EB-3 Visa - A Possible Path To Immigration As A Truck Driver

Hi there.

So as we all know, there's a global shortage of truck drivers, which according to the data (many truck drivers set to retire) is only going to get worse.

(This applies to the US, Canada, UK, Australia and New Zealand...but I'm sure other countries are affected.)

We know Canada's response, recently, was to let the trucker's in via their Express entry program.

There's been some talk (but not much) about the US possibly looking to immigration as a solution to fill the jobs.

In the meantime, however, there are options for truckers to come in - the most popular appears to be the HB2, but I don't see as much talk about the EB-3, which is a viable option and offers a Green Card.

The crux of the matter is the employer has to prove that there are insufficient workers available in the US, therefore, the employer has to look abroad. This is why the EB-3 is so appealing - the truck driver shortage is a well-documented fact.

So this is the option I'm looking at (experienced, European truck driver currently based in NZ), but I'm wondering how motivated US employers currently are to consider a program like this.

After all, there's a fair bit of paper work required on their end.

Would love to hear your comments.

Hello Marcus, and welcome to our community!

This is why the EB-3 is so appealing - the truck driver shortage is a well-documented fact.

You bring up an interesting path to truck driving. The problem is that what you consider a "well documented" problem is not easily agreed on here in the U.S. Many of the trucking employers see the same truck drivers coming and going all the time. Some refer to this as "driver churn." Many here don't really think we have a "shortage" of drivers. We have drivers moving around a lot from one employer to another, but as far as a shortage goes, no one seems to agree on that matter. Even the large trucking driving organization, OOIDA , has been known to argue in court against this "fact."

That is why you don't see drivers from other countries being allowed to use the EB-3 window of opportunity. There is no consensus that there is an actual shortage here in the states. Our freight is being delivered, and there are some drivers, even those in this community, who find their work has slowed. I don't think you can count on this program being applied to truck driving any time soon.

I'm one of those that didn't know there is a shortage of drivers in the US, but I enjoy listening to experts on trucking subjects.

Explain this since there are more than 100,000 new CDLs issued to first-time licensees each year in this country?

I'll bet there's a supply chain crisis, too?

I'm wondering how difficult it is for a Canadian truck driver to get a job in the US as a truck driver. Do the same rules apply to Canadians as they do for countries we don't share a border with?

I'm thinking maybe the OP can get a start in Canada and then get a CDL in the US after a certain amount of time establishing himself Canada🤷

So I was reading another thread and came across this nugget from Pacific Pearl (must be a clairvoyant).

There is a program for immigrating to Canada as a truck driver. With Express Entry you could be driving with a Canadian CDL in less than a year. The US does have full CDL reciprocity with Canada so you would be able to legally drive in the US, but you would have to reside in Canada.pl

You bring up an interesting path to truck driving. The problem is that what you consider a "well documented" problem is not easily agreed on here in the U.S. Many of the trucking employers see the same truck drivers coming and going all the time. Some refer to this as "driver churn." Many here don't really think we have a "shortage" of drivers. We have drivers moving around a lot from one employer to another, but as far as a shortage goes, no one seems to agree on that matter. Even the large trucking driving organization, OOIDA , has been known to argue in court against this "fact."

Thanks for the in-depth reply and welcome, I appreciate that!

Yes, I agree with you.

I've heard there are varying opinions on the so-called "driver shortage", as you mentioned, and we have the same problem here in NZ. Are we truckers a fickle lot? Are the employers all terrible? Is this issue specific to the newer generation of drivers? I have no idea.

I guess what I'd be interested to find out is if non-Canadian/Mexican drivers have been successful in actually obtaining a EB-3 via an employer sponsor, as a truck driver. You're only required to convince the good folks at USCIS and you would be able to quote the ATA estimates (some 80,000, if memory serves, last year?), though whether they agree with those figures is the question.

(I am aware that Canadians and Mexicans have been able to obtain the EB-3 relatively easily, per some trucker recruiting agencies. So it is a backup option to go to Canada first, but definitely not a preference.)

There is a global freight company here in NZ with multiple US offices (Mainfreight), so I'm going to attempt this through them, as I figure they'd be my best bet. But it would be interesting to see if anyone's been successful.

I'm wondering how difficult it is for a Canadian truck driver to get a job in the US as a truck driver. Do the same rules apply to Canadians as they do for countries we don't share a border with?

I'm thinking maybe the OP can get a start in Canada and then get a CDL in the US after a certain amount of time establishing himself Canada🤷

It's far easier because of reciprocity, which exists for economic interests stemming from a shared border.

I have to laugh every time I hear we have a driver shortage. Until most recently the schools have been turning out new cdl holders at full speed.

The shortage is in good experienced drivers!!! There are several reasons experienced drivers are leaving the industry, IE retirement, regulation changes have attributed in some areas as well, and other changes.

The economic challenges the past couple of years have seen many smaller companies and owner operators closing the doors. This is really nothing new, it has happened at various times in history. It runs in cycles, right now we are at the low point of the cycle. The economists are predicting the current state to remain constant until the 4th quarter.

Hi there.

So as we all know, there's a global shortage of truck drivers, which according to the data (many truck drivers set to retire) is only going to get worse.

The, "driver shortage" is a myth perpetuated by the American Trucking Association (ATA) as a problem that MUST be dealt with. Their, "solutions" all involve paying drivers less unlike every other job on the planet where a shortage of skilled workers means wages go up. CDL training for high school students? Yeah. Allowing anyone to come into the US to drive a truck? Sure. Modifying HoS rules to allow drivers to go over 70? Of course.

There are fewer people joining the industry because of press releases from tech startups claiming that trucks will be driving themselves in a few months so truck driving won't be a job anymore. This discourages young people from considering the profession.

Legalizing the devil's weed is also creating problems. With more than 30% of the population of some states using it regularly. We often see posts from folks wanting to know how to get around THC testing to get their CDL. With the rise of hair testing and the reality that some users may need to abstain for a year or more many give up or try to speed things up and end up with a record on the Clearinghouse.

Still waiting for my raise.