Trump Administration Pauses Worker Visas for Truck Drivers

The Trump administration announced on Thursday night a halt to the issuance of worker visas specifically for commercial truck drivers.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed concerns on X, stating, “The growing number of foreign drivers operating large tractor-trailer trucks on U.S. roads poses risks to American lives and undermines the earnings of American truckers.”

Currently, foreign drivers can secure a U.S. commercial driver’s license but must possess an employment authorization document to be eligible.

These documents can include the temporary H-2B visa, which permits U.S. companies to recruit foreign workers for temporary, seasonal, or nonagricultural jobs for a duration of up to nine months. Employers must prove that there is a labor shortage or that they cannot find a qualified U.S. worker to fill the position.

Another avenue for foreign drivers is the EB-3 visa, which facilitates permanent residency for those seeking long-term employment and offers a path to obtaining a green card. This permanent resident card, commonly referred to as a green card, enables the holder to work indefinitely in the U.S. and is valid for 10 years.

The recent measures by the Trump administration regarding commercial driver work visas appear to be a response to a tragic semitruck accident in Florida that resulted in three fatalities.

In the aftermath of the accident, Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced on Tuesday that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is launching an investigation into both the driver and White Hawk Carrier, the involved motor carrier.

This is an ongoing situation.

The article originally titled “BREAKING: Trump administration immediately pausing all new commercial truck driver work visas” was first published on FreightWaves.