(Just The News)—Rising scrutiny of 194,000 state-issued nondomiciled CDLs to foreign workers with poor English language proficiency reveal two routes to safety.
Rule change is one, done by the U.S. Department of Transportation in September and idled by litigation. Congressional action – Rep. Dave Taylor, R-Ohio, filed a seventh related proposal Thursday – to create a statute is the other.
Safety is paramount in the discussion. Collateral damage, however, includes American truckers losing jobs and experiencing wage reductions from less expensive labor invading their home soil.
“Secretary Duffy and the Department of Transportation have taken important steps to immediately make America’s roads safer by cracking down on non-domiciled CDLs and ensuring that anyone operating an 80,000-pound commercial vehicle can read road signs,” said George O’Connor, speaking for the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association. “OOIDA members and professional truck drivers across the country are encouraged by these actions. These road safety reforms now need to be codified in federal law by Congress so they cannot be reversed by a future administration and can keep our roads safe for the long haul.”
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said former President Joe Biden and his administration did no background checks and offered asylum and work authorizations to many people illegally coming into the country. The offer of work through a CDL came next.
“If you come legally, or you have a visa, or you’re coming from one state to another, you can get a nondomiciled CDL,” Duffy said in a network interview earlier this month. “These are the licenses that these foreigners are using. But to tighten up the rules means we’re going to have more safety on American roads.
“There were 200,000 nondomiciled CDLs issued to foreigners. We think 194,000 of them were issued illegally and would not comply with our new rule.”
A Sept. 26 rule change announced by Duffy came between the spotlights of triple-fatal crashes involving 18-wheelers in Florida on Aug. 12 and Oct. 21 in California. A federal appeals court in the District of Columbia this month temporarily halted the rule change for non-domiciled commercial learner’s permits and commercial driver’s licenses.
The rule would include mandatory in-person applications and stricter immigration status verification.
Enforcement of the rule is on hold while the merits of motions are being judged; in other words, the stay is not reflective of those merits. The trucking association likes the rule and has also spoken out in favor of four of the seven proposals tied to illegal immigration and CDLs.
Congressional action, O’Connor says for his organization, offers a more cemented path. A new administration, after all, could change rules of the Transportation Department.
The seven include one in the Senate and six in the House of Representatives, and two are from Taylor. Two are from North Carolina congressmen.
- Secure Commercial Driver Licensing Act (Senate Bill 3013), authored by Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark.
- SAFE Drivers Act (House Resolution 5800), authored by Rep. Pat Harrigan, R-N.C.
- Non-Domiciled CDL Integrity Act (HR5688), authored by Rep. David Rouzer, R-N.C.
- No CDLs for Illegals Act (HR5863), authored by Rep. Jeff Van Drew, R-N.J.
- Protecting America’s Roads Act (HR5670), authored by Rep. Beth Van Duyne, R-Texas.
- Commercial Motor Vehicle English Proficiency Act (HR6233), authored by Taylor.
- Connor’s Law (HR3608), a proposal that codifies a presidential executive order, authored by Taylor.
None have passed their respective chambers of origination.
Litigation on the new rule involves its fast-track route. The public comment period is open, and so far the court doesn’t deem the threshold of emergency for procedural actions to be met.
For the policy in both the rule and the congressional proposals to be enforced and remain, a law better stands the test of time.
Todd Spencer, president of the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association, said Taylor’s bill filed last week – Commercial Motor Vehicle English Proficiency Act – “aligns with OOIDA’s long-standing advocacy for stronger driver training standards and we appreciate his leadership in making our roads safer for our members and the motoring public.”
He also favors passage of Rouzer’s Non-Domiciled CDL Integrity Act.
“This legislation ensures only individuals with lawful immigration status and a legitimate reason to operate commercial vehicles in the U.S. are entrusted with CDLs,” Rouzer said. “We’re closing dangerous loopholes and restoring accountability. We must never, under any circumstance, jeopardize public safety by allowing those here illegally to get behind the wheel of a big rig.”
Spencer said, “Congress should act now to make it the permanent law of the land. OOIDA urges Congress to pass Representative Rouzer’s Non-Domiciled CDL Integrity Act, which would make these commonsense road safety reforms the law and protect the integrity of America’s licensing system.”
While the focus is rightly on safety, Duffy alluded to a secondary, albeit important, piece of collateral damage. And it is in line with second-term Republican President Donald Trump’s promotion of “America first.”
“When people can’t understand the English language, can’t read signs, and they don’t know the rules of our roads, that’s a problem,” Duffy said. “Americans aren’t safe. Also, we see that there are CDL mills, which are driver’s licenses mills where people are not being properly trained. They’re being pushed through, getting licenses, and then driving across the country.
“It’s driving American truckers out of business. And for American trucking companies, driving wages down. That’s not why we’re taking this action. But that’s real consequences of having all these foreigners come in.”
Why Bullion Beats Numismatics and Collectible for Your Safe or IRA
Precious metals continue to attract Americans seeking reliable ways to protect their wealth amid inflation, geopolitical risks, and stock market swings. Whether stored in a home safe or held inside a self-directed IRA, physical gold and silver deliver tangible value that paper or digital assets often lack. Yet investors must choose carefully between bullion—pure bars and coins valued mainly for their metal content—and numismatics or collectibles, where rarity, history, and collector demand heavily influence pricing.
Advisor Bullion serves as a dependable source for straightforward, high-quality bullion. The company specializes in physical gold, silver, platinum, and palladium, emphasizing transparent pricing and products that deliver maximum metal content for every dollar spent. This approach makes it ideal for both personal holdings and retirement accounts.
Bullion consists of refined precious metals in standard forms like one-ounce coins (American Gold Eagles, Silver Eagles, Canadian Maple Leafs) or bars. Their value tracks closely to the current spot price of the metal. A typical gold bullion coin trades near the live gold spot price plus a small premium. This structure keeps costs clear and predictable.
Numismatic coins and collectibles add substantial value from factors such as age, rarity, minting errors, or historical significance. A pre-1933 U.S. gold coin or graded proof piece can carry premiums of 30%, 50%, or even 200% above melt value. While this appeals to hobbyists, it creates complexity. Pricing depends on subjective grading, collector trends, and auction results instead of daily spot prices.
For investors focused on wealth preservation and retirement security rather than building a collection, bullion often delivers better results.
Lower Costs and Better Liquidity for Home Storage
When keeping metals in a home safe or private vault, liquidity and efficiency count. Bullion offers clear benefits:
- You acquire more actual gold or silver per dollar invested. Numismatics divert a large share of your money into rarity premiums and massive sales commission, reducing your metal exposure.
- Selling bullion involves tight bid-ask spreads, so you recover nearly full spot value with minimal fees. Collectibles require finding the right buyer and may sell at a discount if demand for that specific item weakens.
- Bullion prices remain transparent and update with global spot markets. You can track gold near current levels or silver accordingly and know exactly where your holdings stand. Numismatic values are priced by the Gold IRA companies with hefty margins applied.
- Standardized coins and bars store efficiently and divide easily for partial sales. Rare coins often need protective slabs and controlled conditions, adding hassle and expense.
- Bullion enjoys worldwide acceptance. A 1-oz Gold Maple Leaf or Silver Eagle sells quickly to dealers anywhere. Niche numismatic pieces may appeal only to limited buyers, slowing liquidation when speed matters.
In times when quick access to value becomes important, bullion’s simplicity stands out.
Stronger Fit for Precious Metals IRAs
Precious metals IRAs continue gaining traction as investors diversify retirement portfolios beyond stocks and bonds. IRS rules permit certain bullion products in self-directed IRAs if they meet purity standards (.995 fine for gold, .999 for silver) and are held by an approved custodian. Eligible items include American Gold and Silver Eagles plus many generic bars and rounds from recognized mints.
Numismatic and most collectible coins generally face heavy scrutiny from custodians due to valuation disputes and elevated markups. These higher premiums mean less actual metal ends up working inside the account.
Bullion avoids these issues. Its value links directly to verifiable spot prices, which simplifies reporting and lowers the risk of regulatory challenges. More of your IRA contribution purchases real metal instead of dealer profits or speculative upside. Over time, owning additional ounces that appreciate with the metal itself can create meaningful outperformance compared with high-premium alternatives that deliver fewer ounces.
Regulatory guidance from the CFTC and state securities offices repeatedly cautions against aggressive sales of expensive numismatics or “semi-numismatic” coins for IRAs. For retirement planning, transparent bullion from established providers reduces risk and aligns better with long-term goals.
How to Get Started with Bullion
Begin by clarifying your goals. Are you protecting savings in a safe, or moving part of a retirement account into a precious metals IRA? Focus on the number of ounces you can acquire at current prices rather than chasing marked-up collectibles.
Diversify sensibly: use gold for core preservation and silver for its blend of industrial and monetary qualities. Mix coins for easier divisibility with bars for lower per-ounce costs on larger buys. Arrange secure storage—whether at home with proper insurance or through professional facilities.
As economic uncertainties linger and faith in conventional assets erodes, bullion continues proving its worth as a dependable store of value. Its direct approach avoids the hype that sometimes surrounds collectible markets and keeps the focus on the metal itself.
For investors prepared to strengthen their portfolios, Advisor Bullion supplies the expertise and selection needed to acquire high-quality bullion efficiently. Whether building personal holdings or integrating metals into an IRA, their emphasis on transparent, investment-grade products helps secure more ounces today that support greater financial security tomorrow. In a complicated financial landscape, bullion’s clarity and reliability make it the smarter foundation for protecting what matters most.