California’s Punjabi Truckers Report Increased Harassment Following Florida Incident
A recent fatal truck accident in Florida has sparked a wave of reported harassment targeting Punjabi truck drivers with California commercial driver’s licenses, impacting a vital sector of the trucking industry. Drivers and advocacy groups are reporting increased scrutiny, fear, and even resignations consequently.
The situation is occurring during a period already challenging for trucking businesses. Baldev Khang, Director of Finance and Operations at Cargo Solutions Express in Fontana, California, described it as “the toughest period in decades,” citing a general slowdown due to tariffs, specifically a 50% tariff on Indian imports, and now, the targeting of drivers based on their licensing state.
Khang reported that three of his Sikh drivers were arrested in recent weeks, and five Punjabi drivers resigned this week alone, all possessing valid California-issued work permits. These drivers expressed fear of harassment after hearing reports of individuals with California paperwork being targeted in Oklahoma, Texas, and Florida. Cargo Solutions express operates 1,000 trucks delivering freight for major companies like Walmart and Amazon. Khang also noted that his Somali and Mexican drivers are avoiding routes in certain states.
The increased scrutiny follows a fatal accident in Florida where the driver, Harjinder Singh, was identified. The Trump administration afterward stated that Singh failed an english proficiency test following the incident. President Trump issued an executive order requiring commercial truck drivers to demonstrate proficient English language skills, citing the need to understand traffic signs and communicate with law enforcement. Following the crash, Florida’s Secretary of State Marco rubio froze foreign worker visas for commercial truck drivers.
The situation has prompted community responses. The North America Punjabi Trucking Assn., with 2,500 members, has begun offering English classes for truck drivers in Stockton, California, spearheaded by CEO Raman Dhillon. Dhillon also criticized the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), alleging flaws in the Commercial Driver’s Licence (CDL) testing system and lenient enforcement at driving schools, leading to licenses being issued too readily to work-permit holders.
Dhillon further condemned rhetoric from Florida politicians, including Lt. Gov. Jay Collins, who referred to Harjinder Singh as a “thug,” arguing it unfairly scapegoated the Sikh community. Reports have surfaced of harassment at truck stops, including instances where a Sikh driver, after being harassed, was asked to leave by responding police officers. Incidents of trucks being vandalized with thrown water bottles and eggs have also been reported.
The Sikh Coalition has received numerous calls for assistance from Sikh truckers since the Florida incident, including requests for language resources.Harman Singh, a representative of the organization, emphasized the need for road safety measures while simultaneously advocating against profiling of Sikh and Punjabi drivers based on their appearance or perceived English proficiency due to their visible articles of faith.