 "Sikh drivers dominate US trucking: A number theory")
Jashanpreet Singh, a 21-year-old Sikh truck driver from Yuba City, California, has been arrested for causing a crash on the 10 Freeway in Ontario on October 21, which killed three people and injured four others.
Sikh drivers in US trucking
Singh is part of the Sikh community, which forms a backbone of the US trucking industry. Sikhs have made a remarkable mark in the sector, with around 150,000 people involved, including 135,000 drivers — roughly 4 per cent of the country’s total driver pool. On the West Coast, Sikhs account for about 40 per cent of drivers.
Sikhs also own an estimated 20 per cent of US trucking firms, showing influence beyond driving. Long-haul trucking has become popular among Sikh immigrants because it offers competitive salaries ranging from $50,000 to $100,000, without requiring advanced degrees or full English fluency.
Their presence is particularly crucial as the US faces a driver shortage projected to reach 174,000 by 2026.
Dashcam footage shows Singh’s truck striking an SUV, triggering a fire. Singh and a roadside mechanic who was assisting with a tyre change were also injured.
Illegal entry and charges
As per the officials, Singh entered the US illegally in 2022, crossing the southern border from Mexico, and was first intercepted by Border Patrol in California’s El Centro Sector.
Under then-President Joe Biden’s “alternatives to detention” policy, he was allowed to remain free while awaiting court hearings. Singh now faces charges including gross vehicular manslaughter.
Investigators said Singh never applied the brakes before the crash, and toxicology tests showed he was under the influence of drugs. The Department of Homeland Security confirmed he was in the US without legal status. Following his arrest, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) filed an immigration detainer against him.
Authorities have questioned how Singh obtained a commercial truck driver’s licence despite his illegal status and limited English skills.
US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy highlighted the risks of unqualified commercial drivers:
Impact Shorts
More Shorts“I put states on notice this summer: enforce the Trump Administration’s English language requirements or the checks stop coming! California is the only state in the nation that refuses to ensure big rig drivers can read our road signs and communicate with law enforcement.”
Duffy’s remarks followed the Trump administration’s decision to withhold $40 million in federal highway safety funding from California for failing to meet English proficiency standards for truck drivers.
Similar past incidents
This is not the first case involving an Indian-origin Sikh trucker. Harjinder Singh, who crossed the US border illegally in 2018, is accused of causing a fatal crash in Fort Pierce, Florida, that killed three people. Investigators said he had failed both English and road sign tests before obtaining his commercial driver’s licence in California.
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