The Freedom Haulers initiative, a collaboration between the Departments of Transportation, Veterans Affairs, and Labor, is designed to recruit military veterans into the trucking industry and expedite their path to obtaining commercial driver's licenses (CDLs). The program aims to leverage veterans' existing skills and discipline, which are seen as highly transferable to the demands of long-haul trucking.
According to Sean Duffy, the 20th U.S. Secretary of Transportation, the initiative offers veterans access to resources that can cover training costs and shorten the licensing timeline. GI Bill benefits and the Veteran Readiness and Employment programs are available to cover 100% of training expenses. Additionally, the SkillBridge program allows active-duty service members to begin training before their discharge, enabling them to start earning income immediately. Federal apprenticeship programs provide a housing allowance in addition to a driver's regular pay.
The Freedom Haulers campaign also expands eligibility for the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s Military Skills Waiver and the Even Exchange program. This allows recently discharged servicemembers up to two years to apply their military driving experience directly toward a CDL. This process, which can reduce licensing from months to weeks, is bolstered by an increasing number of states joining the initiative. Currently, 36 states participate in the Even Exchange program, with calls for all 50 states and Washington, D.C., to join.
The trucking industry faces a significant demand for drivers, with truckers transporting over 71% of the nation's freight. Historically, trucking has offered a stable career path for many Americans. The Freedom Haulers initiative seeks to restore this stability and provide a reliable career for veterans transitioning out of military service.
Industry partners are also supporting the effort. Werner Enterprises has committed to hiring 1,400 military veterans and their spouses within the next year. Troops Into Transportation has trained over 18,000 veterans on military bases nationwide.
The initiative also frames itself as a response to previous issues within the industry, including concerns about fraudulent driving schools, lax safety enforcement, and the vetting of foreign drivers. The Trump administration has stated its commitment to safer roads and increased opportunities for American veterans in the trucking sector. The campaign emphasizes that individuals trusted to operate heavy-duty military vehicles in combat zones are equally trusted to drive commercial trucks on American roads.