by: Pash Brar
As many of us have seen in the media, there have been multiple accidents involving truckers who are illegal aliens and have improper licenses in the US. Innocent people have been killed by incompetent ill-trained illegal people who were given commercial driver’s licenses by improper authorities. There are loopholes and criminals are helping these illegal immigrants obtain illegal licenses, and trucking companies are hiring them and clearly paying them under the table. These people have no regard to the law and to the safety of others. These cases have mostly been in the USA and made prominent by ICE. New Zealand recently revoked commercial driver’s licenses of 459 Indian born truckers which were obtained using fraudulent documents. On December 3, 2025, an illegal immigrant trucker killed a newlywed couple in Oregon when he jackknifed the semi he was driving. He had a fraudulent California license. How are they getting fraudulent documents?
In Canada, we are seeing more overpass hits, so I wonder if the truckers too are being poorly trained or something is amiss. While Canada does have better measures for controlling illegal immigrants, do we have a better way of training our commercial truck driver’s as well? To teach trucking, a person must first have their class 5 license, then obtain their class 1 license and have a minimum of 3 years safe driving. Then they are in position to begin the journey to teach someone to obtain their commercial class 1 license. They must do an instructor course and go through a criminal and medical test, a driving test and entrance quiz. The road to teaching takes years, but the people already teaching prior to MELT program requirements, did not have these stringent details and just continue teaching. This is where I think some issues can arise. The ones who just got accepted because they were doing the job already, may lack what the new instructors have.
I was on a walk and almost got hit on the sidewalk by a driving school car making an illegal left turn over double-sided lines. I confronted the instructor who said they were only not allowed to pass on a double solid. I explained they cannot make a left turn ever on a double solid line. The instructor told me I was wrong! I did tell the poor girl who was learning to please not break the law and learn from someone else so she can stay safe and legal. I found it unbelievable that a so-called driving school was teaching someone how to drive improperly. If this is happening with Class 5, then it must be happening with Class 1 as well.
I know many of the truck accident cases in the US being publicized are emphasizing the illegal status as well as lack of English. Some of the truckers being charged are not proficient in English to even understand their charges at trial. This shows there was obvious rule breaking activity to give the trucking license to the individual. How did they write the tests or understand the classroom instruction? Lacking comprehension is a major issue. Perhaps they did not understand the safety components but probably paid someone to issue the license.
If used incorrectly, a semi-truck is a large weapon on the road. No one should get behind the wheel of a semi without understanding the full operation and safety rules. Having a commercial license is a good way to provide for a family, but only if you make it home safely. The most famous truck accident in Canada was the 2018 bus accident involving the Humboldt Broncos Hockey Team that killed 16 and injured 13. The truck driver was a legal permanent resident immigrant, but his permanent resident status has been revoked, and some of the families of those who lost a loved one on that bus want him deported. He went through a stop sign, causing the accident. This rookie driver was criminally charged where he pleaded guilty. Although this tragedy had some mitigating circumstances, the driver did take responsibility for his actions; however, the company he worked for was barely touched at all by authorities.
I don’t think any person intends to hurt or kill anyone when he or she sets out for work, but some do. Is it due to lack of language, knowledge and rules? Trucking can be rewarding, but if you want to get your class 1 license, take the time to research a proper driving school with a good record. Governments must put in more regulations on who issues the licenses. The schools, and those who issue, must be more heavily regulated to protect all of us on the roads. There are big holes in the system that is allowing this, and they must be exposed to protect all of us on the roads. Until then, I know more accidents will unfortunately occur.
