Ted Dabrowski, a gubernatorial candidate for Illinois, addressed concerns regarding the impact of illegal immigrants and visa holders with Commercial Driver’s Licenses (CDLs) on American truckers’ wages during a Meet and Greet at Marvin Keller Trucking. He expressed gratitude to Joe Keller for bringing these challenges to light.
“I want to thank Joe Keller, of Marvin Keller Trucking, for hosting me and sharing the challenges his business faces from illegals obtaining CDLs,” said Dabrowski. “The trucking industry is suffering because visa holders (many of whom are overstayers) are driving down wages for American drivers — 600,000 visa holders, that’s 20% of the truck drivers, have CDLs.”
At the event held at Marvin Keller Trucking’s headquarters in Sullivan, Illinois, Dabrowski engaged with company president Joe Keller and local drivers to discuss how immigration and licensing policies affect their livelihoods. Marvin Keller Trucking is a family-owned regional carrier that transports food-grade and consumer products across the Midwest. The setting provided an appropriate backdrop for discussions about freight, wages, and workforce pressures. Dabrowski thanked Keller for hosting him and highlighted concerns about illegal immigrants and visa holders obtaining CDLs. He linked the company’s experiences to his broader message that state and federal leaders must prioritize American workers to restore a level playing field.
Marvin Keller Trucking has evolved from a small family operation into a respected regional fleet serving shippers requiring time-sensitive truckload services. According to company and federal safety records, it now operates nearly one hundred power units with over one hundred professional drivers transporting food-grade commodities, consumer goods, and some hazardous materials across multiple states. Leadership profiles describe Joe Keller as the president and CEO who expanded his father’s business while maintaining strong driver relationships and small-town values—qualities Dabrowski says he wants Illinois policy to support rather than discourage.
Federal motor carrier and labor statistics indicate that millions of commercial drivers operate in the United States, with a significant portion born outside the country. Recent federal policy coverage notes that regulators have identified large numbers of non-domiciled or foreign-linked CDLs, prompting new verification rules and a recent pause on issuing certain worker visas for commercial truck drivers. Officials supporting these measures argue that tightening standards is necessary to protect safety and prevent foreign drivers from undercutting American wages, while industry groups warn about capacity strains. Dabrowski’s assertion that visa holders are affecting U.S. truckers’ pay taps into this national debate over the appropriate share of foreign drivers.
Dabrowski is a conservative policy analyst and Republican gubernatorial candidate who previously led Wirepoints, an Illinois-based research organization known for analyzing the state’s tax burden, pension liabilities, and outmigration trends. Before leading Wirepoints, he served as vice president of policy at the Illinois Policy Institute and worked in international banking—a background he says taught him how capital and jobs leave high-tax, high-regulation states. His campaign argues that Illinois can once again attract working families and employers by cutting taxes, restoring public safety, defending law enforcement, and protecting American workers in sectors like trucking and logistics.
