American truckers are praising President Donald Trump’s new crackdown on illegal alien drivers.
The president has launched a sweeping federal effort that American truckers say is making highways safer and pushing freight rates higher after years of undercutting by cheap foreign labor.
The Department of Transportation (DOT) rolled out a series of reforms tightening English proficiency standards and imposing new restrictions on foreign commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs).
The move follows several deadly crashes caused by illegal migrants who had improperly obtained CDLs from state agencies.
“I’ve definitely noticed some rates going up,” said Ilya Denisenko, owner and operator of ICV Express, in an interview with the Daily Caller.
Denisenko said that just days earlier, he negotiated a load originally listed for $1,000 up to $1,900.
“Without me even speaking to someone, they approved $1,900,” he said.
“That’s almost double of what they had originally posted for, and I would say the normal rate for that lane was about maybe $1,500 to $1,600, and I automatically got $1,900.”
According to the American Trucking Associations, roughly 3.5 million Americans hold CDLs.
Industry analysts estimate that about 200,000 of those licenses are “non-domiciled,” issued by state governments to foreign nationals who are not residents of that state.
“I don’t think that’s that many compared to the total number of drivers, but I think it’ll more affect certain markets,” Denisenko said.
“They’re either in the New York or Chicago area, and it seems like all of their drivers are visa holder drivers with non-domiciled CDLs.”
Deadly Crashes Spark Federal Action
Trucking regulations took center stage in August after a horrific crash in Florida left three people dead.
Investigators found the driver, an Indian national living in the country illegally, had barely understood English and failed to recognize basic road signs.
Another crash in California in June 2024 left a five-year-old girl with life-altering injuries.
The driver in that case was also an Indian national with a state-issued CDL.
Both incidents raised urgent questions about how illegal migrants were obtaining commercial licenses.
DOT Secretary Sean Duffy announced in September that non-citizens seeking CDLs must now pass federal immigration checks and hold valid employment-based visas.
The department’s investigation revealed that state officials, particularly in California, had unlawfully issued licenses to foreign drivers.
California was ordered to pause the issuance of non-domiciled CDLs and identify all unexpired licenses that do not meet federal standards.
The state has until the end of October to comply or risk losing $160 million in federal highway funds.
Reversing Obama-Era Deregulation
The policy marks a sharp reversal from the Obama administration, which in 2016 scrapped English proficiency rules long used to ensure driver safety.
Career truckers say that decision opened the floodgates to unqualified, and often unlawful, drivers entering the market.
“This is a very welcomed development,” said Shannon Everett, spokesperson for American Truckers United.
“The spot market business has seen a net increase in yield out of markets known for harboring illegal alien truck drivers — markets like California, Illinois, New York, Minnesota, and Pennsylvania.”
“While a positive movement in pricing is a very welcomed development for American trucking companies, we are still miles away from even a breakeven pricing environment for American-owned trucking companies,” Everett continued.
“The administration could and should fix this situation immediately.
“This could be accomplished by revoking all Non-Domicile CDLs as soon as possible.”
ICE Operations Target Illegals Behind the Wheel
The Trump administration has also stepped up enforcement.
ICE agents working with the Oklahoma Highway Patrol recently arrested nearly 100 illegal migrants operating commercial motor vehicles in a three-day sweep, taking 120 individuals into custody overall.
Among those arrested was an Indian national whose CDL, issued in New York, did not even list his full name.
“New York is not only failing to check if applicants applying to drive 18-wheelers are U.S. citizens but even failing to obtain the full legal names of individuals they are issuing commercial drivers’ licenses to,” said DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin.
“DHS is working with our state and local partners to get illegal alien truck drivers who often don’t know basic traffic laws off our highways.”
On Wednesday, Secretary Duffy announced that the DOT would withhold more than $40 million in federal funds from California for failing to meet English proficiency requirements.
Impact on Trucking Markets
Analysts say the crackdown is already shifting freight markets.
While national rates remain steady, regions with high concentrations of non-domiciled CDL holders, such as New York, California, and Illinois, are seeing increased demand for legal U.S. drivers.
“Several factors are at play,” said Miranda, a trucking entrepreneur who hosts the Trucking Made Successful YouTube channel.
“Non-Domiciled CDL holders who no longer qualify won’t leave the market all at once.
“Some are having their CDLs downgraded because their medical cards are expiring, others are unable to renew, and many are still operating, maximizing earnings before their CDLs become invalid.”
“Over the next few months, provided volumes don’t decline further, I expect rates to rise,” she added.
“The new rule is a starting point, but its impact will become more significant as renewals are denied.”
“Doing It the Right Way”
For many American truckers, the reforms are restoring fairness to an industry long plagued by lax enforcement.
“Yeah, I’m definitely optimistic,” Denisenko said.
A naturalized American citizen who immigrated legally, Denisenko said it took months of training and testing to earn his CDL properly.
“Getting my CDL, registering the company, and all that stuff, it wasn’t easy,” he said.
“Meanwhile, these people could just buy their CDL and have it tomorrow, and that’s it.
“And I guess the result of that is all the crashes that you see now.”
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