Trump Launches Freedom Haulers to Replace Migrant Drivers With Veterans

President Donald Trump launched the Freedom Haulers initiative on July 30, 2026, at the White House to transition military veterans into commercial truck driving careers. The program expedites the process for veterans to obtain commercial driver's licenses (CDLs) by extending the waiver period for skills tests from 12 to 24 months following active duty. Additionally, active-duty members may now obtain CDL permits in their current state of station, and the GI Bill will provide up to 100 percent tuition coverage for training.

The initiative coincides with a federal crackdown on non-compliant drivers. The administration reported the removal of over 24,000 non-English-speaking drivers and the cancellation of approximately 30,000 licenses issued to non-citizens. The Department of Transportation specifically targeted New York and California for issuing licenses to unauthorized migrants, subsequently stripping New York of nearly $74 million in federal highway funding for refusing to revoke 33,000 licenses.

This effort involves coordination between the Departments of Transportation, Labor, Veterans Affairs, and War, alongside a joint investigation into trucking schools by the Department of Homeland Security. In the private sector, Werner Enterprises committed to hiring 1,400 veterans and their spouses by 2027. While the administration claims the move improves safety, critics argue the rules unfairly target populations like Sikh truckers and bar legal asylum seekers and DACA recipients, potentially increasing shipping costs due to driver shortages.