Highways across the country are becoming more dangerous as thousands of foreign-born truck drivers are fast-tracked into the workforce under policies pushed by the Biden administration. Critics argue that a surge in commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs) is fueling unsafe road conditions while driving down wages for experienced American truckers.
Under a recent expansion of the H-2B visa program, nearly 65,000 additional visas have been granted to allow trucking companies to recruit foreign workers. These new drivers are primarily from Central and South America, as well as Haiti, and are entering the industry at a time when freight demand has fallen, forcing many American truckers out of 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
An alarming increase in CDL issuances has raised questions about how so many new drivers are being trained and qualified in such a short period. In some states, licensing numbers have skyrocketed beyond normal levels. Oregon, for example, issued nearly 100,000 CDLs in one year — an unprecedented increase that far exceeded the capacity of traditional training programs.
Safety concerns have also escalated. Reports of crashes involving foreign-born truck drivers have increased, including deadly wrong-way collisions and incidents where drivers required translators to communicate with law enforcement. The Biden administration has also allowed continued exemptions from English-language proficiency requirements for CDL holders, a change first implemented under the Obama administration.
At the state level, Arkansas has removed restrictions that previously required CDL applicants to establish residency. This means foreign applicants with learner’s permits from other countries can now be granted CDLs in the state, raising further concerns about safety on American highways.
