Trucking companies are raising alarms about illegal immigrant drivers taking loads and hurting their business. Mike Kucharski, owner of an Illinois-based company, says the problem really started showing up after COVID when rates never bounced back. He blames drivers with non-domiciled CDLs from states like California for undercutting prices and pushing out small, family-owned trucking outfits.
What’s happening: Federal officials are now looking into how states like California have been handing out commercial licenses to some foreign drivers, even after their work authorization ran out. Recent reports show that some of these drivers were involved in deadly crashes.
- California is accused of going around federal rules and letting asylum seekers get CDLs, leading to at least one wreck where three people died.
- There’s a new rule from the Department of Transportation aimed at tightening up who can get a non-domiciled CDL nationwide.
- Small trucking businesses say illegal drivers can work cheaper because they don’t pay the same taxes and expenses, which lets them take loads at rates locals can’t compete with.
Kucharski says, “All our truckers are fighting for the same load, and it goes to the lowest bidder. These non-domiciled drivers have no bills to pay—they live in their trucks and underbid everyone.”
California officials say they’re following the law, and point out their CDL holders have a low rate of fatal crashes, according to Fox News.
The new DOT rule now requires non-domiciled CDLs to expire with their federal work permits, and for states to keep records proving a driver’s legal status for at least two years.