A new federal campaign will help former service members obtain commercial driver’s licenses as stricter enforcement of English-language and licensing rules removes tens of thousands of truckers from the road.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
The Trump administration is turning to military veterans to help fill trucking jobs left open after a federal crackdown disqualified tens of thousands of immigrant commercial drivers over licensing and English-proficiency violations.
The Transportation Department launched the “Freedom Haulers” campaign Friday to encourage service members to enter the trucking industry after leaving the military. The initiative will be included in a broader interagency employment effort for veterans that the White House plans to announce Monday.
Under existing programs, veterans who recently operated large military vehicles may qualify to skip the road-skills portion of the commercial driver’s license test. Service members approaching the end of active duty may also attend commercial driving school during their final six months in uniform.
The GI Bill can cover 100% of eligible CDL training costs, and some veterans may also qualify for a housing allowance while attending school.
Veterans must still study commercial driving regulations and pass the written CDL examination. However, service members who recently operated military vehicles weighing more than 2.5 tons, or 2.25 metric tons, can receive a waiver from the skills test.
More than 40,000 veterans have already used the waiver program, according to the federal government, allowing some participants to qualify for commercial driving work within several weeks.
The recruitment campaign follows a major enforcement drive that began last summer when the Transportation Department started applying existing English-language requirements more aggressively.
Federal scrutiny intensified after an August crash in Florida in which a truck driver made an illegal U-turn, killing three people. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the driver, an immigrant from India, should never have received a commercial license.
Audits conducted in all 50 states later found non-domiciled CDLs that remained valid after drivers’ work permits had expired, as well as licenses issued without adequate verification of immigration or citizenship status.
Approximately 26,000 drivers have since been removed from service for failing to demonstrate sufficient English proficiency. The Transportation Department also said another 30,000 commercial licenses were canceled after investigators determined they had been issued unlawfully.
“We are removing more and more dangerous foreign drivers off our roads every day and restoring the integrity of America’s trucking industry,” Duffy said. “Our new Freedom Haulers campaign will help build on these successes and get the word out that there’s never been a better time for America’s former service members to get behind the wheel of a big rig.”
The federal government has also attempted to withhold millions of dollars in highway funding from California and New York over accusations that the states failed to revoke additional licenses that did not meet federal requirements. Those efforts have moved into court.
Pennsylvania, Minnesota and North Carolina are among several other states warned that they could lose federal transportation funding if they fail to comply.
The trucking industry has supported the government’s efforts to remove improperly licensed drivers and shut down fraudulent CDL schools. Major carriers also welcomed the initiative to recruit more veterans.
“Veterans make up 15% of our workforce and bring the highest levels of leadership, discipline and technical skills that are essential to our success,” Werner Enterprises Chairman and CEO Derek Leathers said. “We are dedicated to providing them with meaningful careers and a supportive environment where they can thrive.”
Cole Stevens, chief strategy officer at the trucking company bearing his family name, said veterans possess qualities well suited to commercial transportation.
“Some of the best drivers and industry leaders I’ve had the privilege of working with are military veterans,” Stevens said. “Their integrity, accountability, and mission-first mindset make them an incredible asset.”
The Transportation Department plans to coordinate with the Pentagon and the departments of Veterans Affairs and Labor to present trucking as a strong civilian career for veterans, particularly those seeking independent work outside an office environment.
Federal officials said truck drivers now earn an average of $70,000 annually as freight markets tighten and rates rise.
Veterans with at least three years of service may use GI Bill benefits for CDL instruction and could also qualify for a housing stipend while completing the program.
Alongside its enforcement campaign, the administration has proposed tighter rules governing which immigrants may receive non-domiciled commercial licenses. The rules would require applicants to take CDL examinations in English and restrict eligibility to holders of certain visa categories.
Under the new framework, qualifying immigrants would be limited to holders of H-2A, H-2B or E-2 visas. H-2A visas are issued to temporary agricultural workers, H-2B visas cover temporary nonagricultural employment, and E-2 visas are available to individuals who make substantial investments in American businesses.
Those restrictions are being challenged in court.
Immigrants account for approximately 20% of the nation’s truck drivers. Non-domiciled commercial licenses held by immigrants represent about 5% of all CDLs, or roughly 200,000 drivers.
Some immigrant advocacy organizations contend that enforcement has unfairly focused on particular communities. Sikh truckers have received significant attention because the drivers involved in the fatal Florida collision and another deadly California crash in October were both Sikh.
The administration maintains that its actions are based on safety, legal eligibility and licensing compliance rather than ethnicity or religion.
The Freedom Haulers campaign is intended to address both employment and transportation needs by placing qualified former service members into an industry facing tighter labor conditions. Administration officials argue that veterans’ military driving experience, technical training and discipline can help replace drivers removed through the federal crackdown while creating stable civilian careers for people leaving active duty.
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