Nebraska, the home state of Werner, has made a deal with Kenya to get workers from there. The reason given is to make more truck drivers available.
Werner got caught up in the flak because they hosted a meeting between the Nebraska Secretary of State and a Kenyan delegation. The topic was supposedly an economic cooperation deal. But both Kenyan and Nebraska officials have said that acquiring Kenyan truck drivers was one of the objectives.
Werner managment claimed on X that they have no plans to hire Kenyan drivers and are not part of the deal. But other Nebraska trucking firms have said they would be interested.
I’ve met Derek Leathers, CEO of Werner, and if he says Werner will not hire Kenyan drivers, I believe him.
But my question is, where does Nebraska get off making arrangements to bring foreign workers into the US? The oft-repeated policy of the US government is to deport foreign workers, and the rationale is that they take jobs from Americans. Why are these workers an exception?
Now I support allowing immigration; we have an aging workforce, we are becoming a nation of retired people. Our younger generations tend to want jobs that offer a better lifestyle than factory or repetitive jobs. Truck driving doesn’t offer any lifestyle advantages for most folks, and many of our trucking firms have often routinely taken advantage of drivers.
But truck driving is essential to our economy and our businesses. So we need drivers, just as we need agricultural workers, construction workers, landscapers, and those who can perform other hard jobs. Immigrant workers pay taxes and spend cash in American businesses. It’s good for all.
John Kingston Wednesday, September 10, 2025
https://www.freightwaves.com/news/werner-faces-social-media-storm-over-kenyan-driver-rumors
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