U.S. to Import 65,000 Truckers? Here’s What They’re Not Telling You

by TRUCKERS VA
(UNITED STATES)

📦 Intro – What in the Freight Is Going On?

Well well well... here we go again. The powers that be say America’s got a “driver shortage,” and instead of fixing the broken system, the solution is to bring in 65,000 foreign truck drivers in 2025. That’s right—tens of thousands of folks from overseas could be sliding into your seat by this time next year.

But before we go full CB-radio rant mode, let’s take a clear-headed look at what this really means. Is it a good thing? Is it gonna crush rates and wages? Or could it be the kick in the tail the industry needs to finally treat all drivers better—foreign and domestic?

Let’s downshift and break it down.

🚛 The Plan: 65,000 New Visas

The U.S. government announced it’s opening the gates to roughly 65,000 commercial truck driver visas in 2025. That’s nearly double what we’ve seen in previous years. The visas will mostly go to:

Drivers who’ve worked in the U.S. before

Citizens from specific countries with “trusted” work history

Applicants from regions with strong trucking experience (India, Mexico, Philippines, and more)

The goal? Fill seats fast and stabilize the supply chain. Especially as the economy picks back up and freight demand increases.

But here’s the kicker: it’s not just about freight demand—it’s about labor cost.

💸 Follow the Money: Wages and Retention

Let’s get one thing straight—most drivers who’ve left the industry didn’t do it because they hate the road. They left because they were underpaid, overworked, and underappreciated. Period.

So the idea that we’ve got a “shortage” is misleading. What we really have is:

High turnover (especially with mega carriers)

Poor treatment of entry-level drivers

Inconsistent home time, pay, and respect

Now ask yourself: if trucking companies suddenly have access to thousands of new drivers from overseas—drivers who might work for less just to get a shot—what happens to your bargaining power?

Exactly.

🧠 A Trucker’s Perspective: Real Talk

Let’s keep it a buck. A lot of American drivers are mad about this. Not because they’re against immigration, but because they’ve been screaming for years about the lack of respect, decent pay, and support—and now they’re watching companies sidestep those concerns by importing cheaper labor.

It feels like a slap in the face. Especially when many of those same companies won’t even return a driver’s call about detention pay.

Now to be fair, not every foreign driver is coming here to undercut rates. Many are experienced, hardworking professionals just trying to feed their families and build a better life. They’re not the enemy—the system is.

📊 Industry View: What Companies and Regulators Say

From the suits' side of the yard:

“This is about supply chain resilience.”

“We’re simply filling positions Americans won’t take.”

“Without these drivers, the shelves go empty.”

OK, cool. But why won’t those positions get filled? Maybe because the starting pay at some carriers is still hovering around 45 cents per mile, and drivers are stuck running unpaid hours every week.

You want to solve the real problem? Pay drivers fairly, stop wasting their time, and give them the respect they deserve. But that takes effort and accountability—and this visa program is a shortcut.

🔍 What This Means for the Road Ahead

So what should you, as a current driver, be watching out for?

Rate compression – Too many drivers and not enough freight = downward pressure on pay

Competition for lanes – Especially in local/regional hauls

More tension at truck stops – With language barriers and different driving styles in the mix

Strain on training – Safety standards and onboarding may get watered down

On the flip side, this could bring new conversations about labor rights, fair pay, and treatment across the board. If enough drivers (new and old) push back together, the industry might finally evolve.

💡 Bottom Line

Bringing in 65,000 foreign truck drivers won’t magically fix the trucking industry—it just masks the real problems. If companies aren’t held accountable for treating all drivers right, nothing changes.

This isn’t about “them vs. us.” It’s about calling out the system that chews up both foreign and American drivers when the bottom line is the only thing that matters.

Don’t wait for the system to change. You gotta build your own exit ramp.

🚨 Call to Action

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