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During the Pandemic, Some Drivers Abandoned the Sector and More Than 60 Thousand Truck Drivers Were Fired, Leading the US to Face a Huge Crisis in the Transportation Sector. With That, There Are Great Chances for the Country to Hire People from Other Countries
The truck driver crisis in the US has become so severe that some fleet managers are requesting the entry of foreign drivers into the country. Driving trucks has always been a high-turnover job with a labor shortage. However, this has worsened even more in the US during the pandemic, with the closure of training schools, the abandonment of the sector by some drivers, and an even stricter alcohol and drug testing system that resulted in at least 60 thousand layoffs according to the head of the American Trucking Association, Bob Costello.
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Learn How to Be a Truck Driver in the US with the EB-2 Visa
There are two ways to be a truck driver in the US, namely:
Self-Employed: To enter as self-employed and practice any profession in the United States, it is necessary to obtain the EB2 NIW (National Interest Waiver) visa, specific for working in the country. The NIW is a rule in the legislation that allows, for certain types of work visas, where the job offer exceeds the labor supply, for the work visa to be approved by USCIS (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services), without passing through DOL approval – Department of Labor.
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The cost is relative, as it depends on the number of family members of the truck driver who will immigrate; the costs for obtaining the visa can vary from US$ 15 thousand to US$ 20 thousand (about R$ 80 thousand, in current conversion) and the estimated time can take up to a year and a half (18 months). Spouse and children under 21 are included in the father’s process.
The EB-2 Visa is a Green Card, meaning the truck driver who receives this visa will become a permanent resident in the US and can enjoy almost all the benefits of an American citizen.
Employment Contract: Through this method, there are no costs for the worker if the Employer/Sponsor (Company that will employ the driver) is willing to cover the expenses of the process. The waiting time for obtaining immigration authorization is slightly shorter. Through a pre-established employment contract with a carrier in the United States, meaning when the company hires the foreign driver, the professional will need an H2B Visa. The costs for obtaining this document range from US$ 10 thousand to US$ 18 thousand and are entirely the responsibility of the hiring company.
It is possible to apply for the visa in two ways: through consulates if you are in Brazil, or through US immigration offices if the applicant is already in the United States. In the latter case, a “change of status” request for the tourist visa to resident must be made.
Lack of Drivers Could Cause Fuel Shortages in the US
Some of the smaller carriers are already pleading with the US government to “ease” rules or accelerate visa approvals so that foreign truck drivers can arrive in the country to alleviate the strain on supply chains.
At Petroleum Marketing Group, a fuel distributor operating in over 1,300 gas stations in the US, Andre LeBlanc, vice president of operations, stated that he was insisting on alerting governors and other entities that the lack of drivers could result in fuel shortages and increase gas prices at the pumps.
LeBlanc claims that authorities could alleviate the situation by accelerating the approval process for permanent EB-3 work visas, allowing the hiring of qualified drivers not available in the US. The program has an annual cap of 40 thousand visas. The vice president states that the situation is not expected to improve, but there is a solution, and he is trying to make someone listen to him.
Carriers Will Meet with American Legislators to Request New Truck Drivers
Andrew Owens, chairman of the Oregon Trucking Association, a state organization of carriers, stated that the idea of resorting to foreign truck drivers was taking shape.
According to Owens, a dozen carriers are organizing, through the American Trucking Association, to promote a meeting with American legislators to advocate for the request to expedite EB-3 approvals.
Part of the appeal will be to get truck drivers on the US Department of Labor’s List A, which identifies positions where a shortage of qualified professionals is considered, and can reduce the processing time for an EB-3 visa by about 1 year, according to Jose Gomez-Urquiza, CEO of Visa Solutions, responsible for placing foreign drivers in the US transportation sector.
Petroleum Marketing Group Has Less Than Half of Its Truck Drivers
The US Department of Transportation communicated that it was actively in favor of increasing the availability of long-haul truck drivers.
Petroleum Marketing Group, headquartered in Virginia, has only 26 of the 74 truck drivers it needs, LeBlanc stated. According to the vice president, the company is trying to recruit professionals, but cannot find any interested. One wholesaler even organized an event to attract people at a state convention center, but only two people showed up.
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