Florida’s ‘scandalous’ law made truckers worry

On May 10, Florida lawmakers signed a law regarding the legal conditions of representatives in the trucking industry. What does this mean for truck drivers?

The law makes the use of the E-Verify system mandatory for any company with 25 or more people, and imposes mandatory sanctions on those who take illegal foreigners.

In addition, the bill would prohibit local governments from issuing identity cards to ineligible foreigners, invalidate ID`s  issued to them in other states, and require hospitals to collect and report health care costs on ineligible foreigners.

This way the law was introduced to fight against illegal immigration. But it will not affect those whose company does not exceed 25 people, whether it is an owner operator or a driver who has his own company and uses 1099.

The law still managed to cause disapproval among Latin-American truckers. On TikTok and other social media, many Latino drivers are posting videos of them refusing to drive to Florida while the law is in effect.

In one video, a trucker can be seen saluting while a voice-over says in Spanish that his truck will not pick up or unload cargo in Florida “in solidarity.”

Truck driver Roberto Sandoval posted a video asking his fellow drivers to stay away from Florida because of the “stupid law protecting Hispanic brothers”.

Alix Miller, president of the Florida Trucking Association, said she had not yet seen any evidence of a boycott.