Immigrant truck drivers among thousands set to lose their licenses
Asylum seekers and DACA recipients are among 17,000 commercial truck drivers who are set to lose their licenses at the start of the new year. The DMV told drivers they will be canceling their licenses on Jan. 6 after their federal work papers showed their work permits would be canceled. However, the DMV was not aware that some permits would be extended, and now they are scrambling to reissue licenses for some drivers. "A couple of guys went to the DMV and asked if they could be renewed, and they said no, these are going to be done, they are not going to be renewed," said Dave Atwal, CEO of Diamond Trucking in Stockton. "If you got the notice, you can get a Class C license, but you can't get a Class A.” This action stems from the federal government wanting to crack down on the number of immigrants who work as commercial truck drivers. However, Atwal says immigrants make up a huge portion of an industry that is the backbone of the nation's economy. “I don’t know if people realize this, but everything you’re wearing and eating and using is all delivered by a truck," he said. Atwal says he is set to lose about 12 drivers from this action. He says those drivers have been working with him for five to 10 years and have good records. He says he doesn't understand why they all of a sudden can't work. "If they can speak English and drive, and if you have a work permit, you are authorized to work, why can't you drive a truck?” he said. The DMV said they are correcting program errors and are working on new software that will better match drivers with their federal work permits.There are also economic impacts to losing drivers. Atwal says if thousands can no longer drive, transportation costs go up, and those costs could eventually get passed down to the consumer. "That is the effect on the economy," he said. "We already have inflation. We will have more inflation from this."He would like to see something get resolved, because he says immigrant truck drivers are prepared to do a job not many in the U.S. are willing to do. "There aren't people coming out of college looking to drive a truck," he said. "It is mostly these foreigners coming and make a better life where they weren’t allowed in their country.”See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
