A chilling pattern is emerging on America’s highways, one marked by preventable tragedies and a disturbing vulnerability within the trucking industry. Fatal crashes involving semi-trucks are on the rise, and authorities are increasingly finding that illegal immigrant drivers are behind the wheel.
Recent enforcement efforts, like “Operation Midway Blitz” in Indiana, resulted in the arrest of 146 illegal immigrant truck drivers. But these arrests represent only a fraction of the problem, a symptom of deeper systemic issues that are allowing unqualified drivers to operate massive commercial vehicles.
The story of Jeffrey Eberly, a 54-year-old man killed in Indiana, is a stark illustration of the danger. Borko Stankovic, driving a semi-truck with a suspended license belonging to a family member, failed to slow for stopped traffic and collided with Eberly’s vehicle, causing a chain reaction that left Eberly dead at the scene. Stankovic had been in the country illegally since 2011.
Just months earlier, in Florida, Harjinder Singh illegally crossed the border in 2018 and subsequently obtained a commercial driver’s license in California. While attempting an illegal U-turn, his truck jackknifed and was struck by a minivan, resulting in the deaths of all three occupants. Singh now faces multiple vehicular homicide charges.
Industry insiders claim the problem isn’t simply a matter of individuals breaking the law, but a deliberate exploitation of loopholes by foreign-owned trucking companies. These entities, often based in Eastern Europe, are allegedly prioritizing rapid expansion over safety and legal compliance.
Zach Meiborg, a trucking company owner, alleges that American regulations are being ignored as companies “export” the industry to foreign entities. He describes a system where these companies exploit multiple areas of the trucking economy, fueled by a willingness to hire illegal labor without consequence.
The pandemic appears to have accelerated this trend, with companies moving operations offshore to gain a competitive advantage. This allows them to operate with minimal oversight, utilizing foreign dispatchers, safety personnel, and recruiters, all connected digitally.
These companies are reportedly skirting labor laws, classifying drivers as 1099 contractors instead of W-2 employees, and avoiding taxes and healthcare obligations. They are also accused of manipulating the system through self-certification and fabricated electronic logbooks, effectively policing themselves.
The Department of Transportation is responding with increased scrutiny of state-issued commercial driver’s licenses, particularly those granted to non-domiciled individuals. This emergency rule aims to tighten oversight and prevent unqualified drivers from obtaining credentials.
Experts agree that the solution lies in stricter enforcement of existing laws. The legal requirements for obtaining a commercial driver’s license – requiring legal residency or U.S. citizenship – are clear. The challenge now is ensuring those laws are consistently and effectively upheld to protect lives on America’s roads.
