Pennsylvania issued license to trucker now arrested by ICE after fatal Indiana crash
Once again, America is mourning because our commercial driver’s licensing (CDL) system failed.
Federal authorities say a Kyrgyz national behind the wheel of a semitruck crossed into oncoming traffic in Jay County, Indiana, killing four people and injuring several others. ICE has since arrested the driver. But for the families of those lost, enforcement after the fact is cold comfort.
Operating an 80,000-pound commercial vehicle is not a right. It’s a responsibility. And when that responsibility is handed to someone who is not properly vetted nor qualified to operate it, the results can be catastrophic.
The state of Pennsylvania issued this truck driver a non-domiciled CDL, a credential given to someone who is legally allowed to work in the U.S. but doesn’t permanently live in the state issuing the license — often foreign nationals working under temporary U.S. work authorization. But they must meet the same rigorous federal standards as all CDLs.