The U.S. has stopped issuing employment visas for commercial truck drivers. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Thursday the pause takes effect immediately.
“The increasing number of foreign drivers operating large tractor-trailer trucks on U.S. roads is endangering American lives and undercutting the livelihoods of American truckers,” Rubio posted on X.
A State Department spokesperson said the move was designed to allow a “comprehensive and thorough review” of how applicants are screened and vetted. The pause applies to all nationalities.
The policy shift comes the same week the Transportation Department launched an investigation into a deadly crash in Florida involving a truck driver from India. Federal investigators said the driver failed an English proficiency test but still obtained licenses in Washington and California.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy called the accident a “preventable tragedy” and ordered stricter enforcement of English requirements nationwide.
Impact on the trucking industry
The suspension comes as the industry faces a shortage of roughly 60,000 drivers, according to the American Trucking Association. The trade group said it supports tighter scrutiny of visa applicants, including enforcement of entry-level training standards.
“As we have seen with recent deadly accidents, foreign truckers can pose risks to American lives, U.S. national security, and foreign policy interests,” the State Department spokesperson said.
Part of broader visa changes
The suspension follows months of broader changes to U.S. temporary worker programs. In December 2024, the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Labor approved an additional 64,716 H-2B visas for fiscal year 2025. The first allocation of more than 20,000 visas was fully claimed by January 7, 2025, reflecting high demand from employers citing “irreparable harm” without seasonal workers.
New rules for the H-2 visa program took effect on January 17, 2025. The reforms streamlined approvals, strengthened oversight and expanded worker protections. The rules required employers applying for the supplemental H-2B visas to use a new attestation form, rejecting any petitions with outdated versions.
Those expansions contrast the administration’s current move to restrict visas in one specific sector. Officials say safety concerns now outweigh labor shortage pressures in trucking.
What’s next?
The State Department said more than 55 million visa holders across all categories remain subject to “continuous vetting,” which could lead to revocations or deportations if violations are found.
For trucking, the visa pause will remain until the government completes its review of screening and licensing rules.
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Author: Craig Nigrelli
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