Big changes are coming for U.S. trucking companies in 2025 as the government announces a substantial increase in foreign truck driver visas.

What's new: The Department of Homeland Security is offering 64,716 extra H-2B visas for the fiscal year 2025.

• This is on top of the regular 66,000 visas that Congress mandates annually.
• Of these additional visas, 45,000 are earmarked for returning workers who held them in recent years.
• The rest, 20,000 visas, are available for workers from specific countries like El Salvador, Colombia, and Guatemala, reported USCIS.

Why it matters: Trucking companies, particularly in states like Montana and Florida, benefit greatly from this program, which helps fill positions critical to their operations.

What they're saying: Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas emphasized the importance of these visas, noting they provide an economic boost while managing migration.

The additional visas will be distributed throughout the year ahead in several allocations, ensuring businesses can meet their labor needs on flexible timelines.