Saralnama
The United States has immediately paused issuing worker visas for commercial truck drivers, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced, citing safety concerns and the protection of American jobs. The decision follows a fatal crash in Florida involving an Indian-origin truck driver who was in the US illegally and charged with vehicular homicide. The State Department stated the pause applies to all nationalities and aims to review screening and vetting protocols. Foreign truck drivers, often working under the H-2B visa program, currently make up 18% of the industry, with numbers doubling since 2000. The pause may exacerbate a shortage of approximately 60,000 truck drivers in the US. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy recently emphasized the requirement for all truck drivers to speak English to enhance road safety. Many foreign drivers come from Latin America, India, and Eastern Europe, including Ukraine. (Updated 22 Aug 2025, 12:50 IST; source: link)