Trucking companies have found a source of inexpensive labor in unauthorized immigrant drivers, but this situation has resulted in serious consequences. Since 2025 began, at least 28 individuals have lost their lives, and many others have been injured due to 16 accidents involving drivers without legal status.
Some of these drivers had overstayed their visas, while others entered the U.S. illegally. Notably, many could not communicate in English, and a couple didn’t even possess the necessary commercial driver’s license (CDL) to operate large trucks.
The drivers hailed from various countries, including Haiti, Kyrgyzstan, China, Serbia, and Cuba, with a significant number from India. Many are currently in the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or have ICE detainers placed on them.
In one incident reported, a driver named Singh was allegedly under the influence when his truck got involved in a catastrophic eight-vehicle crash that resulted in three fatalities.
According to ICE, Singh entered the U.S. illegally in 2022 and was allowed to stay under the Biden administration. He is currently the subject of an ICE detainer.
“This is a tragic situation where three innocent lives were lost because reckless border policies enabled an unauthorized person to drive a truck on U.S. roads,” remarked Tricia McLaughlin, former Assistant Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). “This incident reflects a troubling pattern of unauthorized drivers operating large trucks on our highways.”
Dashcam footage revealed a semi-truck crashing into three cars before colliding with another truck and veering off to hit two more vehicles parked on the side of the road.
Dax Bello, an attorney for Yaniel Cantelar, whose father was one of the victims in a different accident involving another driver named Singh, stated that there seems to be an abundance of unqualified drivers on U.S. roads.
“When you’re putting someone behind the wheel of an 80,000-pound vehicle, you need to ensure that they are fully qualified to operate it safely, not just for their sake but for everyone else on the road,” Bello explained.
His claims suggest that the driver couldn’t understand crucial traffic signs, which contributed to the accident. Furthermore, his firm alleges that White Hawk Carriers Inc. had multiple safety violations, indicating a lack of fitness to operate trucks on interstate highways.
Bello criticized White Hawk for hiring and keeping the driver on the road, asserting that a simple background check would have revealed the driver’s lack of qualifications.
White Hawk Carriers did not respond to requests for comment.
Lewie Pugh, Executive Vice President of the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association, pointed out that these individuals likely wouldn’t have been on the road without being hired. He noted that trucking companies often hire unqualified drivers because the benefits outweigh the minimal risks involved.
Pugh highlighted the concerning practices where individuals come to the U.S. to start trucking companies only to lure back drivers to their home countries with false promises, offering them very low wages. He compared this to a form of indentured servitude.
“Realistically, to become a motor carrier, you just need to pay a small fee, get insurance, and acquire a truck. There’s virtually no vetting process, and standards for competency are lacking,” he remarked.
Pugh emphasized that the association’s focus is not on the nationality of drivers but rather on enforcing standards that ensure all drivers on American roads are qualified.
Retrospective reports have also highlighted dangers stemming from fraudulent truck-driving schools. These institutions sometimes boast quick licensing processes, with classes not even conducted in English, leading to drivers who are inadequately prepared.
The Joint Task Force Crossroads of America, launched by DHS, DOT, and DOJ, is targeting such schools as part of an effort to tackle fraud in the trucking sector.
Task force activities include a large coordinated crackdown on over 200 training facilities across 23 states, while DOT is moving to shut down 110 CDL schools linked to thousands of drivers who failed language proficiency tests.
Barr, an administrator with DOT’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, remarked that many issues in the trucking sector not only have regulatory consequences but also criminal implications, stressing the need to work collaboratively to address these problems.
Investigations might lead to hefty fines for companies, criminal charges, or, in some cases, the revocation of a company’s operating authority, according to Adrienne Gildea from the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance. “The stakes are high for public safety when collisions happen, especially with tragic outcomes,” she noted.
Reports have cited examples of “chameleon carriers,” like the employer of a Cuban driver involved in a fatal crash who overstayed his visa. The reported carrier had been linked to multiple companies that were shut down due to safety violations.
Barr acknowledged that while most carriers operate ethically, the existence of chameleon carriers is a real concern tied to criminal activities in the trucking industry. He highlighted ongoing efforts to ensure such entities do not reappear after shutdowns.
