President Trump and his administration have launched “Freedom Haulers,” a program that moves veterans into long-haul trucking jobs while targeting fraudulently issued commercial driver’s licenses held by illegal aliens; the plan was unveiled at a White House event with Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and other officials, and it emphasizes safety, job benefits for vets, and enforcement against non-English-speaking drivers accused of endangering roadways.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy rolled out the Freedom Haulers effort in July, describing it as a campaign to put veterans behind the wheel of big rigs and to remove unqualified or fraudulently licensed drivers from American highways. Officials framed the initiative as a solution to both public safety worries and the trucking labor shortage, arguing veterans bring relevant skills from military driving experience.
President Trump introduced the program at a White House press conference attended by Duffy, veterans, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Doug Collins, acting Labor Secretary Keith Sonderling, and trucking industry representatives. The administration highlighted the potential for veterans to move into trucking careers quickly, with training costs covered and incentives like sign-on bonuses and medical benefits.
“ILLEGALS OUT, VETERANS IN,” Duffy posted to social media before the event.
https://x.com/SecDuffy/status/2082825211489956330
🚨ILLEGALS OUT, VETERANS IN🚨
Our new campaign, FREEDOM HAULERS, is reclaiming America’s highways and putting Vets in the driver’s seat
✅ Make up to six-figures
✅ Flexible schedule
✅ Medical benefits
✅ Training costs covered
✅ Sign-on bonuses
Get on the road in a few weeks… Apply NOW ⬇️
The administration promoted the Military Skills Test Waiver Program as a way for veterans with two years of experience operating heavy military vehicles to bypass parts of the CDL driving test. Officials said more than 40,000 service members and veterans have made use of the waiver in the past, and they presented it as an efficient pathway to fill trucker roles across the country.
At the briefing, the president accused states of issuing CDLs to people he said were unqualified and unable to read road signs, saying that reckless driving by those drivers had led to preventable deaths. He noted specific tallies, claiming his team had removed more than 24,000 non-English speakers from behind the wheel and had forced states to cancel over 28,000 fraudulently issued CDLs while asserting at least 30 deaths were caused by illegal aliens with commercial driver’s licenses.
.@POTUS: “For many years, American highways and roadways have been terrorized by unqualified illegal aliens dangerously driving Big Rigs… Semi-trucks, and tractor trailers all because Radical Left maniacs at the state level have issued them Commercial Driver’s Licenses… They don’t speak English. They cannot read basic road signs. In many cases, they’ve engaged in reckless driving that has caused many, many preventable deaths.”
Officials including Secretary of Veterans Affairs Doug Collins framed Freedom Haulers as an America First approach to jobs and road safety, arguing veterans are the natural choice to replace what the administration describes as dangerous labor practices. Collins stated the program put Americans first and emphasized veterans’ proven reliability in demanding roles.
.@SecVetAffairs: “I can’t think of anything more American. I can’t think of anything that puts us first. Instead of the illegals who want to come take jobs, let’s put veterans in the seats, making job safer and better for all Americans, as we go along because veterans, you proved once you can do it. I know for a fact you can do it every single day.”
The administration pointed to several high-profile fatal crashes involving drivers who reportedly held improperly obtained CDLs, emphasizing tragic examples to underline the safety stakes. Officials argued that replacing such drivers with trained veterans would reduce risk, while also offering veterans a stable, well-paying career with benefits.
Veteran drivers and program advocates highlighted how military training and discipline translate to trucking performance, stressing core values like punctuality, responsibility, and teamwork. One testimonial presented at the event described veterans finding purpose and community in trucking while helping keep commerce moving across the nation.
.@One_Werner “Operation: Freedom” driver Ricky Washington: “Veterans make exceptional truck drivers because the core values of the military align seamlessly with the trucking industry… Service members, veterans, and military spouses can find a purpose, a community, and a way to continue keeping our great nation moving forward.”
http://freedomhaulers.dot.gov 🇺🇸
The rollout included promises of expedited placement and financial incentives to attract veterans, with officials saying the program covers training costs and offers sign-on bonuses to make the transition smoother. Industry leaders at the event signaled interest in hiring qualified veterans to fill persistent driver vacancies nationwide.
The Freedom Haulers program ties together immigration enforcement claims, veteran employment initiatives, and trucking workforce policy in one public-facing campaign. Supporters framed it as a way to reward veterans, enhance road safety, and reduce reliance on labor the administration says was acquired through fraudulent licensing practices.
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