The US has revoked work visas for approximately 20,000 Mexican truck drivers over the past year, tightening capacity and pushing freight rates upward as the Trump administration intensifies a broad enforcement campaign against foreign commercial drivers operating in the United States.
Visa Revocations and Capacity Impact
The revocations occurred between April 2025 and April 2026, according to Augusto Ramos Melo, president of Mexico’s National Chamber of Freight Transportation (Canacar). Speaking during a recent briefing marking his first 100 days in office, Ramos said the figure was shared by the American Trucking Associations and reflects actions stemming from an executive order issued by President Donald Trump in April 2025, as reported by FreightWaves. Roughly 30,000 foreign truck drivers have been removed from US operations during the period, with Mexican drivers accounting for about two-thirds of the total.
Canacar officials said the loss of drivers has begun tightening capacity and contributing to upward pressure on freight rates in the US. “The only thing that happened here was the supply-demand effect, where obviously the cost of freight in the United States has been starting to have an upward effect,” Ramos said, according to T21. While Canacar has not yet quantified the economic impact, Ramos warned that effects could become more pronounced if freight demand strengthens across North America.
Enforcement Actions and Penalties
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has publicly defended the administration’s efforts to crack down on cabotage violations and other regulatory infractions involving foreign commercial drivers. During a recent visit to Phoenix, Duffy said Mexican truck drivers are permitted to transport freight into the US and return to Mexico but cannot legally haul loads between points entirely within the United States without proper authorization. “What we’re doing is working with Customs and Border Patrol, and we’re pulling the visas of those Mexican drivers who violate our rules, and what this is about is making sure that the American companies, American drivers have these jobs and these loads,” Duffy told 12news.
According to Duffy, approximately 3,200 Mexican commercial drivers have had their US visas revoked since January for alleged cabotage violations alone. The Department of Transportation is working with U.S. Customs and Border Protection to identify and penalize violators. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) reinstated English-language proficiency violations as an out-of-service offense last year, allowing inspectors to sideline drivers who cannot adequately communicate in English.
Canadian Carriers Unaffected
While Mexican trucking companies have been directly affected, Canadian carriers say they have not experienced similar enforcement actions. Mike Millian, president of the Private Motor Truck Council of Canada, said his organization is unaware of any Canada-based truck drivers losing B-1 visas or being arrested for violating US cabotage laws. “We have not received reports of Canadian truck drivers having visas revoked or being detained for cabotage violations,” Millian said. Industry observers note that US enforcement efforts have largely focused on activity along the U.S.-Mexico border.
Industry Response and Next Steps
In response to the tougher requirements, Canacar has launched an English-language training program aimed at drivers and their families to help operators meet US requirements and maintain eligibility for cross-border work. The visa cancellations represent one of the most significant labor disruptions to hit the cross-border trucking industry in years. For shippers and logistics operators relying on cross-border trucking, the immediate implication is tighter capacity and potential rate increases, particularly on lanes from Mexico into the US interior. Operators should monitor Canacar’s training initiatives and consider diversifying carrier bases or adjusting routing to mitigate service disruptions.
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Mexican truck driver visas revoked (Apr 2025–Apr 2026) | ~20,000 | Canacar / ATA |
| Total foreign drivers removed from US operations | ~30,000 | Ramos (Canacar) |
| Mexican drivers as share of total removed | ~67% | Calculated from Ramos figures |
| Visas revoked for cabotage violations since Jan 2026 (Mexican) | ~3,200 | Sec. Duffy |
| Canadian carriers reporting similar crackdown | None | Private Motor Truck Council of Canada |
Watch List
- Potential further escalation of cabotage enforcement along the U.S.-Mexico border.
- Implementation and uptake of Canacar’s English-language training program.
- Any shift in enforcement to Canadian carriers or other foreign driver groups.
- Freight demand trends in North America that could amplify capacity and rate effects.
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