The US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia has temporarily halted the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's interim final rule restricting non-domiciled commercial driver's licences, reports New York's FreightWaves.

The stay was issued in response to a lawsuit filed on behalf of truck driver Jorge Rivera Lujan, a long-time CDL holder. The court said the pause was to allow time to consider emergency motions and was not a ruling on the merits.

With the order in place, state licensing agencies can resume issuing and renewing non-domiciled CDLs until the court decides whether to reject the lawsuit or impose a permanent stay. That decision could take weeks.

Mr Lujan's lawsuit, filed October 20 by Public Citizen Litigation Group and two unions, claims he has lived in the US since age two and held a CDL for more than a decade. He was unable to renew his licence on September 30 due to the rule, putting his trucking business and family livelihood at risk.

Plaintiffs also filed an emergency motion on October 24 to block enforcement while the case is reviewed. The rule took effect September 29 but remains open for public comment until November 28, with more than 4,800 submissions, many from drivers worried about losing work.

Industry groups including the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association have backed FMCSA's restrictions, citing safety concerns. Association president Todd Spencer said loopholes had allowed unqualified drivers onto highways, but noted the court case hinges on procedural issues rather than the substance of the rule. He urged legislation to codify the policy to protect it from future legal challenges.