A spate of deadly crashes involving illegal alien truck drivers over the past two years has prompted action at both the state and federal level. The Department of Transportation continues its months-long crackdown on bogus trucking schools, with the DOT reporting more than 550 "sham" schools being decertified. Texas is doing its part, with Attorney Genera Ken Paxton recently announcing an investigation into similar schools operating in the Lone Star State. Paxton notes that many of these schools market themselves to non-English speaking students using materials in Spanish, while awarding commercial drivers licenses (CDLs) with far fewer training hours than is standard for the industry.
Paxton's action comes after President Trump issued an executive order last year directing a federal crackdown on illegal alien truck drivers, and an ensuing report showed Texas is a hub for many of these illegal drivers. The Texas trucking industry welcomes the crackdown. "We applaud and support the Texas Attorney General's efforts to assure our trucking schools are operating under the federal guidelines intended to protect our highways and produce qualified drivers," says John Esparza, President and CEO of the Texas Trucking Association (TXTA) in a statement. "Any attempt by trucking schools to bypass or fast-track required training should not be tolerated.”
Trucking industry insiders in other states are also applauding the crackdown as long overdue. "You wouldn't put someone in the cockpit of a Boeing 737 flying from New York to California if they weren't properly trained, couldn't communicate clearly, or speak English," says Mike Kucharski, co-owner of Illinois-based JKC Trucking in an interview with FOX digital. "The same standard should apply to our highways."
Kucharski calls the abuses in the trucking school industry "an abomination" and warns allowing unqualified illegal aliens behind the wheel of big rigs is "just madness."
"Every day, truck drivers are driving alongside school buses, families, and commuters," he continues. "When unqualified drivers slip through the cracks, that creates risk for our motoring public."
Then there are the impacts beyond the road, he argues. "When unqualified drivers get on the road, it doesn't just increase risk, but it drives up insurance costs---which it already has for all of us in the industry---lawsuits ultimately, and higher prices for consumers," says Kucharski. "So this is an economic issue, not just a safety issue."
"This investigation is absolutely necessary...it's about protecting the American public and restoring trust in the industry."
Photo: Tetra images RF