The Biden administration’s aggressive expansion of foreign trucker recruitment is drawing scrutiny as concerns grow over its impact on highway safety and industry wages. The Department of Homeland Security recently opened up nearly 65,000 additional H-2B visas for fiscal year 2025, allowing more foreign-born drivers to enter the U.S. trucking industry.
While government officials claim the move is necessary to meet labor demands, trucking advocates argue that it is a calculated effort to keep wages low. By flooding the industry with new drivers from Central and South America, critics say the administration is making it harder for experienced American truckers to earn a fair wage.
At 6:38 pm today on the @RodandGregShow on @1059KNRS – @GordMagill, an author and career trucker joins the show to discuss his piece for @theblaze in which he says foreign born truckers are depressing wages for American truckers and causing problems on the nation’s highways.
— The Rod and Greg Show (@RodandGregShow) March 12, 2025
Compounding concerns, CDL issuance has skyrocketed in a handful of states, raising questions about how so many drivers are being trained and tested in such a short time. Oregon, for instance, issued nearly 100,000 new CDLs in a single year — over 75 times its normal rate. The figures suggest that many of these drivers are being fast-tracked through the system without adequate vetting or training.
Safety issues are also mounting. Accidents involving foreign-born truckers have included fatal crashes caused by distracted driving, wrong-way collisions, and high-speed wrecks where drivers needed translators in court due to language barriers. In 2016, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration removed the requirement that commercial drivers be proficient in English, making it easier for non-native speakers to obtain a CDL.
Additionally, some states have revised their CDL policies to accommodate more foreign drivers. Arkansas has eliminated domicile requirements, allowing individuals with foreign learner’s permits to qualify for U.S. trucking jobs. Critics say this approach compromises safety and undercuts American drivers who must meet stricter requirements.
Industry groups are now calling for a closer examination of these policies. Some lawmakers are pushing for a review of CDL issuance records and demanding answers on whether current trucking policies are putting American motorists at risk.
