ATA President Chris Spear Calls Out "Cheaters" in the Trucking Industry

ATA President Calls for Crackdown on Illegal Cabotage

American Trucking Associations (ATA) President and CEO Chris Spear is calling for stronger federal enforcement against what he describes as growing violations of cabotage law in the United States. In a recent blog post, Spear argued that some carriers are using foreign drivers on temporary visas to haul freight within U.S. borders. He said this practice is both illegal and harmful to American truck drivers.

ATA Raises Concerns Over Unfair Competition

Spear used strong language to highlight what he sees as a serious threat to the industry. “This isn’t competition. It’s theft,” he wrote. “Each illegal load is a paycheck stolen directly from an American driver.”

He explained that under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), Mexican and Canadian drivers can legally move freight across the border. For instance, they may bring goods into the United States and return with outbound loads. Spear noted that this type of trade is legitimate and essential for supply chains.

But, according to Spear, some carriers are breaking the law by assigning foreign drivers to domestic hauls. He cited examples such as freight moved from Dallas to Houston or Phoenix to Chicago, which U.S. law does not permit.

Impact on Trucking Jobs

Spear argued that cabotage violations place a heavy burden on American workers and companies. “Each scheme that puts foreign drivers behind the wheel for domestic hauls undercuts the companies that follow the law,” he said. He added that law-abiding carriers face unfair competition from those who violate the rules.

The ATA president also pointed to evidence suggesting the problem is significant. He referenced cases in Nogales, Arizona, where U.S. carriers allegedly used B-1 visa drivers for domestic freight. One carrier, Spear said, collected $2.4 million in illegal revenue before being caught. Another gained $1.3 million before enforcement shut it down.

“These aren’t isolated cases,” Spear wrote. “They are part of a pattern of willful lawbreaking that distorts the market and hollows out good-paying American jobs.”

ATA Highlights Enforcement Challenges

Spear noted that Customs and Border Protection officers have found violations during routine inspections. He suggested that if infractions can be uncovered in limited checks, the number of undetected cases may be much larger. “Cabotage isn’t a fringe problem—it’s a business model for companies willing to sell out American workers,” he said.

He emphasized that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) holds the authority to address the issue. “The Department of Homeland Security has the sole authority to end this,” Spear wrote. “If DHS can devote the resources to target the carriers that are profiting from this illegal act, it will send an unmistakable message that will reverberate across the industry: break the law, and you will be shut down.”

ATA Calls for Federal Action

Spear expressed confidence that the Trump administration will respond to the problem. He argued that the administration has already shown strong support for trucking and said a crackdown on cabotage would be “the natural next step” in protecting fairness.

By enforcing current laws, he wrote, the administration could “protect American jobs, restore integrity to our supply chains, and prove once again that it will not allow foreign drivers and lawless carriers to undermine an industry that delivers nearly three-quarters of our nation’s freight.”

Framing the Debate

In closing, Spear drew a clear line between two options. “There is no middle ground. Enforce the law or abandon American workers. Protect the men and women who keep our shelves stocked or allow them to be undercut by bad businesses illegally employing foreign truck drivers. The choice is as stark as it is urgent.”

While stressing the importance of enforcement, Spear said the trucking industry is not seeking unfair benefits. “The American trucking industry has never asked for special treatment,” he wrote. “All we ask is a fair chance to compete.”

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