Some truck drivers in the U.S. report that their pay per mile is increasing as enforcement policies from President Donald Trump have led to many undocumented immigrants being pushed off the roads.
“Typically, it costs about $1,200 to travel from Chicago to Fargo,” a truck driver shared on X. “Then my broker called and said he’d pay me $1,800 for the trip. I didn’t think twice about accepting. I really hope this trend continues for a while.”
Post-election trends show that many American truckers are experiencing a financial shake-up. The cargo market has contracted, impacting the stability of numerous trucking and brokerage companies. Companies that relied on a host of low-wage illegal drivers are particularly suffering due to the enforcement of long-ignored safety regulations.
In fact, the reduction in foreign drivers is somewhat of a silver lining for the industry. “Where I work, we’re a small operation, and we manage our own loads,” another truck driver explained. Under current conditions, the per-mile rates are expected to increase, but the market has been hurt by cheap illegal drivers from Eastern Europe.
In light of the ongoing crackdown, the owner of a freight news site noted, “While volume is down, spot rates seem to be climbing.” He wondered what might be causing this shift, suggesting that weaker players in the market are being forced out, as they cannot compete without operating under contracts.
Immigration authorities are continuing their raids, resulting in the arrest of several Serbian truck drivers in recent days. One source revealed that federal agents have been confiscating Commercial Driver’s Licenses from individuals lacking proper documentation.
This economic situation can largely be attributed to Trump’s strict policies targeting a significant population of illegal immigrant drivers, while Biden’s administration had initially welcomed them. Many of these drivers are being sidelined, leaving established companies feeling anxious and some even contemplating lawsuits to address the situation.
Interestingly, some drivers participating in multiple delivery contracts still haven’t seen payment. While there’s currently no significant inflation risk from the increased wages in the spot market, should this trend spill over into larger planned deliveries, companies like Amazon and Walmart might push for higher wages for their own drivers, further complicating matters.
However, it’s believed that any increased costs can be balanced by reducing the steep expenses borne by U.S. truck drivers. There’s been a noticeable rise in accidents, delays, and thefts related to foreign carriers operating in the U.S.
“Almost a third of our freight is handled by non-national drivers,” truck expert Bill Skinner pointed out. “This isn’t just a safety concern; it presents a national security issue.”
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy criticized the effects of Biden’s lower-wage policies on American drivers. Recently, he commented, “We have an American family-owned business that has operated in trucking for fifty years. They can’t compete anymore because illegal immigrants are taking jobs. These drivers often lack safety training and language skills, plus they work for much lower wages.”
