U.S. Revokes 20,000 Mexican Trucker Visas in Cabotage Crackdown

The U.S. has revoked work visas for approximately 20,000 Mexican truck drivers between April 2025 and April 2026, according to Augusto Ramos Melo, president of Mexico's National Chamber of Freight Transportation (Canacar). The revocations stem from an executive order issued by President Donald Trump in April 2025 targeting foreign commercial drivers operating in the U.S.

What cabotage violations trigger visa revocations for Mexican drivers?

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy told 12news that approximately 3,200 Mexican commercial drivers have had their U.S. visas revoked since January 2026 for alleged cabotage violations alone. Cabotage is the practice of hauling freight between two points entirely within the United States. Mexican truck drivers holding B-1 visas are permitted to transport freight into the U.S. and return to Mexico but cannot legally haul loads between domestic points 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 said.

The Department of Transportation (DOT) is working with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to identify and penalize violators. CBP now blocks Mexican truckers with cabotage violations at the border using DOT records, creating a real-time enforcement mechanism that prevents drivers with prior violations from entering U.S. territory.

How many foreign drivers have been removed from U.S. operations?

Roughly 30,000 foreign truck drivers have been removed from U.S. operations during the April 2025 to April 2026 period, with Mexican drivers accounting for about two-thirds of the total, according to Ramos. The figure was shared by the American Trucking Associations and reflects actions stemming from the April 2025 executive order.

"These operators returned to Mexico after their work visas were revoked," Ramos said according to T21.

The visa cancellations represent one of the most significant labor disruptions to hit the cross-border trucking industry in years. Canacar officials said the loss of drivers has begun tightening capacity and contributing to upward pressure on freight rates in the U.S.

"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.

What other enforcement actions are hitting Mexican carriers?

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. The rule change gives roadside inspectors authority to place a driver out of service immediately if the driver cannot respond to basic safety questions in English.

In response, Canacar has launched an English-language training program aimed at drivers and their families to help operators meet U.S. requirements and maintain eligibility for cross-border work.

The enforcement campaign has focused largely on activity along the U.S.-Mexico border. 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 U.S. cabotage laws.

"We have not received reports of Canadian truck drivers having visas revoked or being detained for cabotage violations," Millian said.

What is the driver shortage context?

The visa cancellations arrive at a time when North American trucking companies are already grappling with persistent driver shortages. Canacar estimates Mexico currently faces a shortage of approximately 96,000 truck drivers. Ramos said nearly 30% of active drivers are older than 55, while only about 13% are younger than 25.

The International Road Transport Union has projected a global shortage of more than 2.8 million truck drivers by 2030.

While Canacar has not yet quantified the economic impact of the visa revocations, Ramos said the effects could become more pronounced if freight demand strengthens across North America. Mexico remained the largest U.S. trading partner in April, with two-way trade between the U.S. and Mexico totaling $86.04 billion in April, up 23.4% from the same month a year earlier, according to U.S. Census Bureau data analyzed by WorldCity.

What cross-border carriers must do now

Carriers operating under B-1 visas must ensure drivers understand cabotage restrictions before crossing the border. A single domestic haul between two U.S. points can trigger visa revocation and a ban from future U.S. entry. Dispatchers should verify that every load assigned to a B-1 visa holder either originates in Mexico or terminates in Mexico. Loads that begin and end in the U.S. require a driver with proper U.S. work authorization.

Carriers should also confirm that drivers can communicate basic safety information in English. FMCSA's reinstatement of English-language proficiency as an out-of-service violation means a driver who cannot answer an inspector's questions will be placed out of service on the spot, stranding the load.

The DOT and CBP enforcement partnership means cabotage violations now follow drivers across inspections. A violation recorded at a weigh station in Texas can result in visa revocation and border denial on the driver's next entry attempt. Carriers relying on cross-border capacity should audit driver trip logs to confirm no domestic-only hauls appear in the record.