Several semi-trucks in green, blue, and red sit parked side by side in a lot. Pexels
A deadly truck crash in California has sparked new concerns about the trucking industry’s growing problems. The crash, which killed three people, involved a 21-year-old driver who entered the U.S. illegally in 2022. The incident has led some trucking professionals to warn that weak oversight and ignored regulations are putting lives at risk.
Zach Meiborg, owner of Meiborg Brothers Trucking in Illinois, said the tragedy highlights a much larger issue. “The real story is that companies hiring drivers like this are breaking electronic logbook and other federal laws every day, while regulators look the other way,” he said.
A Dangerous System
The California Highway Patrol has not yet confirmed which company employed the driver, identified as Jashanpreet Singh. Federal officials said Singh entered the country illegally and was later released by authorities before finding work as a commercial truck driver.
In the trucking world, electronic logbooks—or “e-logs”—record how long a driver spends on the road and when they rest. These systems are meant to keep both drivers and other motorists safe by enforcing mandatory rest periods.
But according to Meiborg, many companies are cheating the system. “There are over 200 e-log providers, and about half of them are illegal,” he explained. “They let dispatch call in, wipe the driver’s hours clean, and give him a fresh 11 hours of drive time.”
Exploiting Workers, Ignoring Safety
Meiborg said that some trucking firms deliberately hire drivers who are in the U.S. illegally or hold questionable work visas. These drivers are often overworked and underpaid, creating dangerous conditions on highways.
“These drivers are victims in some ways,” he said. “They’re being exploited by companies owned out of Serbia, India, or Pakistan that are breaking every law across the board. Meanwhile, American carriers following the law are being driven out of business.”
He added that the real threat isn’t just driver mistakes or drug use—it’s the “systemic cheating” happening within the industry. Companies that erase e-log records and skip safety rules can move freight faster and cheaper, forcing honest operators to struggle or close.
Calls for Action
During a recent press briefing, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said there is “a disturbing pattern of criminal illegal immigrants being granted commercial driver’s licenses.”
Meiborg believes federal regulators have failed to keep up. “DOT has removed some illegal e-log providers, but there are still more than 100 operating illegally,” he said. “If regulators are going to pass these laws, they have to enforce them, otherwise you’re just incentivizing people to cheat harder.”
He warned that this growing problem threatens both the industry’s future and public safety. “They’re letting foreign-owned companies take over the backbone of our economy, transportation, betraying the patriotic Americans who are just trying like hell to just get by,” he said.
