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Memphis trucking leaders back Trump’s crackdown on unqualified drivers, say no impact here

By , Daily Memphian Published: March 02, 2026 4:00 AM CT

While the Trump administration’s campaign to improve traffic safety by getting unqualified truck drivers off the road is applauded by local trucking executives, they say the industry is facing other challenges as well.

President Donald Trump highlighted the topic during his State of the Union speech on Tuesday, Feb. 24, by mentioning Dalilah Coleman, who was severely injured when the car she was riding in was hit by a foreign-born truck driver in the country illegally speeding through a construction zone in California.


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Coleman, who was 5 at the time, attended the State of the Union speech as a guest of Trump, who noted the accident resulted in Coleman suffering a traumatic brain injury.

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U.S. Transportation Department commercial driver's license JIT-EX IMC Logistics Dunavant Enterprises Subscriber Only

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Steve Bohnel

Steve Bohnel

Steve Bohnel is a Temple University graduate, originally from Bucks County, Pennsylvania. He’s worked at news organizations in Iowa, Maryland and Pittsburgh, covering local and state politics. He covers health care, transportation and logistics, public companies, banking and finance and technology. He is an avid traveler, an Everton F.C. and Philadelphia sports fan, and likes collecting records and biking around town.


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