Illinois trucker: Deadly California crash exposes lawbreaking in trucking industry

By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributor
The Center Square

(The Center Square) – An Illinois trucking company owner says the deadly California semi-truck crash involving an illegal immigrant driver exposes a much deeper problem in the industry that federal regulators are ignoring.

Zach Meiborg, owner of Meiborg Brothers Trucking in Rockford, said this isn’t just about one driver being intoxicated or here illegally.

“The real story is that the companies hiring drivers like this are breaking electronic logbook and other federal laws every day, while regulators look the other way,” said Meiborg.

Authorities say 21-year-old Jashanpreet Singh entered the U.S. illegally in 2022 and was released by the Biden administration. He was allegedly behind the wheel of a semi-truck that crashed in Southern California, killing three people.

The California Highway Patrol did not immediately confirm with The Center Square which trucking company was involved in the crash.

An e-log, or electronic logbook, automatically tracks a truck driver’s hours and rest breaks to ensure compliance with federal safety rules.

Meiborg said that erasing e-logs often goes hand in hand with hiring illegal or visa-questionable drivers, allowing foreign-owned companies to cut costs and bypass safety regulations.

“These drivers are victims in some ways,” Meiborg said. “They’re being exploited by companies owned out of Serbia, India or Pakistan that are breaking every law across the board. Meanwhile, American carriers following the law are being driven out of business.”

Meiborg said many “fly-by-night” trucking companies erase drivers’ hours.

“There are over 200 e-log providers, and about half of them are illegal. They let dispatch call in, wipe the driver’s hours clean, and give him a fresh 11 hours of drive time,” said Meiborg. “Good companies are going out of business because we can’t compete with cheaters who are twice as productive. If regulators are going to pass these laws, they have to enforce them, otherwise you’re just incentivizing people to cheat harder.”

Meiborg said driver substance abuse is rare; the real danger is “systemic” and comes from companies breaking insurance, hours and logbook rules.

“These drivers are victims in some ways. Drivers are coming here from countries where $5,000 a year is a fortune,” Meiborg said. “They’re promised $30,000 in the U.S., send half home, and they feel like kings.”

During a recent news conference, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said there is “a disturbing pattern of criminal illegal immigrants being granted commercial driver’s licenses.”

Meiborg said the problem is compounded by government inaction.

“DOT has removed some illegal e-log providers, but there are still more than 100 operating illegally,” he said. “We can’t compete against the cheaters, and our government, while imposing many rules, some of them good, is looking the other way when enforcement is needed. They’re letting foreign-owned companies take over the backbone of our economy, transportation, betraying the patriotic Americans who are just trying like hell to just get by.”