Uzbek Migrant Trucking Operations Raise Safety Concerns in Ohio
Dozens of Uzbek-owned trucking companies are operating out of residential addresses in Ohio, logging impossible mileage and raising red flags for safety violations.
Dozens of Uzbek-owned commercial trucking companies in Ohio's Butler and Warren counties are operating out of shared residential addresses, reporting implausible annual mileage, and claiming ownership of thousands of "phantom" big rigs. A New York Post investigation found these operations have raised significant concerns among locals in the southern Ohio communities, including areas near Vice President J.D. Vance's hometown.
Residents in communities like Maineville, a village of approximately 1,500 people located about 25 miles from Vance's hometown of Middletown, report a dramatic increase in non-English speaking students in local school districts, with many students originating from Central Asia. A multi-million dollar mosque is also under construction in Maineville.
Federal Department of Transportation (DOT) records reveal instances of companies claiming to operate an unrealistic number of trucks from single residential addresses. One company, Badri B LLC, reportedly stated it owned 23,001 trucks, all operating out of a single apartment in Loveland, Ohio. Industry experts note that such practices can be indicative of "chameleon companies," which easily re-register under new names to evade safety violations and accident records. Experts indicate that a typical solo truck driver logs around 110,000 miles annually, making claims of millions of miles per driver a physical impossibility.
Tom Balzer, president of the Ohio Trucking Association, stated that the practice of inflating mileage or truck numbers aims to make companies appear safer when competing for loads. "The obvious impact is the detriment to the industry’s safety record. Everyone who’s a legitimate trucking company in this country wants our industry to be as safe as possible," Balzer said.
The influx of these trucking operations has coincided with a rise in crime and safety concerns. In February, Bekzhan Beishekeev, an individual from Kyrgyzstan, obtained a commercial driver's license (CDL) from Pennsylvania and was involved in a crash that killed four Amish construction workers. In July, Uzbek trucker Bekhzod Asrarov, who reportedly had difficulty communicating in English, was charged after allegedly killing 21-year-old Toby Forsythe in a trucking accident. Asrarov had entered the U.S. under the diversity visa lottery program.
In August, a federal crackdown targeted non-citizen truckers, with officials shutting down 270 CDL schools for violations related to safety, facilities, and English proficiency requirements. Federal data indicates that in the previous year, approximately 10,000 drivers were removed from service nationwide for English proficiency issues. The Trump administration announced in April it would withhold over $73 million in federal highway funding from New York for its refusal to revoke CDLs issued to foreign nationals, a policy that has been a point of contention with Governor Kathy Hochul's administration.
Sources suggest that some Uzbek migrants obtain their CDLs in New York, particularly in Brooklyn, due to the state's policies regarding licensing for foreign nationals. Group chats among Uzbek truckers have been observed sharing information about immigration checkpoints to avoid, particularly those assessing English proficiency. Ohio law requires English proficiency for a CDL, and the state does not issue them to non-citizens.
Concerns have also been raised about the behavior of some truckers in residential areas. Locals have reported instances of large trucks driving through yards and damaging property. One resident recounted instances of men in trucks parking outside local businesses and allegedly "eyeing young girls" and soliciting them for sex. In a separate incident, Uzbek migrant Shavkat Abshukurov was convicted of kidnapping and raping a 13-year-old girl in 2019.