to push to revoke massive numbers of non-domiciled CDLs. The latest crash involved a 21-year-old truck driver who slammed into the back of an SUV and caused a chain-reaction crash involving seven other vehicles, including two other semis, near Ontario, California last week.
The California-based driver, who had been issued his CDL just days before causing the crash, was arrested and charged with driving under the influence and vehicular manslaughter. The truck’s dash cam caught actual footage of the tractor-trailer slamming into the back of an SUV.
Almost immediately, Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy issued a renewed call condemning California’s (and other states’) failure to follow federal law in issuing non-domiciled CDLs. DOT has already withheld $40 million in federal highway funds from California and promises to withhold more if the State doesn’t clean up its licensing practices.
ICSA urges its members to be sure its drivers holding non-domiciled CDLs are in the country legally. Otherwise, members are at risk for losing undocumented drivers, or worse yet, being responsible for another horrific crash.
For truckers, testing for marijuana continues. Just as with testing for cocaine, amphetamines, PCP, and opioids, testing for marijuana will continue to be conducted on a pre-employment, random, post-accident, reasonable suspicion, and return-to-duty basis.
As temperatures rise, so do the risks associated with tires, brakes, and overall vehicle condition. Summer heat doesn’t just stress drivers, it amplifies mechanical weaknesses, making maintenance and inspections more important than ever.
The 2026 road construction season is going to be one of the largest in U.S. history and anyone using the roads should be prepared for what’s coming.