Highway, a leading company in reducing carrier identity and transportation fraud, has introduced a feature that allows brokers to screen carriers that hire drivers with suspended commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs).
Highway has released a new feature that allows brokers to screen operators who have inconsistent CDL principles.
This will greatly aid compliance, especially as shippers begin to feel pressure from the administration to ensure loading… pic.twitter.com/Y1NPo92pQB
– Craig Fuller
(@FreightAlley) November 26, 2025
The regulatory context of the changing driving industry
The introduction of this feature is in direct response to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) interim final rule published on September 29, 2025. These regulations, titled “Restoring Integrity to the Issuance of Indirect Commercial Driver’s Licenses,” impose significant new requirements on CDLs.
The rule limits eligibility to holders of H-2A, H-2B, and E-2 visas and excludes approximately 194,000 drivers, including DACA recipients, asylum seekers and other persons with employment authorization documents (EADs). The law requires annual in-person renewals, prominent license marking, and immediate revocation for nonconforming issuance, while states face the potential loss of federal highway funding for noncompliance.
The rule change was spurred by safety concerns, with at least five fatal crashes involving indirect CDL holders in 2025, including a Florida Turnpike crash that killed three people and a crash in Austin that killed five people, including two children. FMCSA estimates that indirect CDLs account for approximately 200,000 licenses, with audits showing up to 25% of improper issuances in states such as California and Texas due to insufficient immigration verification.
A temporary stay issued by the US Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit on November 11, 2025 has halted enforcement of the law, allowing states to resume pre-existing issuance practices in most cases. However, continued uncertainty has prompted insurers to scrutinize carrier listings, with some denying coverage to fleets that employ indirect drivers due to liability risks.
New Highway Features: A Strategic Response
Rumor quoted by Trucking Made Successful – “I see this rumor that the highway…is looking to provide information to brokers that trucking companies hire unlicensed CDL drivers so that the trucking broker can filter out those trucking companies and not do business with them. It’s an interesting rumor, but I’m curious if there’s a side truth to it.”
I see the rumor that the highway, boarding system (which we all love and adore
) seeks to provide brokers with information on which carriers employ unlicensed CDL drivers so that the carrier can filter out these carriers and not work with them…
— Trucking Successful (@TMSuccessful) November 25, 2025
A later post from @weasel425 confirmed the feature’s implementation, noting: “It’s true and I have it enabled, however, it doesn’t allow you to block companies that have indirect drivers, but companies where the original account owner (registered with their ID) is an indirect licensee.”
This is correct and I’ve clarified it, however, it doesn’t allow you to block companies that have indirect drivers, but companies where the primary account owner (registered with their ID) is an indirect licensee.
– truck driver.s
l (@weasel425) November 25, 2025
The company, which approves more than 100,000 carriers annually through its in-house platform, has integrated data from FMCSA’s Pre-Employment Screening Program (PSP) and state Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) records to enable this functionality. This feature flags carriers based on their primary account holder’s state of residence and aligns with FMCSA’s 2025 mandate to use USDOT numbers for safety compliance checks. This allows brokers to exclude such companies from freight tenders and booking processes and address liability concerns raised by the FMCSA Act and insurer due diligence.
The highway leadership has touted this as a risk-reduction strategy, especially as legal experts warn of the potential risks of litigation related to accidents involving reckless drivers.
Statement by Michael Coney, Chief Commercial Officer
Michael Coney, Chief Commercial Officer of Motorway, provided the following statement regarding the new feature:
“Truck brokers are reporting an increase in thefts through motor carrier law enforcement. These thefts are successful because authorities check, truck arrives, and truck after truck is stolen. Highway has identified this pattern in boarding signals, load level identity activity, and customer information verification.”
“In response to the broker’s request, Highway created an optional screening rule that highlights specific carrier characteristics that appear in these theft patterns. One category relates to non-permanent and time-limited CDLs, an area where federal agencies have increased their enforcement and investigative attention.”
Highway stresses that the screening rule is optional and not an exception. Brokers can immediately revoke it for carriers they trust. A Highway spokesman said the goal is to “help brokers identify legitimate carriers and protect the goods they are trying to move, making them the toughest targets.”
The highway confirmed that it maintains regular communication with federal agencies and law enforcement, as well as ongoing engagement with carrier associations to ensure accurate understanding across the industry.
Industry reactions and market implications
X’s original post generated a lot of response from members of the freightX community.
Supporters, like @MVanwesten87007 , see the feature as a means of “filtering out bad actors and bad companies,” potentially eliminating the hiring of unauthorized drivers.
The carrier also speculated that “insurance companies, brokers and financial institutions” may drive the trend due to high monetary risks.
Critics such as @paintbrush1977 have highlighted the persistent dynamics of the market, stating, “Anyone who buys a load from a trucker for the least amount of money…is a trucker’s best friend,” suggesting that cost considerations may outweigh compliance efforts.
The person who gets the cargo from the truck broker at the lowest cost… is the truck broker’s best friend. It doesn’t matter if the truck driver can’t read, speak English, is missing 4 fingers, has a cut off left ear, and has a scar over one eye. Bald tires, bad brakes, but “cheap”
– Dave Avery
(@paintbrush1977) November 25, 2025
Meanwhile, @fondyin489, a 15-year industry veteran, defended Highway’s overall utility and questioned the controversy surrounding the feature. The US Postal Service’s experience with phasing out indirect drivers serves as a historical parallel, indicating a gradual rather than immediate market shift.
Strategic considerations and vision
This development brings both opportunities and challenges. For brokers, this feature increases compliance with FMCSA regulations and insurer requirements, potentially reducing legal exposure.
However, dropping carriers that employ indirect drivers can reduce available capacity, especially in spot markets where indirect drivers outnumber contract carriers.
This could put upward pressure on freight rates and exacerbate challenges for small carriers already affected by FMCSA’s workforce reductions.
The current court stay reduces immediate enforcement, but proactive measures by insurers — conducting real-time audits of driver credit — are indicative of a broader industry trend. Stakeholders are advised to monitor legal proceedings, assess carrier networks for compliance and prepare for possible market adjustments. Whether the highway feature is a transformative tool or a temporary adjustment depends on regulatory outcomes and industry acceptance.
The post New highway feature allows brokers to screen carriers with unlicensed CDL drivers appeared first on FreightWaves.
About the Author
