U.S. highways are becoming more hazardous as thousands of foreign-born truck drivers enter the workforce under Biden administration policies. With training requirements lowered and CDLs issued at record rates, concerns are growing over public safety and the financial stability of American truckers.
The Department of Homeland Security recently granted an additional 65,000 H-2B visas for foreign truckers in 2025, nearly doubling the existing annual cap. These new hires, mainly from Central and South America, are entering an industry already facing economic struggles, leading critics to question whether the expansion is meant to benefit American trucking or simply flood the labor market with cheaper alternatives.
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
A handful of states have issued CDLs at an unprecedented rate, raising questions about how so many drivers could be properly trained in such a short time. Oregon issued nearly 100,000 CDLs in 2022, an increase so large it has fueled speculation that proper screening was bypassed. South Carolina also saw an explosion in new truckers, with licensing numbers well beyond its usual capacity.
Fatal accidents involving foreign truckers have also increased. Cases include incidents where drivers required translators in court because they could not speak English, highlighting the removal of English proficiency requirements that had been in place for commercial drivers in past years.
At the same time, state-level regulations are being weakened to accommodate more foreign applicants. Arkansas has adjusted its CDL policies, allowing non-residents to qualify using foreign-issued learner’s permits, which many believe is a dangerous step toward further undermining safety and job security for U.S. truckers.
Freight fraud and cargo scams have also surged, with reports of stolen goods and trucking companies failing to pay drivers on the rise. While new drivers continue to flood the highways, many industry experts are calling for a deeper investigation into the long-term risks associated with Biden’s policies.
