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Recently, the US government has made a big decision to ban the work visa and commercial driving license (CDL) given to foreign truck drivers with immediate effect.

Driving a truck in America has not just been a job but a dream for thousands of Indian youth. Especially the youth of Punjab, Haryana, and many states of North India consider this work as a path to progress, respect, and a better life. In America, the job of a truck driver is associated with good salary, safe lifestyle and a bright future. The highway life there, big trucks, and the hope of a better life from one's own earnings have pushed many youth in this direction.

This is the reason why thousands of Indians, especially those from the Sikh community, are working in the trucking industry in America. But now this dream is in danger. Recently, the US government has taken a big decision to ban the work visa and commercial driving license (CDL) given to foreign truck drivers with immediate effect. This will have a direct impact on those Indians who are making a living by driving trucks in America or wanted to go there and do this work. In such a situation, let us know how much salary a truck driver gets in America and how many Indians will lose their jobs after the ban.

How much salary does a truck driver get in America?

In America, the salary of truck drivers is usually on a per mile basis. In which an average of 0.60 to 0.70 US dollars is paid per mile. A truck driver who travels 500-600 miles daily can earn around 4.2 lakhs to 6.7 lakhs every month. Some companies also pay salary on an hourly basis. In which an average of 1,680 to 2,520 can be earned per hour. It depends on the driver's experience, company and state. The average annual salary of truck drivers in America is around 40 lakhs. Some big companies like Walmart, Amazon etc. also pay experienced drivers 95,000 to 110,000 US dollars i.e. about 80 lakhs to 92 lakhs annually.

How many Indians will lose their jobs after the ban?

As of 2021, there were more than 7,20,000 foreign-born truck drivers in the US. About 18 percent of these truck drivers are of foreign origin. The number of people from India, Mexico, Latin America and Eastern European countries (such as Ukraine) in the trucking industry has increased rapidly. Thousands of Indians are driving trucks especially in California, USA. Most of them are from Punjab and Haryana and most belong to the Sikh community. A 2018 report said that in just two years, more than 30,000 Indian Sikhs joined the trucking industry.

According to the decision of the US government, now new visas will not be issued, work permits will be banned and commercial licenses will stop. This will affect the Indians the most who are already in the US or want to go there and work. The status of those who are already working legally is not in danger at the moment, but there may be problems in renewing the visa. Experts believe that if this ban continues for a long time, thousands of Indian drivers may lose their jobs.