Waste Pro files brief supporting pause of FMCSA CDL eligibility rule

Waste Pro USA, a Longwood, Florida-based waste collection, recycling, processing and disposal company, has filed an amicus brief supporting an emergency motion asking the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit to pause a recently finalized Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) rule.

The rule, scheduled to take effect March 16, changes commercial driver’s license eligibility for nearly 200,000 Employment Authorization Document holders, Waste Pro says.

The emergency motion notes that petitioners asked FMCSA to stay the rule Feb. 17. FMCSA denied the request Feb. 19.

Reliable waste collection and disposal services depend on stable licensing requirements, which Waste Pro says help guide staffing and route planning. If implemented, the rule is expected to reduce the pool of qualified, licensed commercial drivers available to essential service providers, including waste management companies.

The brief, prepared by Orlando, Florida-based immigration law firm Colombo & Hurd, outlines how the rule could affect service continuity for communities served by waste operators. It focuses on workforce and operational considerations for employers that rely on properly licensed commercial drivers.

“An amicus brief allows the court to consider practical information from affected industries,” says Sarah Wilson, a partner and the federal immigration litigation practice leader at Colombo & Hurd, counsel for Waste Pro. “Waste Pro’s filing supports the emergency motion and explains operational considerations the court may find relevant as it evaluates the request to pause the rule.”

The emergency motion is pending before the court.