U.S. Halts Worker Visas For Foreign Truck Drivers

Photo: Twitter

India-West News Desk

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. government announced on August 21 that it will immediately stop issuing worker visas for commercial truck drivers, citing safety concerns and the impact on American truckers.

“The increasing number of foreign drivers operating large tractor-trailer trucks on U.S. roads is endangering American lives and undercutting the livelihoods of American truckers,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a post announcing the move.

Foreign-born drivers now make up 18 percent of the industry — in line with the United States labor market as a whole, but a departure for a profession long identified with the white working class, the news agency AFP noted. The number of foreign-born truck drivers in the United States more than doubled between 2000 and 2021 to 720,000, according to federal statistics.

A State Department spokesperson clarified that the pause is “in order to conduct a comprehensive and thorough review of screening and vetting protocols used to determine their qualifications for a U.S. visa.” The spokesperson emphasized that the review “applies to all nationalities and is not directed at any specific country.”

Huge numbers of truck drivers are from Latin America and India. Among Indians, most are from Punjab and many a story has been written about their work on the farm highways of California which are dotted with dhabas and Punjabi radio stations.

The action comes as the U.S. Transportation Department has sought to enforce English language proficiency requirements for truckers, aiming to prevent accidents in which drivers’ inability to read road signs or communicate effectively may have contributed to fatalities.

“As we have seen with recent deadly accidents, foreign truckers can pose risks to American lives, U.S. national security, and foreign policy interests,” the State Department spokesperson said. “Ensuring that every driver on our roads meets the highest standards is important to protecting the livelihoods of American truckers and maintaining a secure, resilient supply chain.”

The announcement comes amid ongoing incidents highlighting the risks cited by officials. In Florida, Harjinder Singh, an 18-wheeler driver, is facing three counts of vehicular homicide following a crash that killed three people. His brother, Harneet Singh, was arrested by ICE after previously being released by Border Patrol, underscoring concerns about driver vetting and oversight.

The American Trucking Association, representing the industry, said it faces a shortage of roughly 60,000 drivers but voiced support for the administration’s measures. “The issuance of worker visas for commercial truck drivers needs serious scrutiny, including the enforcement of entry-level driver training standards,” it said.