Former President Donald Trump unveiled an initiative aimed at replacing non-citizen commercial truck drivers with military veterans, citing safety concerns and promoting veteran employment. The plan, dubbed "Freedom Haulers," proposes to remove drivers who do not speak English and hand their high-paying jobs to veterans.
"We've got to stop it. It's dangerous what's happening," Trump stated at an event where two large semi-trucks, one decorated with military imagery, flanked the podium. He argued that unqualified illegal immigrants are operating trucks on American roads, posing a risk to public safety.
Trump asserted that "radical left maniacs at the state level" have issued commercial driver's licenses to individuals who do not speak English and are unable to read road signs. He cited at least 30 deaths last year attributed to non-citizen drivers holding commercial licenses. Specific incidents mentioned included a Florida crash that killed three people, caused by an illegal immigrant making an illegal U-turn, and the death of a Pennsylvania state trooper struck by an immigrant driver from Haiti.
According to Trump, his administration previously took action, removing over 24,000 non-English speaking drivers and compelling states to revoke more than 28,000 commercial driver's licenses issued unlawfully. He also claimed that "zero illegal immigrants had crossed the southern border in the past 14 months."
Under the "Freedom Haulers" initiative, military veterans with extensive driving experience could bypass certain testing requirements to obtain commercial driver's licenses quickly. Those without prior heavy vehicle experience would undergo a three to four-week fast-tracked training program.
Thirty-four states have reportedly joined the initiative, including Indiana, Wyoming, Louisiana, Arkansas, Alabama, Florida, and Maryland. Trump highlighted statistics suggesting veteran truckers have a 42% lower accident rate despite driving twice the mileage of non-veteran drivers.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy criticized the previous administration for allowing millions into the country without background checks, noting that trucking positions can pay between $80,000 and $100,000 annually. He declared, "Illegals are out, American patriots are in."
Industry leaders and veterans expressed support for the plan. Nathan Meisgeier, President of Werner Enterprises, announced his company's commitment to hiring 1,400 veterans in the upcoming year as part of the initiative. Ricky Washington, a veteran of the Army and National Guard, spoke about aligning military values with the demands of the trucking industry, emphasizing discipline and commitment to safety.
Representatives from UPS, FedEx, the American Trucking Association, and veteran support organizations were present at the event. Trump concluded by stating, "This is going to be a big day for our wonderful patriots, our great veterans."