A dramatic rise in foreign truck drivers on U.S. highways has raised safety concerns as thousands of CDLs have been issued at an alarming rate. Policies pushed by the Biden administration have encouraged the mass hiring of low-wage drivers from abroad, leading to a surge in commercial vehicle accidents and growing frustration among experienced American truckers.
The Department of Homeland Security recently expanded the H-2B visa program, authorizing nearly 65,000 additional foreign truck drivers in 2025. These new hires, largely from Central and South America, are being brought in despite freight demand slowing and American truckers struggling to maintain steady work.
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
Several states have reported unusual spikes in CDL issuances, far exceeding normal levels. Oregon, for instance, issued nearly 100,000 CDLs in a single year — an increase that experts say would be impossible for existing training programs to handle. South Carolina also saw an unprecedented rise in new trucking licenses.
Alongside the flood of new drivers, the roads have become more dangerous. Accidents involving foreign-born truckers have increased, with reports of fatal crashes where drivers lacked proper credentials or were unable to communicate with law enforcement. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration stopped enforcing English proficiency requirements for CDL holders years ago, making it easier for non-English speakers to operate large commercial vehicles.
Arkansas has also changed its CDL regulations, removing residency requirements and allowing foreign applicants with learner’s permits from other countries to qualify for trucking jobs. Many argue these policies are creating an environment where safety is secondary to workforce expansion.
Freight fraud and cargo theft have also increased as unverified trucking operations take advantage of relaxed regulations. Meanwhile, veteran truckers are seeing their wages stagnate as foreign labor undercuts American pay standards.
