CALIFORNIA,  Sept 15:  Sikh truck drivers, a vital part of America’s freight industry, are facing heightened scrutiny and rising harassment following a fatal crash in Florida involving a Sikh driver. The incident has created unease within the Sikh trucking community, which could have broader economic impacts.

Highway 99 in California’s Central Valley, a major freight corridor, often sees turbaned Sikh men behind the wheel of trucks decorated with religious symbols, portraits of Sikh Gurus, and posters of Punjabi singers. Sikhs, a religious minority from India, number about 750,000 in the U.S., with roughly 150,000 working in trucking, mostly as drivers. They play a significant role in transporting goods such as California strawberries and lumber nationwide. According to the North American Punjabi Trucking Association, approximately 40% of truck drivers on the West Coast are Sikh.

Despite their experience, many Sikh drivers have limited English proficiency, which has become a challenge as the Trump administration introduced stricter language requirements for commercial drivers. In response, Sikh temples across California have begun offering English classes to help drivers meet these standards and regain confidence.

“Many drivers stayed home out of fear of the new laws. We started the class in mid-July to help them return to work,” said Tejpaul Singh Bainiwal, a volunteer at a Sikh temple in Stockton, California.

At a recent temple class, drivers practiced introductions and reviewed highway and regulatory signs. Narinder Singh, a 51-year-old driver with eight years of U.S. experience, said he tries to comply with the law and be a responsible citizen. “Sometimes an individual’s actions may cost the entire community,” he said, referring to a recent tragic crash in Florida.

On August 12, Harjinder Singh, an Indian-born truck driver, made a U-turn on the Florida Turnpike and collided with a minivan, killing three people. The Department of Homeland Security claims Singh entered the U.S. illegally from Mexico in 2018 and obtained a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) in California despite failing an English proficiency exam and lacking legal status. California officials contend that federal authorities informed them Singh had a legal work permit when he was issued the license.

Harjinder Singh now faces manslaughter and vehicular homicide charges and remains in custody ahead of an arraignment scheduled for late September.

The crash’s aftermath has triggered a pause on issuing work visas for foreign commercial drivers by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Industry insiders report an increase in harassment against Sikh drivers, including at truck stops, sometimes met with insufficient law enforcement response.

Raman Singh Dhillon, CEO of the North American Punjabi Trucking Association, said many drivers fear becoming targets. While supporting stricter license and language regulations, he warned that harassment and tough immigration policies could worsen an existing driver shortage.

Gurpratap Singh Sandhu, owner of a Sacramento trucking firm, described racial harassment faced by Sikh drivers, including his cousin, a U.S. citizen. Drivers have reported being honked at, pelted with water bottles, and subjected to racial slurs referencing their turbans. Some Sikh drivers avoid states like Florida, Alabama, and Arkansas due to fears of Immigration and Customs raids following the crash.

Arjun Sethi, law professor at George Washington University, criticized the use of the Florida crash to stigmatize the entire Sikh community, cautioning that inflammatory rhetoric risks violence. He referenced the 2012 Wisconsin Sikh Temple shooting, where six Sikhs were killed. The FBI’s 2024 hate crime report ranks Sikhs as the third most targeted religious group in the U.S.

Following the incident, U.S. Special Envoy Richard Grenell met with Sikh representatives in Sacramento and condemned verbal attacks on Sikhs as “un-American.”

Meanwhile, Sikh communities have taken the lead in addressing language barriers. Classes such as “English4Truckers” offered at temples teach basic English, communication during inspections, and emergency responses. Harpreet Singh, a 38-year-old driver attending the program, said, “I have gained confidence in my thoughts in English. I now understand previously confusing highway signs.”

Raman Singh Dhillon called for greater regulation of driving schools and licensing agencies to ensure English proficiency standards are enforced. Harinder Singh, a senior fellow at the Sikh Research Institute, recommended federally and state-funded programs to help immigrant drivers learn English and integrate more effectively into the industry.

The trucking industry faces a critical juncture as it balances safety, regulation, and the inclusion of Sikh drivers who play a crucial role in keeping America’s supply chains moving.