CHICAGO, Illinois — A veteran trucking industry leader is sounding the alarm over what he calls a growing crisis caused by illegal immigrant truck drivers operating with sanctuary state-issued licenses, warning the issue is endangering U.S. roads and “killing” small American trucking businesses.

Mike Kucharski, co-owner and vice president of JKC Trucking in Illinois, told Fox News Digital that the presence of non-domiciled commercial drivers — many of whom obtained licenses in states like California and New York — has sent a devastating “shockwave” through the industry.

“We knew there was an issue after COVID when rates dropped and never recovered,” Kucharski said. “Now we know why — these drivers are taking loads for cheaper because they don’t pay the same taxes or costs legitimate businesses do. It’s destroying small trucking companies.”

His warning follows Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy’s recent report accusing California of violating federal law by issuing commercial driver’s licenses to foreign nationals, including asylum seekers, whose work authorizations had expired. The federal investigation found “systemic policy, procedural, and programming errors” in California’s CDL program, with some licenses remaining valid years past their federal expiration dates.

The controversy erupted after several high-profile fatal crashes involving illegal immigrant truck drivers, including one in Florida that killed three people and another in Ontario, California, where an Indian national driving under the influence caused a fiery multi-vehicle pileup that left three dead.

In response, the U.S. Department of Transportation issued an emergency interim rule tightening CDL standards nationwide. The rule now limits eligibility to drivers with specific employment-based visas, requires states to verify immigration status through the SAVE database, and mandates that all non-domiciled CDLs expire no later than the driver’s federal authorization date or within one year.

Kucharski said the loopholes allowing illegal drivers to undercut legitimate companies have made it nearly impossible for smaller fleets to survive. “These drivers live in their trucks, don’t pay taxes, and can haul loads for hundreds less. They’re underbidding Americans out of work — and no one’s holding them accountable,” he said.

A spokesperson for California Gov. Gavin Newsom pushed back, arguing that the state has complied with federal standards. “Drivers holding California-issued CDLs are involved in fatal crashes at rates lower than the national average,” the statement read. “If safety is the focus, California should be a model, not a scapegoat.”

Kucharski disagreed, calling for urgent reform. “This is a crisis,” he said. “The trucking industry depends on trust — every driver on the road must be properly licensed, trained, and fit to operate heavy equipment. Lives depend on it.”

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