Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently announced that the United States would pause the issuance of worker visas for commercial truck drivers, citing concerns about road safety and the livelihoods of American drivers. The move has been praised by some industry groups that have long warned about the misuse of commercial driver’s licenses issued to foreign nationals.

Still, the decision by President Donald Trump‘s administration comes at a time when the United States already faces a truck driver shortage. Nearly nine months into Trump’s second, nonconsecutive term, the truck driver visa freeze also raises concerns that it could create new strains on supply chains, affecting the economy as a whole.

Recommended Stories

• High-skilled immigrants are not, in fact, stealing our jobs
• Amazon to pay $2.5 billion in FTC case for claims of duping customers
• Starbucks to shutter stores in $1 billion restructuring plan

According to the American Trucking Association, the industry was short more than 80,000 drivers at the end of 2024. That number is expected to grow to more than 160,000 by 2030 if current demographic and labor trends continue. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that nearly 238,000 openings for heavy- and tractor-trailer truck drivers will need to be filled each year through 2034.

Much of that demand comes from replacing an aging workforce, as a significant share of current drivers are over 55 and nearing retirement. Recruiting younger workers has proven challenging, as long hours, time away from home, and high turnover rates make trucking a less attractive career option compared to other choices in a tight labor market.

Rubio framed the pause as a necessary step to ensure safety on American roads. In his announcement, he argued that the growing presence of foreign drivers operating tractor-trailers was “endangering American lives and undercutting the livelihoods of American truckers.”

The decision follows earlier directives from the Transportation Department aimed at strengthening English-language proficiency requirements and auditing CDLs granted to non-U.S. residents. Those efforts were prompted by concerns that some drivers had been licensed without meeting federal standards, creating what officials described as possible safety gaps.

Trade associations representing U.S. drivers broadly welcomed the move. One, ironically, was the American Trucking Association. The organization issued a statement supporting a pause on visas, saying it underscored the need for closer scrutiny of foreign commercial drivers’ licenses and enforcement of entry-level driver training standards.

The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association also praised the decision, arguing that lax oversight of CDLs issued to foreign nationals created unfair competition for U.S. truckers and put pressure on wages.

“This is a step toward restoring fairness in the marketplace and ensuring that only qualified drivers are on the road,” OOIDA President Todd Spencer said.

Not all reactions have been positive. Carriers that rely on foreign drivers to fill difficult or less desirable routes have warned that the visa freeze could exacerbate existing shortages. The Canacar Trucking Association, which represents Mexican carriers operating across the border, said the policy could increase costs.

“If there are fewer drivers to meet demand, prices are going to go up,” said Edgar Zamorano, the CTA chapter president.

Logistics executives echoed that concern, noting that removing one source of labor without addressing the broader shortage will likely raise freight rates and add new pressures to supply chains already strained by rising costs, tariff uncertainty, and shifting consumer demand.

The freeze also highlights a long-simmering tension in the trucking industry: balancing safety and labor standards with the need to ensure enough drivers are available to keep freight moving.

Federal data do not show that foreign-born drivers are disproportionately responsible for accidents compared with their U.S. counterparts. Studies of crash risk tend to emphasize driver fatigue, hours-of-service violations, weather conditions, and equipment problems rather than a driver’s place of birth. Still, policymakers and advocates argue that stricter vetting of licenses held by non-U.S. residents is necessary to maintain public confidence in road safety.

There is the question of how long the pause will remain in effect. Rubio has emphasized that the measure is temporary and intended to allow for a review of licensing and visa oversight procedures. Yet industry leaders are wary that even a short-term freeze could create supply chain disruptions if businesses cannot quickly recruit and train domestic replacements.

POLITICAL VIOLENCE ON THE RISE IN THE US: A TIMELINE OF KEY INCIDENTS

The long-term challenge for the industry remains the same: how to make truck driving a more sustainable career choice for younger generations. The ATA has called for raising pay, improving working conditions, and exploring apprenticeships to bring in drivers under the age of 21 for interstate work, a move that has been debated in Congress. Others advocate greater use of technology to ease workloads, such as automated safety systems or platooning. But none of these solutions is likely to offset the immediate impact of removing a portion of the labor pool through immigration restrictions.

Trucks move more than 70% of domestic freight by tonnage. That reliance means the stakes are high when it comes to labor supply. A pause designed to improve safety may ultimately achieve that goal. Still, without addressing the structural shortage of drivers, the policy also risks deepening the very problem it seeks to solve.

Andrea Ruth is a contributor to the Washington Examiner magazine.