Washington, DC (US), July 31,2026, BNN Web Staff: US President Donald Trump has launched the ‘Freedom Haulers’ initiative, a new federal programme aimed at helping military veterans transition into trucking careers while tightening enforcement against noncitizen commercial drivers.
Announcing the initiative alongside Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and Acting Labour Secretary Keith Sonderling, Trump said the administration wanted to expand employment opportunities for veterans and remove unauthorised commercial drivers from US roads.
“We’re taking action to get illegal alien truck drivers off American roadways and replace them with proud American veterans,” Trump said, describing the initiative as a major effort to strengthen the country’s trucking workforce.
The programme will make it easier for eligible veterans to obtain commercial driver’s licences (CDLs) after completing military service. Under the initiative, the US Department of Transportation will extend the period during which veterans can qualify for an expedited CDL process from **12 months to 24 months** after leaving active duty.
Veterans who did not operate heavy commercial vehicles during their military service will also be offered CDL training to help them enter the civilian trucking sector.
The initiative involves the Departments of Transportation, Defence, Labour and Veterans Affairs and is intended to support veterans’ transition to civilian employment while addressing workforce needs in the trucking industry.
The White House said the programme would help strengthen supply chains, expand access to stable employment and improve highway safety. White House spokesperson Anna Kelly said the administration was working to create more opportunities for veterans while increasing enforcement of commercial driving requirements.
The Department of Transportation has recently stepped up enforcement of English-language proficiency standards for commercial drivers. According to the administration, more than **24,000 commercial driver’s licences** were removed under the stricter enforcement measures, while over **28,000 additional CDLs** were cancelled after officials determined that they had been improperly issued to noncitizen drivers.
The Department of Veterans Affairs has said that the **GI Bill may cover up to 100 per cent of CDL tuition fees** for training programmes approved by a state approving agency.
Transportation company **Werner Enterprises** has announced plans to hire **1,400 veterans and military spouses** under the programme.
Meanwhile, Indiana, Wyoming, Florida, Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana and Maryland are expected to participate in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s **Even Exchange Programme**, which allows military truck drivers to transfer relevant service experience towards civilian trucking qualifications.
The White House said the ‘Freedom Haulers’ initiative is designed to strengthen the trucking industry, support veterans seeking civilian careers and improve safety standards on US highways.
