Veterans Encouraged to Become Truck Drivers after Military Service

The Trump administration is encouraging military personnel to consider careers in truck driving after their service. This initiative aims to fill gaps left by the departure of immigrant drivers due to recent crackdowns. A campaign launched recently will assist veterans who have driven large military vehicles to obtain a commercial driver’s license more easily. They can bypass the requisite skills test. Additionally, soldiers in their last six months of service can attend commercial driving school. The GI Bill will cover the cost of commercial driver’s license training.

This campaign is part of a larger interagency initiative to help veterans secure stable civilian employment. The Transportation Department has been stricter in enforcing English language requirements for truckers since last summer, partly due to a fatal crash in Florida involving a truck driver who did not meet these criteria. Addressing this, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy emphasized the need for more qualified drivers. Recent audits have revealed many invalid non-domiciled commercial driver’s licenses.

Approximately 26,000 drivers have been removed from the roads for inadequate English proficiency. The Transportation Department has also canceled 30,000 commercial licenses after finding them illegally issued. Efforts to withhold funds from states like California and New York for non-compliance have led to legal battles. Other states such as Pennsylvania, Minnesota, and North Carolina have been cautioned about potential funding loss.

“We are removing more dangerous foreign drivers off our roads and restoring America’s trucking industry integrity,” Duffy stated. The new Freedom Haulers campaign aims to capitalize on these successes by encouraging veterans to pursue trucking careers.

The trucking industry supports this plan, citing veterans as excellent candidates due to their discipline, leadership, and technical skills. Derek Leathers of Werner Enterprises and Cole Stevens expressed appreciation for veterans’ skills and contributions to the industry. Veterans are believed to bring valuable qualities such as integrity and accountability.

Further restrictions are planned to determine which immigrants can qualify for truck driver licenses. These rules mandate English proficiency and are contested in court. Immigrants, although 20% of all truck drivers, hold only 5% of commercial driver licenses. Some immigrant groups argue that the crackdown unfairly targets certain communities.

The Transportation Department seeks collaboration with the Pentagon, Veterans Affairs, and Labor departments to advocate for truck driving as a viable career for veterans seeking independence from desk jobs. Veterans who have driven military vehicles over 2.5 tons can waive the skills test for a commercial license, expediting their path to employment.

Over 40,000 veterans have benefitted from this program, getting on the road quickly. The average yearly salary for truck drivers is approximately $70,000. Eligible veterans with at least three years of service can receive CDL training funds and potentially a housing stipend via the GI Bill.