Non-Domicile fatigue

And don't come back

 

Good luck to the drivers! I really hope they win.

 

You do understand people with "non-domiciled cdls" have a legal right to work in the US?

 

Seems like a case of the bad actors spoiling it for everyone. Sort of like the shady 1099 companies that misclassify employees and the lease purchase scams that have the government wanting the ABC test that would make it impossible to own a truck and lease to a carrier, unless you wanted to lease the equipment to them and become an employee of the company. If they’re here on work visas I doubt anyone is forcing them to stay if they can’t work.

 

Visas across the globe are to fulfill temporary labor needs and are no longer handed out as soon as that labor is no longer needed. It’s now a new thing, unethical, or a surprise. Roughly 5% of current CDL’s are non-domiciled and are the leading reason pay, work conditions, and safety has stagnated, if not dropped, for the industry.

It’s no secret that people here on visas are largely willing to live in the truck and tolerate being exploited into poor work conditions due to hiring restrictions at more reputable companies. The industry needs tightened as a whole, even beyond just these changes, as it makes no sense to cater to 5-10% at the expense of the other 90%.

Shady carriers thrive off the labor source. 1099 carriers are the ‘last resort’ for cleaning up a record, and the only resort for the majority of non-domiciled drivers.

It’s obviously not just Amazon Prime contractors, but if there’s no common denominator, why do we all universally agree that Amazon Prime contractors are among some of the worst drivers in the industry? Same applies for Bakersfield refrigerated carriers and every other sector with a large portion of non-domiciled drivers. Trend recognition isn’t racist or unethical. When several decade old companies are closing and folks are losing quality jobs at the same time shady carriers are swapping MC#’s at truck stops with non-domiciled drivers being their largest labor source, maybe it’s time we put our feelings away and make a change.

And before anyone comes and hollers about ‘it’s not just them’, I agree. But that doesn’t change the fact that it’s a contributing factor.

And of course having a discussion about changing the immigration system to be more efficient and to create more workers that have freedom to find reputable jobs instead of providing labor to unethical carriers is completely valid. But, that doesn’t change the current situation

 

It's not 'bad actors', at least in regards to non-domiciled cdls. All non-domiciled means is that the driver has a legal right to work and reside in the USA, but isn't a permanent resident.

The 'bad actor' part comes from CDL schools who pass and carriers who employ substandard drivers. That is the alpha and omega of the problems in this industry. ELDT providers face zero scrutiny on the meaningless standards they're supposed to enforce and the only real pressure on carriers to employ qualified drivers is from the "ambulance chasing lawyers".

The fastest way to make this industry safer is to make it easier to sue those who profit. Walmart contracts with Schneider to do local pickups into their Hammond cross dock. Schneider contracts that work to Tylka, most of whose drivers would struggle to pass a Schneider road test, not to mention an ELP test. Tylka driver gets in a wreck then both Schneider and Walmart should be held liable. Make shippers be held "in part or whole" accountable for the actions of the driver hauling their product and watch how fast things change.

 

But it is the bad actors that are bringing attention to it. The cases where they’ve overstayed their visa, etc. So they all get lumped together. Just like any other time there’s talk of a crack down an anything there are innocent people affected, like the ABC test example I gave. It’s easier to paint with a broad brush instead of scrutinizing each license on their own. If they’re legal to be here but not drive they can probably find another job. And if they can’t support their lifestyle here any longer there is nothing keeping them here. Our immigration system needs a major overhaul because it’s obvious “let them all in and they can work while we sort it out” isn’t working. But lord forbid if we try anything to keep people from coming here because that xenophobic. Meanwhile if I want to go to Costa Rica I have to show I have a certain amount of money in the bank and I wouldn’t be allowed to work there. Even if I start or buy a business I can’t work, I’d have to hire locals. Failed immigration policy has lead us to the state that this industry is in currently.

 

Why would they be legal to work here but not drive?

 

Because, like just about everything else, a problem gets hit with a broad brush. Some high profile accidents have brought attention to the non-domicile CDL issue so the easiest thing to do is say they can no longer exist. Sort of like how they keep trying to do away with the entire independent contractor business model for everyone even though it’s the lease purchase and the ones who misclassify employees that they want to stop. What’s the harm in having a requirement of being a citizen in order to get a CDL?