Truck driver sentenced for human smuggling
A Texas-based truck driver was sentenced last week to 57 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for his role in trafficking undocumented migrants in a tractor-trailer.
Moises Gabriel Castillo Jr., 40 of Weatherford, Texas, previously pleaded guilty to the charge of Transportation of Illegal Aliens for Profit Placing in Jeopardy the Life of Any Person, Causing Serious Bodily Injury and Resulting in Death.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona, on July 24, 2024, Castillo caused a collision between the tractor-trailer he was driving and another semi-truck on I-10 near Rita Road in Tucson, Arizona. At the time, Castillo was transporting four passengers inside his truck who were later determined to be illegal aliens, unlawfully present in the United States.
During the crash, one passenger was ejected and two others, one of whom was 16 years old, suffered serious bodily injury. The ejected passenger was pronounced dead at the scene. The survivors stated they were paying to be smuggled further into the U.S., and Castillo admitted that he expected to be paid for transporting them.
Homeland Security Investigations and the Arizona Department of Public Safety conducted the investigation.
[Related: Truck driver guilty of smuggling illegal immigrants]
Idaho DMV expands military veteran CDL eligibility
The Idaho Department of Motor Vehicles is updating its Military Skills Test Waiver to match new federal guidelines — the Freedom Haulers initiative — giving former service members two years after separation from the military to apply their military driving experience toward a CDL. The previous limit was one year.
The waiver allows qualified veterans to bypass the civilian skills test, helping them transition more quickly into Idaho’s commercial trucking workforce, the state said. Idaho is also continuing to participate in the Even Exchange Program, which provides additional streamlined pathways for certain military drivers.
“Idaho depends on highly skilled commercial drivers, and our Veterans continue to strengthen that workforce with the expertise they gained through service,” said CJ Kendrick, Idaho DMV Administrator. “By expanding the waiver window, Idaho DMV is making it easier for Veterans to apply the training they already have, helping them support their families while continuing to serve our great state.”
Service members and Veterans can learn more by visiting Idaho’s Commercial Driver’s License page under “Military CDL Waivers”.
[Related: ‘Freedom Haulers’: Trump fast-tracks CDLs for veterans to replace ‘illegal’ drivers]
St. Christopher Fund names new leader
The St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund (SCF) has appointed Diane Hutsell to the organization’s role of Executive Director and Director of Philanthropy, formalizing her leadership of the nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting over-the-road truck drivers and their families during times of illness and injury.
“Having served on the SCF Board of Directors for 14 years, I’ve had the opportunity to see the organization grow and evolve, and Diane’s appointment represents an exciting next chapter for SCF,” said Joyce Brenny, Immediate Past President and President/CEO of Brenny Transportation. “Diane has demonstrated a deep commitment to our mission and a genuine passion for supporting professional truck drivers through the challenges they face. We are thrilled to have her leading SCF and look forward to what we can accomplish together.”
Hutsell assumes the permanent leadership role at a pivotal time for SCF, with the organization approaching its 20th anniversary toward its next chapter of supporting professional drivers and their families. Since helping its first driver in 2008, SCF has provided assistance to nearly 4,200 truck drivers and their families and distributed more than $5.5 million in direct financial assistance.
At the same time, SCF has expanded its focus on preventive health and wellness programs designed around the unique challenges faced by over-the-road drivers. Its Rigs Without Cigs smoking cessation program has helped more than 1,000 professional drivers quit smoking, with another 160 significantly reducing their tobacco use. The program has achieved a 41% quit rate, compared with a national benchmark of fewer than 9% of smokers successfully quitting in a given year.
Since 2023, SCF has also provided more than 230 preventive screenings for prostate, colorectal and cervical cancers to professional drivers, helping address barriers to routine healthcare created by long hours and demanding schedules on the road. Eight drivers have received positive screening results that led to early detection and the opportunity for earlier medical intervention.
[Related: Reinforcing the value of an old friend: The St. Christopher ‘Truckers’ Fund’]
“I am honored to lead St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund and continue serving a community I have quickly come to admire,” said Hutsell. “When illness or injury takes a professional driver off the road, the impact on their family can be immediate. I’ve seen firsthand the difference SCF can make, and I look forward to working with our team and partners to reach even more drivers and families.”
Hutsell’s connection to trucking has family roots. Her father worked for Mack Trucks, giving her an early connection to the industry. Since joining SCF, her work with professional drivers, sponsors and industry leaders has given her an even deeper appreciation for the people who keep America moving.
“Every driver we help has a story, and every dollar raised or health resource provided can have a very real impact on someone’s life,” Hutsell added. “There is tremendous opportunity ahead for SCF, and I look forward to building on the organization’s legacy while finding new ways to improve the health and financial well-being of America’s professional drivers.”
