TL;DR : A Chinese group in New York is helping over 1,000 illegal Chinese immigrants get U.S. truck-driving licenses. The group is connected to the Chinese government, raising security and safety concerns. Some of these drivers are already working in the U.S., including one involved in a deadly crash.
What Happened
- A New York-based group, the Chinese American Trucker Organization USA Inc. (CATOU), has helped over 1,000 Chinese nationals, many of them undocumented, get U.S. Commercial Driver’s Licenses (CDLs).
- CATOU claims a 100% pass rate and runs training programs in Virginia and California, often within a month.
- Some migrants crossed the U.S. southern border illegally and documented their path from entry to driving commercial vehicles on U.S. roads.
Who Is Behind CATOU
- CATOU’s board chairwoman, Geng Hang, has held leadership roles in Chinese government-linked groups, including the United Front Work Department (UFWD), which the U.S. government labels as a Chinese Communist Party (CCP) influence and intelligence agency.
- Geng also runs the Red Apple Employment Agency and Red Apple Enterprises Inc., which share office space with CATOU and place undocumented migrants in jobs for $80-$100 per placement.
National Security and Safety Concerns
- A fatal August 2025 crash in Florida involved an undocumented Chinese truck driver with a California CDL who reportedly “did not speak English.”
- “Having a large CCP-tied network... elevates national security risks,” said Steve Yates, senior research fellow at the Heritage Foundation.
- Federal audits show states like California issued CDLs to non-eligible foreigners due to failures in verifying immigration status.
Government and Industry Response
- The Trump administration has launched investigations and reforms, including revoking certain CDLs and pausing non-domiciled license issuance in violation-heavy states like California.
- Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced new CDL rules in September 2025 to limit eligibility to specific visa holders.
- “These guys are already here and they’re already operating,” said veteran trucker Justin Martin, calling for shutdowns of the companies involved.
Broader Impacts
- Experts warn that wage suppression and safety issues are worsening as undocumented drivers take trucking jobs for lower pay.
- Truckers involved in the system are already moving freight across U.S. highways, potentially affecting 70% of U.S. freight transport.
- “We are slowly giving over our entire truck industry to foreign actors,” said Gord Magill, a trucking industry analyst.