As President Trump's unprecedented tariffs take their toll, truck drivers are facing a dire situation. Helen, a truck driver operating from the bustling Los Angeles and Long Beach ports, is among those feeling the pressure as job opportunities dwindle.

After an optimistic start to the year, recent reports indicate a worrying decline in cargo volumes expected for May and June. "There’s real concern that we’re going to be struggling," shared Helen, a 38-year-old mother of three, who withheld her last name for fear of job repercussions. "If ships aren’t coming in, we simply don’t have work, and without work, there’s no money."

The ramifications of Trump's aggressive tariff policies are echoing throughout the nation’s busiest ports, where thousands of dockworkers, heavy equipment operators, and truck drivers toil daily. Last year, the Port of Los Angeles processed over 10 million cargo units, while its neighbor, the Port of Long Beach, followed closely with 9.6 million.

With staggering tariffs reaching up to 145% on Chinese goods and 25% on imports from Canada and Mexico, there’s an imminent threat of cargo flow grinding to a halt, as echoed by Raman Dhillon, head of the North American Punjabi Trucking Association. "The truckers are scrambling right now," he said. "Without swift action, we’re staring into chaos, price spikes, and empty store shelves."

U.S. Senator Alex Padilla of California and other Democratic senators have raised alarms about the looming job losses and price increases stemming from these tariffs. During a news conference, they warned that the resulting scarcity of goods could lead to empty shelves across the country.

Agricultural exporters are equally distressed, fearing damage to overseas markets from retaliatory tariffs. Padilla emphasized, "The drop in cargo volume caused by Trump’s tariffs will mean empty shelves when products don’t reach our stores, rising prices on everything from groceries to cars, and undoubtedly, more Americans out of work."

A recent report indicated that the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach contribute a whopping $21.8 billion in revenue to local services and support over 165,000 jobs. Yet, even a slight 1% drop in cargo could cost nearly 2,800 jobs, putting another 4,000 at risk.

Just last week, Gene Seroka, Executive Director of the Port of Los Angeles, announced a potential 35% drop in arrivals over the next two weeks, which posed an ominous threat to dockworkers. ILWU Local 13 President Gary Herrera commented on the uncertainty among workers: "Some may not be getting their full 40 hours due to the cargo loss. Job loss is definitely a concern."

Experts project over 30 cargo ship cancellations in May alone, known as "blank sailings," which could result in 400,000 fewer containers flowing through the ports. This downturn follows a recent boom in activity that was spurred by labor disputes shutting down East Coast ports.

Navdeep Gill, owner of a Northern California trucking company, lamented that his operations are already seeing a 60% to 70% cut in cargo volume due to tariffs. Where he once moved 50 containers weekly, he’s now down to just 10 to 15.

"When we’re not working, we start losing money," he said, pointing to unpaid fixed expenses like insurance. With expectations of fewer ships arriving at the Port of Los Angeles, from 17 ships to just 10 over a three-day span, the ripple effect is set to impact not just truckers but warehouse workers and logistics teams as well.

Reflecting on the changes, Helen expressed her fears for the future: "We feel like it’s going to get worse before it gets better. There’s this looming uncertainty that hangs over everyone." With her husband also in the trucking industry, their family feels the weight of this crisis even more acutely.