- By Shivangi Sharma
- Sun, 14 Sep 2025 09:22 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Sikh truck drivers across the United States say they are facing growing hostility and harassment after a tragic crash in Florida last month left three people dead. The incident, which has become highly politicised, has also sparked fear in a community that plays a vital role in America’s trucking industry.
On August 12, Harjinder Singh, a truck driver originally from India, allegedly made an illegal U-turn on the Florida Turnpike. His tractor-trailer collided with a minivan, killing three people. Singh now faces three counts of vehicular homicide. Authorities also claim he entered the US illegally in 2018 and failed an English test before securing a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) in California. State officials, however, say he held a valid work permit.
The case quickly drew national attention, sparking a war of words between Florida Republican Governor Ron DeSantis and California Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom. Beyond politics, the crash has had ripple effects on tens of thousands of Sikh truck drivers.
Growing Backlash Against Sikh Drivers
The crash ignited online vitriol targeting Sikhs, a religious community that often takes up trucking because the profession allows men to keep their turbans, beards, and uncut hair. With nearly 150,000 Sikh truck drivers on American roads, they form the backbone of the industry. In California alone, nearly 40 per cent of drivers are Sikhs, according to the North American Punjabi Trucking Association.
But since the Florida crash, many say the abuse has worsened. Drivers report being honked at aggressively, insulted, and even having bottles thrown at them. “It was the mistake of one driver, not the entire community,” said Prabh Singh, a trucker from Riverside, California.
Legal And Economic Consequences
The incident has also triggered policy responses. Two weeks after the crash, Senator Marco Rubio announced a pause on work visas for foreign commercial drivers. At the same time, the Trump administration has moved to enforce stricter language requirements for CDL holders. This has placed many Sikh drivers, some with limited English skills but years of experience, at risk of losing their livelihoods.
In response, Sikh temples across California have started offering English language and traffic law classes. Tejpaul Singh Bainiwal, a volunteer in Stockton, said some drivers initially stopped working out of fear. “We started the class in mid-July to help them return to work,” he explained.