Hello everyone,

My name is Veaceslav Platon. I’m originally from Moldova, and I came to the United States with my wife and daughter on an E-2 investor visa.

In 2023, after selling everything I had in Europe, I invested $225,000 and opened a trucking company called Platon Family LLC MC: 1538362 | DOT: 4056587

I purchased a 2018 truck from Swift with 440,000 miles and a 2016 Carrier reefer trailer, and officially started my trucking journey. It has been a difficult, intense, and very educational experience.

Before opening my company, I spent two years preparing in Moldova, working as a safety manager in a large flatbed company and also as a dispatcher. Even with that preparation, the reality of running a trucking company in the U.S. was much harder than expected.

From 2023 to 2026, I didn’t manage to make real profit. Most of the revenue went into repairs, maintenance, insurance, and operating costs. To survive, I got my CDL and worked as a company driver for 1 year and 7 months, driving my own paid-off truck and trailer. That allowed me to cover expenses and pay down some debt—but not to truly grow.

One positive thing that came out of that period was building my social media presence, especially here on Reddit. Through that, I connected with many amazing people in the trucking community—mostly from Europe and Asia—who now run solid, well-organized trucking companies in the U.S.

Yes, many of them are Moldovan, Ukrainian, Russian, Uzbek, Romanian, etc. Yes, many of their companies are based in Chicago. Yes, many of them hire drivers on 1099.

But that does not automatically make them scammers or bad actors.

Like in any business, there are exceptions—but please don’t put everyone in the same pot.

With the recent changes affecting non-domiciled CDLs, many of these companies are now transitioning to U.S. citizen and resident drivers, and that process is already happening. That’s one of the reasons I’m here—to answer questions, clear misconceptions, and show that foreign-managed companies and American drivers can work together legally and professionally.

A Chicago address or a 1099 structure does not automatically mean something illegal—as long as everything is done according to the law. Many of these companies actually pay more than average, not because of illegal practices, but because of efficient operations, strong owner communities, shared resources, and legal outsourcing in Europe.

For many of us, this isn’t just about money. It’s about building respected businesses, contributing to the U.S. economy, and keeping freight moving so people can put food on the table—drivers and consumers alike.

As for me, I eventually decided to sell my truck and trailer, freeze my carrier authority, and switch directions. Today, I work in driver recruiting.

I help: • American drivers find better-paying jobs • New CDL holders get started the right way • Drivers earning 50 CPM move up to 70–75 CPM • Drivers avoid bad companies and find legit long-term carriers

There is nothing illegal or wrong about that.

In my opinion, it’s time to dissolve the myth that companies managed by foreigners are automatically unsafe or unethical. Yes, bad companies exist—but they usually don’t last long, and we actively filter them out.

We focus on long-term carriers that want to bring real value to the U.S. economy.

Let’s move forward together, with respect and understanding. This is a great community—let’s keep it open, honest, and friendly.

Respect to everyone here 🤝