Freight Outfits Tap Immigrant Truck Drivers Due to Increase in Driver Jobs

The freight-hauling industry reportedly saw an increase in demand for drivers by more than 60,000 before the pandemic brought economic disruption. As the U.S. recovers from the crisis, companies are keenly aware the country faces an unprecedented gap that could reach 160,000 by 2028. That reality forced industry leaders to compete for qualified CDL-holders and heavily recruit. But one seemingly underused resource fleet outfits are now open arms to involves immigrants.

The American Trucking Associations sent a letter to Congress that highlighted the fact the pandemic “exacerbated the truck driver shortage, and the temporary closures of state (DMVs) and truck driver training schools dried up the already fragile pipeline of new drivers entering the trucking industry.”

With demand continuing to increase and slowly turning from a problem to a potentially full-blown crisis, fleet companies appear to be ramping up efforts to import truck drivers. Recent reports point to companies reaching out to countries such as South Africa to enlist the help of foreign-born truckers. With 10 years in the business, insiders such as Groendyke Transport recruiter Holly McCormick found themselves leveraging contacts across continents to find experienced truckers to fill the post-pandemic void.

“If we’re not able to haul these goods, our economy virtually shuts down,” McCormick reportedly said.

It may come as something of a surprise, but American-based recruiting agencies were already in place before the economic disruption. As the supply chain logjam drives inflation higher, companies such as Visa Solutions are flooded with requests to find truckers who can quickly earn a U.S. CDL and start hauling.

Although the effort to bring in truck drivers from other countries may reduce the impact of demand, the policy is not without controversy. The federal government’s policy of banning Americans between 18 and 21 years of age from interstate freight hauling has had a chilling effect on the industry. Some conclude that young men and women would quickly enter the trucking industry straight out of high school. But the typical 3-year wait period leads them into other sectors.

“There’s a high demand for truckers and not a whole lot of native-born U.S. who are entering into it. If you look at the age distribution of native U.S. citizens to foreign-born in the trucking industry, you’ll note that the U.S.-born tend to be older, because the younger generation of U.S. citizens don’t think of trucking as a natural career path,” immigration studies expert Justin Lowry reportedly said.

Many would-be truckers take positions in construction or comparable jobs that pay reasonably well and do not necessarily require a 4-year college degree. They are already seeing salary increases and settling into a lifestyle before reaching 21 years old. That’s largely why approximately 18.6 percent of truckers working in the U.S. are now immigrants. This trend is likely to continue unless the federal government implements a policy mirroring countries such as South Africa and Mexico that allows 18-year-olds to apply for their CDL.

By Samuel Barradas.