The U.S. has revoked work visas for roughly 20,000 Mexican truck drivers over the previous 12 months, in keeping with Mexico’s largest trucking affiliation.
The revocations arrive because the Trump administration says it continues a broad enforcement marketing campaign focusing on international business drivers working within the U.S.
Augusto Ramos Melo, president of Mexico’s Nationwide Chamber of Freight Transportation (Canacar), stated the visa revocations occurred between April 2025 and April 2026 and have been tied to more durable enforcement of U.S. necessities governing business drivers.
Talking throughout a current briefing marking his first 100 days in workplace, Ramos stated the determine was shared by the American Trucking Associations and displays actions stemming from an government order issued by President Donald Trump in April 2025. Ramos was elected as Canacar’s president in March.
“These operators returned to Mexico after their work visas have been revoked,” Ramos stated in keeping with T21.
In response to Ramos, roughly 30,000 international truck drivers have been faraway from U.S. operations through the interval, with Mexican drivers accounting for about two-thirds of the full.
The visa cancellations symbolize one of the vital vital labor disruptions to hit the cross-border trucking business in years. CANACAR officers stated the lack of drivers has begun tightening capability and contributing to upward strain on freight charges within the U.S.
“The one factor that occurred right here was the supply-demand impact, the place clearly the price of freight in the USA has been beginning to have an upward impact,” Ramos stated.
Whereas Canacar has not but quantified the financial impression, Ramos stated the results may change into extra pronounced if freight demand strengthens throughout North America.
Associated: Laredo summit debates driverless freight corridors, B-1 truckers
United States vows continued cabotage enforcement
The visa revocations come as U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has publicly defended the administration’s efforts to crack down on cabotage violations and different regulatory infractions involving international business drivers.
Throughout a current go to to Phoenix, Duffy stated Mexican truck drivers are permitted to move freight into the U.S. and return to Mexico however can not legally haul hundreds between factors fully inside the USA with out correct authorization.
“What we’re doing is working with Customs and Border Patrol, and we’re pulling the visas of these Mexican drivers who violate our guidelines, and what that is about is ensuring that the American firms, American drivers have these jobs and these hundreds,” Duffy instructed 12news.
In response to Duffy, roughly 3,200 Mexican business drivers have had their U.S. visas revoked since January for alleged cabotage violations alone.
Duffy stated the Division of Transportation is working with U.S. Customs and Border Safety to establish and penalize violators.
The Federal Motor Service Security Administration reinstated English-language proficiency violations as an out-of-service offense final 12 months, permitting inspectors to sideline drivers who can not adequately talk in English.
In response, Canacar has launched an English-language coaching program geared toward drivers and their households to assist operators meet U.S. necessities and preserve eligibility for cross-border work.
Canadian carriers report no related crackdown
Whereas Mexican trucking firms have been instantly affected by the visa revocations, Canadian carriers say they haven’t skilled related enforcement actions.
Mike Millian, president of the Non-public Motor Truck Council of Canada, stated his group is unaware of any Canada-based truck drivers dropping B-1 visas or being arrested for violating U.S. cabotage legal guidelines.
“Now we have not obtained experiences of Canadian truck drivers having visas revoked or being detained for cabotage violations,” Millian stated.
Trade observers be aware that U.S. enforcement efforts have largely centered on exercise alongside the U.S.-Mexico border.
Driver scarcity issues stay
The visa cancellations arrive at a time when North American trucking firms are already grappling with persistent driver shortages.
Canacar estimates Mexico at present faces a scarcity of roughly 96,000 truck drivers. Ramos stated practically 30% of lively drivers are older than 55, whereas solely about 13% are youthful than 25.
The Worldwide Street Transport Union has projected a world scarcity of greater than 2.8 million truck drivers by 2030.
Mexico holds prime US commerce spot in April
Mexico remained the most important U.S. buying and selling accomplice in April, with two-way commerce between the U.S. and Mexico totaled $86.04 billion in April, up 23.4% from the identical month a 12 months earlier, in keeping with U.S. Census Bureau information analyzed by WorldCity.
U.S. exports to Mexico totaled $35.34 billion, whereas imports reached $50.69 billion.
Canada ranked second amongst U.S. buying and selling companions with $64.8 billion in two-way commerce throughout April, whereas Taiwan surged to 3rd place at $29.6 billion.
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