WASHINGTON — With federal law prohibiting the use of foreign B-1 visa-holding truck drivers from engaging in point-to-point service while operating in the U.S., ATRI’s Research Advisory Committee is identifying research to assess the scale and impact of cabotage activities in the U.S. as a top priority.
“Cabotage laws were created to protect U.S. “Cabotage laws were created to protect U.S. jobs and ensure that a level playing field exists,” said Kaitlyn Holmecki, American Trucking Associations’ (ATA) director of international policy. “When illegal low-cost transportation services undercut domestic freight operations, the entire trucking industry pays the price.” and ensure that a level playing field exists,” said Kaitlyn Holmecki, “When illegal low-cost transportation services undercut domestic freight operations, the entire trucking industry pays the price.”
Seeking Input
While B-1 visa-holders are generally allowed to make one pick-up or delivery in the U.S., anecdotal evidence indicates that some foreign truck drivers actively conduct new business throughout the U.S. and beyond the border commercial zones.
ATRI’s cabotage research includes a trucking industry survey that asks truck drivers and motor carriers to provide input on when and where this illegal activity is most often observed. The survey findings will help develop an economic model that will calculate the real costs and impacts that cabotage has on U.S. truck drivers and truck fleets.
All survey responses will be kept strictly confidential and used only in summary statistics. Click here to participate in the survey. The survey will be open through June 12.
Dana Guthrie is an award-winning journalist who has been featured in multiple newspapers, books and magazines across the globe. She is currently based in the Atlanta, Georgia, area.
