President Donald Trump announced the "Freedom Haulers" initiative at the White House, a plan designed to facilitate the transition of military veterans into the trucking industry. The initiative allows qualified veterans with prior heavy-vehicle experience to waive the Commercial Driver's License (CDL) road skills test and, in some participating states, the written knowledge test.
During the announcement, Trump highlighted the reliability of veteran drivers, stating that data shows they are involved in 42% fewer accidents and drive double the miles of non-veteran drivers. The initiative also includes provisions for expedited training for veterans without direct military truck-driving experience, with the goal of completing training in several weeks.
Tom Jacques, an Army veteran and director of DOT compliance at Waste Management, as well as chairman of the Pennsylvania Motor Trucking Association, expressed strong support for the plan. Jacques described the initiative as "wonderful," emphasizing the disciplined and dedicated nature of military personnel, qualities he believes are essential for the trucking profession.
"It's wonderful to get skilled workers who are disciplined [and] dedicated into an industry that requires discipline and dedication," Jacques told Fox News Digital. "You don't get behind the wheel of a tractor-trailer — 80,000 pounds — without understanding the need to be disciplined and to be safe. So it's nice to have that, to tap into a large workforce as they transition out of the military and into the next career field."
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, who also spoke at the event, noted that trucking jobs offer substantial pay, ranging from $80,000 to over $100,000 annually. He pointed out the inefficiency of veterans needing to undergo lengthy retraining for skills they already possess from their military service.
The initiative also addresses the administration's concerns about unqualified drivers on American roadways. Trump stated that the program aims to remove "unqualified illegal aliens" from driving commercial vehicles, asserting that radical left policies at the state level have allowed individuals who may not speak English or be able to read road signs to obtain CDLs. He claimed that at least 30 Americans were killed last year by illegal alien truck drivers and that 24,000 such drivers have been removed from the streets.
Jacques echoed the sentiment that the trucking industry faces an ongoing need for new drivers due to an aging workforce. He stressed the critical role truckers play in the economy, ensuring the delivery of goods, particularly highlighting their essential work during the COVID-19 pandemic.
"There's no shortage of positions for truck drivers," Jacques said. "It's an aging workforce. It's something that people need to understand that we've got to be continually replenishing that workforce, and [it's] a great opportunity getting our veterans ... into a good, highly-paying job right out of the service. It's going to be really nice to see more service members behind the wheel."