Trucking Laws · Multi-state · November 2, 2026

Knight-Swift CEO Says He Has Seen Mexican Truck Drivers Lose Visas Over Alleged Cabotage Violations at Past Employers

By Big Rig Daily Staff

A top executive at one of the largest trucking companies in the country says cabotage enforcement is reaching Mexican truck drivers in a way that surprised him. Knight-Swift Transportation CEO Adam Miller made the comments in an interview with FreightWaves at the second annual WEX OTR Summit in Jacksonville, Florida, reported in the outlet's Nov. 1 Borderlands Mexico roundup.

What cabotage means

Cabotage generally refers to domestic transportation between two points inside a country by a foreign carrier. It is an activity restricted under U.S. law. In practice, that means a Mexican carrier is generally not supposed to haul freight from one U.S. city to another.

What the CEO said

"We're seeing the enforcement really ramp up on cabotage," Miller said. He said U.S. authorities have stepped up scrutiny of Mexican drivers working across the border, including looking at potential cabotage violations involving their previous employers.

Knight-Swift operates in Mexico through its TransMex subsidiary. Miller said the company has seen cases in which drivers faced visa revocations over alleged violations at other carriers. "I've seen them take visas away from drivers from really a previous carrier, not even cabotage with our trucks, with our company," he said.

The word "alleged" matters here. By Miller's account, the cases involve potential violations under review and tied to an earlier employer, not to the driver's current carrier. His comments are one executive's description, and the reports do not say how many drivers are affected.

Compliance and capacity

Miller said Knight-Swift keeps strict compliance policies for its cross-border work, but that the added scrutiny could discourage some Mexican drivers from entering the United States. "I do feel like that type of capacity is going to get a little bit tighter as enforcement ramps up," he said.

Size of the company

FreightWaves describes Knight-Swift as one of the largest full truckload carriers in the U.S., with more than 26,000 tractors, 96,000 trailers and 28,000 employees. TransMex, based in Nogales, Mexico, runs more than 1,100 tractor-trailers and more than 3,000 trailers.

Long-term view and tariffs

Miller said he stays optimistic about the long run. "I think long term I think Mexico is going to play a bigger role," he said, adding that nearshoring, meaning companies moving production closer to the U.S., should bring more opportunities. He also said uncertainty could affect freight volumes and investment: "Tariffs are a big unknown." Knight-Swift hauls a significant amount of automotive freight across the border, and Miller said some customers are changing their transportation strategies as the tariff situation develops.

More on cross-border freight

Big Rig Daily has reported on a Border Patrol stop of a car hauler at a Laredo checkpoint, on talks that followed a trucker strike in Mexico and on changes to Canadian tariffs that could shift cross-border freight.

Quick facts

• Who: Adam Miller, CEO of Knight-Swift Transportation.
• Where he said it: an interview with FreightWaves at the WEX OTR Summit in Jacksonville, Florida.
• Claim: visas have been taken from Mexican drivers over alleged violations tied to a previous carrier.
• Outlook: cross-border capacity "a little bit tighter" as enforcement ramps up.
• Fleet: more than 26,000 tractors; TransMex runs more than 1,100 tractor-trailers.

FAQ

What is cabotage?

It is domestic transportation between two points inside a country by a foreign carrier, which is restricted under U.S. law.

Did the Knight-Swift CEO say drivers broke the rules?

No. He described visa revocations over alleged violations tied to a previous carrier, and said the cases were not with Knight-Swift trucks.

What does the Knight-Swift CEO expect next?

He said cross-border capacity could get a little bit tighter as enforcement ramps up.

A question for readers

Truckers who haul across the border, what changes have you noticed in how closely your paperwork is checked?

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