Trucking Companies to Benefit from 65,000 Additional Foreign Truck Driver Visas in 2025
The U.S. government has announced a significant expansion of its visa program, nearly doubling the number of available permits for trucking companies to hire foreign drivers in 2025.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has approved 64,716 supplemental H-2B visas for the fiscal year 2025, running from October 1, 2024, through September 30, 2025. These visas are in addition to the standard 66,000 H-2B visas already allocated annually by Congress for temporary non-agricultural workers.
Who Will Receive the New Visas?
Out of the newly approved visas, 45,000 will be prioritized for returning foreign workers who participated in the H-2B program within the past three years. The remaining visas will be reserved for workers from specific countries, including:
Colombia
Costa Rica
Ecuador
El Salvador
Guatemala
Haiti
Honduras
How the H-2B Program Supports Trucking Companies
The H-2B visa program enables U.S. employers to hire foreign workers for temporary, non-agricultural jobs to meet seasonal, peak-load, or one-time labor demands. Trucking companies are among the top industries utilizing this program to address ongoing driver shortages.
In the previous year, trucking companies in states like Montana, Florida, and Massachusetts were among the largest beneficiaries of the H-2B program, leveraging the opportunity to meet critical labor needs.
A Win-Win for Employers and the Economy
DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas emphasized the importance of these additional visas in supporting businesses and strengthening the economy:
“There are employers across the country that would suffer greatly without H-2B workers. Authorizing these supplemental visas helps U.S. employers fill those positions. It helps fuel our economy and reduce irregular migration while also providing a safe and lawful pathway to the United States for noncitizens who are prepared to work.”
Why It Matters for the Trucking Industry
The trucking industry continues to face significant challenges in finding qualified drivers to meet demand. By expanding access to foreign labor, trucking companies can maintain operations, fulfill contracts, and keep the supply chain moving efficiently.
With the upcoming fiscal year, the additional 65,000 visas will offer much-needed relief to trucking companies across the U.S., ensuring they can bridge workforce gaps and remain competitive in a rapidly evolving economy.
