Trump Administration Launches Freedom Haulers to Recruit Veterans

The Trump administration launched the Freedom Haulers campaign on July 24, 2026, to recruit military veterans into the commercial trucking industry. The initiative seeks to fill labor gaps created by a federal crackdown on immigrant drivers, which resulted in the cancellation of 30,000 illegally issued commercial licenses and the removal of 26,000 drivers for failing English proficiency requirements.

Led by the Department of Transportation in coordination with the Departments of Veterans Affairs, Labor, and War, the program incentivizes veterans by promoting the Military Skills Test Waiver Program for those who operated heavy military vehicles. Additionally, the GI Bill will cover 100% of training costs and housing for qualifying veterans.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy linked the enforcement actions to safety concerns following fatal crashes in Florida and California involving improperly licensed foreign drivers. The Department of Transportation is also restricting non-domiciled licenses to specific visa holders, including H-2A, H-2B, and E-2. These restrictions and the withdrawal of funding from states such as California and New York currently face legal challenges.

While trucking industry leaders expressed support for the recruitment of veterans, some immigrant groups allege that the enforcement actions unfairly target Sikh drivers. Secretary Duffy maintained that the campaign is necessary to restore the integrity of the trucking industry.