Hiring Truck Drivers from Abroad: US and Canada Options in 2026

Mechanics and technicians (diesel, heavy equipment) face the same limits. Some roles with a degree requirement, such as fleet engineers or logistics analysts, may fit the H-1B.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) published a final rule on February 13, 2026, effective March 16, 2026, that changes who can get a non-domiciled commercial learner's permit (CLP) or commercial driver's license (CDL), the kind states issue to people who are not US citizens or permanent residents:

• Only people in H-2A, H-2B, or E-2 status can get, renew, transfer, or upgrade a non-domiciled CLP or CDL.
• States do not have to cancel valid non-domiciled licenses issued earlier, but renewals follow the new rules.
• On May 5, 2026, the D.C. Circuit refused to pause the rule, with oral argument set for September 2026. The rule remains in effect while the case continues.

What this means for carriers: drivers on work permits from other statuses (for example, pending asylum or other EAD holders) may not be able to renew non-domiciled CDLs. Audit your drivers' license types and expiry dates, and read FMCSA's non-domiciled CDL FAQs. English language proficiency rules for commercial drivers are also enforced at roadside inspections.

Transport truck drivers are NOC 73300, a TEER 3 occupation. You can apply for an LMIA, but check the stream first:

• High-wage or low-wage? Compare the driver's guaranteed hourly wage with the provincial median plus 20%. For example, from July 17, 2026 the threshold is CAD $36.92 in Ontario, $37.50 in Alberta, and $34.62 in Saskatchewan.
• Low-wage refusal areas. Trucking is not an exempt sector. For July 10 to October 8, 2026, low-wage LMIAs are refused in 26 of 41 census metropolitan areas, including Toronto, Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver, and Saskatoon. Terminals outside those areas are not affected. See the refusal areas list.
• Low-wage obligations: 8 weeks of advertising with youth outreach, the 10% workforce cap, round-trip travel, affordable housing, and private health insurance.
• Fee: CAD $1,000 per position, which the driver can never repay.

Licensing. Drivers need a provincial Class 1 or AZ license, and several provinces require mandatory entry-level training (MELT) before the road test. Foreign licenses rarely transfer directly.

Check other provinces' current lists in PNP employer streams.

Add licensing time: a Canadian Class 1 or AZ license with MELT, or a US CDL, is needed before the driver can work, and foreign licenses rarely convert directly.

H-2B I-129 filing fees depend on the number of workers and employer size; see the USCIS fee schedule. Full tables: US costs and Canada costs. Model a US case with the sponsorship cost estimator.

• Filing H-2B for year-round lanes. DOL denies needs that are really permanent.
• Assuming a work permit means a CDL. Since March 16, 2026, most non-domiciled CDLs are limited to H-2A, H-2B, and E-2 holders.
• Paying per mile without a clear hourly equivalent in Canadian LMIAs, which makes the wage stream unclear.
• Using recruiters who charge drivers. Recruitment fees are banned in the H-2B program and in Canada, and "buying an LMIA" is a common scam aimed at drivers. See scam protection.
• Ignoring licensing time for Class 1 or AZ and MELT in Canada.