Federal agents have ramped up operations across the country, pulling illegal immigrants out of truck cabs and off the interstates. These moves, spearheaded by ICE and state patrols, come as President Trump’s team enforces long-ignored rules on who gets to haul freight in America. The result? Pay rates for legitimate drivers are climbing, especially in the spot market where quick loads get bid online.
One trucker posted on X about a run from Chicago to Fargo: “[I] Normally do Chicago to Fargo for $1200. Had a [delivery] broker call and offer me $1800. Needless to say, I took him up on the offer. Lord do I hope this hangs around a little bit.”
Craig Fuller, who runs FreightWaves, pointed out the shift: “Volumes are anemic, but spot rates rose [2 percent] anyways. What gives? We are seeing the bottom feeders get squeezed out of the market, since these firms don’t operate in the contract market.”
These gains follow a series of busts that reveal just how deep the problem ran. In Oklahoma alone, a three-day sweep along I-40 netted over 90 illegal drivers in semis, with reports putting the number as high as 120 or even 130 in related stings. Agents confiscated licenses from those lacking proper entry papers, like the I-94 form proving legal arrival. One case involved a migrant with a New York CDL listing “NO NAME GIVEN” as the holder—issued after the Biden crew let him loose in the country back in 2021. Similar raids hit Serbian drivers in multiple states, with about 15 collared in early October for faking their way into the industry.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy laid it out plain on Fox News: “We have Americans who have been in the trucking industry for 50 years through family businesses. They can’t do business anymore because you have these illegals coming in, living out of their trucks. You have teams of drivers, they’re not safe, they can’t speak the language, and they come in under price … way underprice.”
Bill Skinner, a trucking expert, warned on X: “Almost 1/3 of our nation’s freight is hauled by non-citizen drivers. That’s not just a safety issue — it’s a national security risk.”
With so many outsiders controlling the loads zipping across America, it’s no stretch to wonder if this was all by design. The old regime’s border chaos didn’t just flood the market with cheap labor to crush family-run outfits—it opened the door for who knows what. Cartels smuggling fentanyl in trailers? Foreign operatives embedding in supply chains? The setup smells like a deliberate sabotage of our economy and defenses, propping up big retailers at the expense of real Americans.
As these violators get hauled away, the freight slump hits the shady operators hardest. Insurance rates spike for anyone still gambling on high-risk hires, and lawyers circle like vultures. Meanwhile, safer roads mean fewer wrecks, thefts, and delays that jack up costs for everyone. The spot market’s bump won’t spike inflation much, but if it spreads to big contracts, watch the giants like Amazon whine about threats to the dollar.
For now, the crackdown puts money back in the pockets of those who belong here. More enforcement could expose even bigger webs of fraud, from rigged CDL mills to quiet deals that kept wages flat for years. American drivers deserve this turnaround—and the full truth behind how it got so bad in the first place.
Why the National Debt Is the Looming Threat to Your Retirement Plans
The Hidden Crisis No One Is Talking About
Every day, headlines warn about inflation, market volatility, and global instability—but the greatest looming threat to your retirement might be something far more fundamental: America’s skyrocketing national debt.
You can learn more about how the national debt affects you by reading this 3-minute report titled, “Debt Will Hit $40T in 2026: Prepare Your Retirement Now“.
With debt growing faster than most Americans can possibly fathom, the government’s borrowing habits have reached historic—and dangerous—levels. To cover spending, Washington is making moves with their budget packages, tariffs, and taxes. Is it enough? No. It’s not even close to what would be necessary to stop out-of-control debt, let alone reverse it.
How Debt Erodes Your Nest Egg
There are only so many levers government and the Federal Reserve can pull to try to protect Americans, assuming that’s even a top priority for them. Unfortunately, pulling one level to relive one pressure invariably adds pressure from another direction. This is why prices keep going up even as inflation reportedly slows.
For retirees and pre-retirees, that’s a perfect storm. The dollars you’ve worked hard to save lose value, and your cost of living increases while your investments lag behind.
If you’re relying solely on paper-based assets—stocks, bonds, or mutual funds—you’re essentially tied to the same system that’s creating the problem. It’s a system that was designed to work well in the 20th century, not in today’s world with people living longer and the dollar rapidly losing value.
This is why the 3-minute report, “Debt Will Hit $40T in 2026: Prepare Your Retirement Now,” is so important.
The Precious Metals Hedge
Thousands of Americans are looking for a tangible, time-tested hedge: physical gold and silver.
Unlike paper assets, precious metals aren’t dependent on government policy or the stock market’s mood swings. They’re real, finite resources that have maintained value for thousands of years through wars, recessions, and inflationary periods.
In fact, during times of high inflation and fiscal instability, gold often performs its best—because it’s seen as a store of value when faith in the dollar weakens. This is why prices have skyrocketed this year and are expected by many economists to continue going up in the future.
Take Control with a Gold IRA
One of the most effective ways to protect your retirement from national debt fallout is through a self-directed Gold IRA. This IRS-approved account lets you hold physical gold and silver within your retirement portfolio, giving you:
- Direct ownership of your assets
- A hedge against inflation and dollar decline
- The control to diversify beyond Wall Street
Augusta Precious Metals specializes in helping Americans just like you take this step with confidence. The company has earned a strong reputation for transparency, education, and personalized service—making it one of the most trusted names in the industry.
The Next Step: Secure Your Financial Future
Augusta Precious Metals has helped thousands of Americans with at least $50,000 to invest from their IRAs, 401(K)s, TSPs, and other retirement accounts safeguard their savings through precious metals.
If you’re concerned about what the rising national debt could mean for your future, now is the time to act.
Read this 3-minute report titled, “Debt Will Hit $40T in 2026: Prepare Your Retirement Now“ and learn the simple steps you can take to protect your retirement.