Source: FOX News
Summary
A 21-year-old soccer player, Tobias Forsythe, was killed in Ohio when a semi-truck driven by an Uzbek man, Bekhzod Asrarov, rear-ended his car. Asrarov, who entered the U.S. under the Biden administration’s diversity visa program, was found to have limited English skills and removed a dashboard camera after the crash. The incident has raised concerns about trucking industry oversight and the safety of immigrant drivers. A researcher, Nodawolf, has highlighted a network of Uzbek-owned trucking companies in southwest Ohio, some of which have been linked to safety violations and potential fraud. The Trump administration has previously targeted foreign truck drivers, and recent efforts have focused on CDL fraud and illegal immigrant drivers.
Our Reading
As expected, the matter has reached another stage.
Truckers with limited English skills drive 80,000-pound rigs on highways.
Companies with suspected fraud share drivers and equipment across multiple fronts.
Immigrant networks appear to operate with little oversight or accountability.
It’s a system built on repetition, not risk.
Author: Evan Null
Truck Driver and Soccer Player
The death of Tobias Forsythe, a 21-year-old soccer player, has brought attention to the dangers of trucking in Ohio. Forsythe was killed when a semi-truck driven by Bekhzod Asrarov, an Uzbek national, rear-ended his car. Asrarov, who entered the U.S. under the Biden administration’s diversity visa program, was found to have limited English skills and removed a dashboard camera after the crash. The incident has raised concerns about trucking industry oversight and the safety of immigrant drivers.
Immigrant Trucking Networks
A researcher known as Nodawolf has been sounding the alarm about a network of Uzbek-owned trucking companies in southwest Ohio. These companies, some of which have donated to a local Islamic center, have been linked to safety violations and potential fraud. Nodawolf claims that many of these companies have English violations and manipulate electronic logging devices. The Islamic Center in Maineville has denied any business relationship with the trucking companies.
Truck Driver Safety Concerns
The incident has sparked a larger conversation about the safety of immigrant truck drivers. A Fox News Digital review identified hundreds of trucking companies registered in Maineville and surrounding areas, many of which have been linked to serious FMCSA safety violations. These include drivers cited for failing English-proficiency requirements and other federal trucking violations. The Trump administration has previously targeted foreign truck drivers, and recent efforts have focused on CDL fraud and illegal immigrant drivers.
Chameleon Carriers and Fraud
An industry expert has described a developing fraud scheme known as “chameleon carriers,” where trucking companies appear separate on paper but share the same drivers, trucks, and operations. This allows operators to spread out safety liability across multiple companies, making it harder for authorities to detect and address violations. The expert said this structure can also facilitate cargo theft, with companies disappearing after obtaining high-value shipments while the broader network continues operating.
Government Response and Crackdown
The Departments of Homeland Security, Transportation, and Justice have announced a coordinated crackdown on trucking and CDL fraud. This includes inspections at over 200 driving schools across 23 states, investigations based on over 1,000 leads, and enforcement operations targeting illegal immigrants with commercial licenses. A Notice of Proposed Removal was recently issued for Turan CDL School, a Middletown-based company that has advertised CDL training to Uzbek speakers. The Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles is also reviewing the state’s nondomiciled commercial driver’s license holders.
