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By Hugh Cameron
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A trade group representing the trucking industry has reacted to Secretary of State Marco Rubio's announcement that the U.S. will be pausing work visas for truckers "immediately" in the interests of Americans' safety.
In a statement released Thursday, Chris Spear, president and CEO of the American Trucking Associations (ATA), said his group supported the move, and that the issuance of non-domiciled commercial driver's licenses (CDLs) "needs serious scrutiny, including the enforcement of entry-level driver training standards."
Newsweek has contact the ATA via email for further comment.
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Why It Matters
Rubio's announcement followed a fatal crash on a Florida highway earlier this month involving a trucker from India who, officials later confirmed, was in the country illegally. Preliminary findings of an investigation by the Department of Transportation (DOT) revealed that, when questioned following the accident, the driver failed assessments on his English language proficiency as well as his understanding of highway traffic rules. While Rubio's announcement did not mention the crash, and is focused on worker visas rather than CDLs, he said that the increasing number of foreign truckers was "endangering American lives."
Depending on the length of the pause, however, this could potentially exacerbate the persistent trucker shortage already facing the U.S. By some estimates, this shortfall is expected to grow to over 100,000 drivers by the end of the decade.
What To Know
Following Rubio's announcement, a State Department spokesperson told Newsweek that the pause would affect applicants hoping to operate commercial trucks with H-2B, E-2 and EB-3 visa classifications.
"The Department will take all necessary steps to protect public safety, including on America's roads," they added.
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In April, President Donald Trump signed an executive order directing Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy to tighten regulations surrounding English proficiency for commercial drivers and ensure understanding of "commonsense" highway rules. English language requirements are already included in federal regulations, but have been minimally enforced according to the president's order.
The ATA sent a letter to Trump thanking him for responding to its concerns around the "uneven application" of existing regulations concerning English proficiency for CDL holders.
As the ATA noted in its reaction to the latest announcement from Rubio, Secretary Duffy also launched a nationwide audit into states issuing non-domiciled CDLs—licenses given to individuals who are not permanent residents of the U.S.
"Our audit is about protecting the safety of families on the road and upholding the integrity of CDLs held by America's truckers," Duffy said. "Every state must follow federal regulations, and ensure only qualified, properly documented drivers are getting behind the wheel of a truck."
In October 2024, the National Association of Truck Stop Owners (NATSO), citing Labor Department data, said that the number of foreign-born truckers in the U.S. comprised around 18 percent of the total workforce.
What People Are Saying
Secretary of State Marco Rubio posted to X on Thursday: "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."
Chris Spear, president and CEO of the American Trucking Associations, said: "At a minimum, we need better accounting of how many non-domiciled CDLs are being issued, which is why we applaud Transportation Secretary Duffy for launching a nationwide audit in June upon our request. We also believe a surge in enforcement of key regulations -- including motor carrier compliance -- is necessary to prevent bad actors from operating on our nation's highways, and we'll continue to partner with federal and state authorities to identify where those gaps in enforcement exist.
"We also believe a surge in enforcement of key regulations—including motor carrier compliance—is necessary to prevent bad actors from operating on our nation's highways, and we'll continue to partner with federal and state authorities to identify where those gaps in enforcement exist."
What Happens Next?
On Thursday, Secretary of State Rubio said the pause on worker visas for truckers would take effect "immediately."
A spokesperson for the State Department told Newsweek the pause will "remain in place while the Department of State, in coordination with the Departments of Labor and Homeland Security, makes any necessary updates to its screening and vetting protocols."
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