DHS Launches Aggressive I-9 Audits Targeting California Trucking Fleets

Authorities at DHS have begun aggressive workplace audits targeting trucking companies across Northern and Central California. The inspections focus on verifying employment eligibility forms (I-9s) going back up to two years, including among carriers in the Punjabi-owned trucking community, which is estimated to comprise a significant portion of the state’s long-haul drivers.

Affected fleet owners are being asked to produce I-9 documents for current and former employees and some workers are being individually interviewed as part of the review.

This new enforcement wave comes during a broader crackdown on non-compliant commercial driver licensing and workforce verification across California. With thousands of non-domiciled commercial driver’s licenses recently revoked, the trucking industry could face serious workforce pressure if audits expand.

For carriers, logistics providers, and shippers, especially in cross-border and large-scale freight operations, this means increased compliance risk, potential driver shortages, and likely disruption in service capacity across the region.