U.S. Pauses Work Visas for Foreign Truck Drivers

The U.S. has stopped issuing work visas to foreign commercial truck drivers. According to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the pause would take effect immediately, adding on X that foreign commercial truck drivers were “endangering American lives and undercutting the livelihoods of American truckers.”

Illegal Immigrant Kills 3 in Semi Truck Accident

The policy shift comes on the heels of the Transportation Department launching an investigation into a fatal semi-truck accident in Florida involving a truck driver from India (Harjinder Singh) who obtained commercial driver licenses from California and Washington even though he failed an English proficiency test. Singh, who allegedly entered the U.S. illegally through Mexico, has been charged with vehicular homicide.

This preventable tragedy has amplified scrutiny of licensing protocols and the adequacy of screening processes for foreign drivers. Until recently, federal guidelines discouraged removing drivers solely based on English language ability. The Department of Transportation is investigating the policies that allowed Singh to become licensed and operate commercially despite various red flags.

Earlier this year, President Donald Trump issued an executive order mandating commercial drivers in the U.S. be proficient in speaking and reading English. Notably, this was already a federal regulation but it had not been strictly enforced since 2016. President Trump’s executive order directed the federal government to closely monitor commercial driver licenses issued to individuals who do not reside in the U.S.

The Trucking Industry as America’s Backbone

The trucking industry is essential to the U.S. economy. Nearly 3.5 million professional truck drivers keep goods moving across the country, and trucks are responsible for hauling approximately 73% of freight by value. Without these semi trucks, grocery store shelves would remain empty, hospitals would lack critical supplies, and businesses would face massive supply chain disruptions. The industry also contributes hundreds of billions of dollars to the national economy each year, with some estimates placing its value at over $500 billion.

Beyond moving goods, the trucking industry provides steady employment for millions of Americans, both as drivers and in support roles such as mechanics, dispatchers, and warehouse staff. In fact, about 96% of trucking companies in the U.S. operate with fewer than ten trucks, underscoring how vital the industry is to small businesses and large-scale carriers.

Foreign truck drivers make up approximately 18% of the U.S. trucking workforce. Their numbers more than doubled since the turn of the century to about 700,000.00. Foreign truck drivers fill critical roles in maintaining a transportation network that supports national commerce. However, the dependency on an immigrant workforce has raised debates around safety, community integration and fair labor practices. The fatal accident caused by Singh has intensified calls to revisit how foreign truck drivers are vetted while attempting to balance the logistical demands of the U.S. economy.

While trucking provides indispensable services, it is also among the most dangerous professions in the U.S. Truck drivers face grueling hours, long stretches away from loved ones, and the physical demands of managing massive vehicles on crowded highways. The risks are sobering. In 2023, there were more than 5,400 deaths in large truck accidents, with the vast majority of victims being occupants of other vehicles. 823 semi-truck drivers died in truck accidents that year, more fatalities than in any other single occupation. Statistically, trucking ranks as the seventh most dangerous occupation, with a fatality rate nearly 27 times higher than the average American worker.

The visa pause raises difficult questions. On one hand, the U.S. has faces a persistent shortage of qualified truck drivers, with estimates showing a shortfall of more than 60,000 drivers in recent years. Restricting foreign labor could exacerbate that shortage, straining supply chains and increasing shipping costs. On the other hand, concerns about safety and the quality of driver training remain valid. Large trucks are inherently more dangerous in crashes due to their size and weight, and policymakers are under pressure to ensure every driver on American roads meets strict safety standards.

Systematic Failures of Trucking Companies

From a legal standpoint, the hiring and oversight of foreign truck drivers raise serious concerns for personal injury victims. Accidents involving semi-trucks are not the same as minor fender-benders — they often lead to catastrophic injuries or wrongful death because of the size and weight of these vehicles. Victims can suffer traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, amputations, or lifelong disabilities that require extensive medical care and financial support. The stakes are extraordinarily high, which means every driver on the road must be thoroughly vetted and qualified to operate such dangerous machinery.

When trucking companies hire foreign drivers without ensuring full compliance with federal safety regulations, they open themselves up to significant liability. Qualification failures — such as drivers who cannot read road signs, communicate with law enforcement, or understand emergency instructions in English — create foreseeable dangers. These are not technical oversights; they are failures that can directly cause devastating crashes. For that reason, commercial trucking jobs should be reserved for individuals who have passed the highest levels of scrutiny and demonstrated they are safe, competent drivers.

Insurance issues also play a critical role in these cases. Trucking companies typically carry large commercial policies, often with coverage in the millions, but insurers are quick to dispute claims when driver qualifications are in question. In situations involving foreign drivers with licensing irregularities, victims may face an even more complex battle to secure fair compensation. Insurance carriers may argue that the driver was unqualified, the company was negligent in hiring, or that coverage exclusions apply. This can leave injured individuals caught between an at-fault driver, a negligent trucking company, and an insurer trying to minimize payouts.

Ultimately, foreign truck driver cases highlight the intersection of federal regulation, state enforcement, and private industry accountability. From the perspective of a Colorado personal injury lawyer, the law is clear: trucking companies have a duty to hire only safe, qualified drivers and to ensure those drivers are capable of protecting the public. When they fail in that duty, the legal system is the only tool victims have to secure justice, accountability, and the resources needed to rebuild their lives.

For victims of truck accidents and their families, few things are more devastating than being told there is no meaningful insurance coverage, or that the trucking company failed to perform even the most basic due diligence before putting a driver behind the wheel of an 80,000-pound vehicle. These are not abstract oversights — they are failures that destroy lives.

When a trucking company hires a driver without verifying qualifications, English proficiency, safety history, or medical fitness, it is gambling with the lives of everyone on the road. Victims and their families should not bear the financial and emotional cost of a company’s shortcuts. The aftermath of these truck accidents often involves catastrophic injuries, permanent disability, or the wrongful death of a loved one. In such moments, telling families there is “no coverage” or that the responsible company ignored federal hiring standards is not just inadequate — it is profoundly unjust.

Bowman Law: Colorado Semi Truck Accident Lawyers

At Bowman Law, we know that truck accident cases are unlike ordinary car crash claims. The size and weight of commercial trucks mean that victims are far more likely to suffer catastrophic injuries, face long-term disability, or experience the wrongful death of a loved one. These cases also involve complex federal safety regulations, aggressive corporate defense teams, and powerful insurance carriers determined to limit payouts. Our Colorado truck accident lawyers have the experience and resources to take on these challenges head-on.

We have built a reputation as one of Colorado’s top commercial truck accident law firms by combining deep knowledge of FMCSA regulations, skilled accident reconstruction, and relentless advocacy for our clients. From negligent hiring and driver qualification failures to violations of federal safety rules, our attorneys know how to uncover the evidence that makes a difference in the courtroom and at the negotiating table. At Bowman Law, we don’t just handle cases — we build them to withstand the most aggressive defense strategies.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a semi-truck crash, you deserve a law firm with a proven record of success against the trucking industry. Please send us a message or call us at 720-863-6904 to schedule a free case evaluation. With Bowman Law on your side, you gain a team of Colorado truck accident attorneys who will fight to protect your rights, secure the compensation you need, and deliver the justice you deserve. We serve clients across Colorado’s Front Range and beyond, including Denver, Colorado Springs, Boulder, Fort Collins, Westminster, Lakewood, and Aurora.