Biden Handed Out CDLs Like Candy... Now US Highways Are A Public & National Security Nightmare!

WOW, what a shocking revelation for the trucking industry. I'm floored by what the last administration did and the recruiting nightmare that's about to hit the trucking industry in the coming months. It could be a massive crisis.

Here is a summary of an article by Zerohedge titled, Biden Handed Out CDLs Like Candy... Now US Highways Are A Public & National Security Nightmare:

The U.S. trucking industry has faced a dramatic shift over the past decade, driven by policy changes that loosened driver standards and flooded the market with migrant truckers, culminating in rising safety risks and economic strain for American drivers.

• In 2016, a federal memorandum waived enforcement of English proficiency requirements for CDLs, loosening standards for truck drivers.
• In 2021, the Biden administration introduced the “Trucking Action Plan” to address a claimed driver shortage, initially targeting veterans, women, and minorities.
• By 2022, the Biden administration boasted adding 876,000 new drivers—doubling the usual annual rate—shifting the plan’s focus to issuing non-domicile CDLs to refugees and migrants.
• Between 2022 and 2025, the industry gained over 300,000 drivers despite over 100,000 small and mid-sized U.S. carriers going bankrupt in an ongoing downturn.
• Since 2016, truck-involved incidents and fatalities have steadily risen, a trend ATU correlates with the influx of minimally vetted migrant drivers.
• Weeks ago, a migrant driver with limited English, holding a non-domicile CDL , caused a deadly crash in Austin, Texas, killing 5 and injuring 11, spotlighting safety risks.
• ATU suspects NGOs like Texas-based Global Impact Initiative have aided migrants in obtaining CDLs, raising national security concerns (e.g., truck attacks like Nice, France).
• In 2025, with Trump back in office and English now the official U.S. language, calls emerge for a task force to reverse Biden’s policies, reinstate language rules, and empower states to enforce penalties for non-compliant drivers.

Things are about to change dramatically in this industry. The demand for drivers over the past two years has gone nearly to zero, something I haven't experience in almost 20 years of running this website, including the Great Recession of 2008. Now I know why no one needs drivers. Man, that is about to change.

Yes sir, and ATA is still pushing the debunked story of a major driver shortage. They have got a congressman to sponsor a bill giving a 7500 tax credit aimed at primarily new drivers.

On it’s face it looks great, but when you look under the cover it will be devasting. Freightwaves did an anayalis of the bill and applied the numbers to dry van freight. They estimate it will drop the current rate per mile at a bare minimum 11 cents per mile and could drop it as much as 83 cents per mile. They also said it would decimate the spot market all together.

That may be good or at least decent news for large carriers but it will kill small fleets and owner operators.

We are living through very un chartered terriority right now.

It's indeed very grave. If, DOGE gets some scrutiny of FMCSA it may start to correct things.

The globalists and leftist coalitions did a tremendous amount of damage to our industry in the last 10 to 15 years.

The solution is simple, we need to bring manufacturing and agricultural processing back, deurbanize and end the consumer addiction to cheap goods, which in all reality are not cheap, the true costs are hidden in national debt and the interest rates. Trumps working on it, but they're still fighting their hail Mary plays against him.

My hope is that the current situation with Canada will curb much of the B1 visa drivers coming in through the back door there, the tightening of the border in the south will too. The more vocal we become about the surplus of drivers and the lack of enforcement of the English speaking regulations can help too. We also need to be vocal and make aware that the ATA is a globalist organization that is designed to benefit the mega corporations and Goliath shippers, not the drivers. We need to support ooid and groups supporting the drivers and small guys.

The group sponsoring the bill in Arkansas needs our help for sure.

I didn’t know when the requirement for English stopped being enforced or that a federal memorandum caused it. Here in the Permian Basin I’d say that about 80% of the frac sand haulers and vacuum truck drivers speak no English. I had put that down to our proximity to the border. It’s frustrating but I’ve slightly improved my limited Spanish and become very proficient with google translate.

If the drivers were safe and efficient at their jobs it would bother me less, but they seem to delight in taking out fences and cattle guards.

Become a truck driver they said, it'll be fun they said.........

Minnesota is one of the states flooding the markets with immigrants who can't speak English or read road signs as well. Not to mention being a major port of entry for Canadian drivers who in many cases are just as un attentive and dangerous behind the wheel. With the amount of tailgating, speeding in construction zones and distracted driving leading to drivers swerving in and out of their lanes, it's a miracle that there aren't more accidents.

Well folks, President Trump signed a EO yesterday directing DOT/CVSA to go back and enforce the Emglish language rule as written. Drivers found in violation will be put out of service. Just in time for CVSA annual roadcheck.

It also directs states to revisit the non domiciled cdl issuance policies.

As far as I know, a major DOT road check is supposed to take place May 13-15. Probably going to see A LOT of trucks and drivers placed out of service after that. Funny how if you have all of your stuff in tip top shape, documents nicely organized, and truck regularly checked for issues, an annual DOT road check isn’t much of a big deal or something to be anxious about. I’m actually eager to get mine done so I can get my inspection sticker and continue rolling along without having to worry about it.

Back when I was jockeying trailers at a good size distribution center, I had a guy come in the yard one evening who worked for a local carrier. Our company had contracted with them to help us shuttle trailers between the DC and the cross dock. I was absolutely floored when I pulled up to his driver window to give him some instructions and he held his finger up to tell me to wait while he wrote on his note pad. This guy was 100% deaf… driving a big truck. Nothing against him at all but I couldn’t believe that he was able to pass the tests without being able to hear. It was extremely difficult trying to communicate with him in a high pace setting like that. I’ve got no problem with folks with disabilities bettering themselves, but I just couldn’t believe it. I guess he was able to get his CDL after those lax regulations were passed.

Dont get me wrong but was Biden president in 2016?

WOW, what a shocking revelation for the trucking industry. I'm floored by what the last administration did and the recruiting nightmare that's about to hit the trucking industry in the coming months. It could be a massive crisis.

Here is a summary of an article by Zerohedge titled, Biden Handed Out CDLs Like Candy... Now US Highways Are A Public & National Security Nightmare:

The U.S. trucking industry has faced a dramatic shift over the past decade, driven by policy changes that loosened driver standards and flooded the market with migrant truckers, culminating in rising safety risks and economic strain for American drivers.

• In 2016, a federal memorandum waived enforcement of English proficiency requirements for CDLs, loosening standards for truck drivers.
• In 2021, the Biden administration introduced the “Trucking Action Plan” to address a claimed driver shortage, initially targeting veterans, women, and minorities.
• By 2022, the Biden administration boasted adding 876,000 new drivers—doubling the usual annual rate—shifting the plan’s focus to issuing non-domicile CDLs to refugees and migrants.
• Between 2022 and 2025, the industry gained over 300,000 drivers despite over 100,000 small and mid-sized U.S. carriers going bankrupt in an ongoing downturn.
• Since 2016, truck-involved incidents and fatalities have steadily risen, a trend ATU correlates with the influx of minimally vetted migrant drivers.
• Weeks ago, a migrant driver with limited English, holding a non-domicile CDL , caused a deadly crash in Austin, Texas, killing 5 and injuring 11, spotlighting safety risks.
• ATU suspects NGOs like Texas-based Global Impact Initiative have aided migrants in obtaining CDLs, raising national security concerns (e.g., truck attacks like Nice, France).
• In 2025, with Trump back in office and English now the official U.S. language, calls emerge for a task force to reverse Biden’s policies, reinstate language rules, and empower states to enforce penalties for non-compliant drivers.

Things are about to change dramatically in this industry. The demand for drivers over the past two years has gone nearly to zero, something I haven't experience in almost 20 years of running this website, including the Great Recession of 2008. Now I know why no one needs drivers. Man, that is about to change.

Even in the 3 years I've been in this game, I've noticed a significant decline in domestic drivers. Fortunately, here in Idaho, driver demand is through the roof and my company [Leonard's] is doing great [as far as I can tell]. Freight has been killer almost no downtime. I hope this new English proficiency order helps alittle bit. Also, as someone mentioned above, hope I get my inspection this week. My company kicks $200 per clean inspection of any kind and I'm ready for it. :)