Archive · 31 Jul 2026
Trump Launches Freedom Haulers to Replace Immigrant Truckers
President Donald Trump announced a new program called Freedom Haulers.
It will let military veterans get truck driving licenses faster and train them if they haven’t driven trucks before.
The plan also says the government will remove many truck licenses that were given to people who aren’t citizens or don’t speak English.
Trucking companies and the trucking association said they will hire thousands of veterans.
The program is part of a bigger effort to make roads safer and give veterans good jobs.
President Donald Trump announced the Freedom Haulers program to fast‑track veterans into commercial trucking jobs.
The initiative extends the military skills waiver for commercial driver’s licenses from 12 to 24 months and offers CDL training for veterans without trucking experience.
It is linked to a crackdown that has cancelled over 52,000 commercial driver licences issued to non‑citizen or non‑English‑speaking drivers.
States such as Indiana, Wyoming, Florida, Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Maryland and others have joined the federal Even Exchange program to help veterans transfer military trucking experience.
Major trucking companies, including Werner Enterprises, and the American Trucking Association, have pledged support and plan to hire thousands of veterans.
- Who
- President Donald Trump and his administration
- What
- Launch of the Freedom Haulers program to fast‑track veterans into commercial trucking and remove immigrant drivers
- When
- July 30, 2026
- Where
- White House, Washington D.C., with state participation nationwide
- Why
- To address truck driver shortages, improve road safety, and provide jobs for veterans while tightening immigration enforcement
- Initiative name
- Freedom Haulers
- Target group
- Military veterans
- License waiver period
- 12 to 24 months after service
- CDL training coverage
- GI Bill covers up to 100%
- States participating
- 34 (incl. Indiana, Wyoming, Florida, Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Maryland)
- Jobs pledged by Werner Enterprises
- 1,400 veterans
- Licences cancelled
- over 52,000 (24,000+28,000)
- Average earnings
- $70,000 per year
- Launch date
- July 30, 2026
Sources
Trump has found a way to get rid of need for immigrants. Turn veterans into truck drivers
What is Freedom Haulers? Trump launches initiative to recruit military veterans as truck drivers
Trump launches 'Freedom Haulers' to replace 'illegal aliens' with military veterans in trucking jobs
