The initiative, called Freedom Haulers, will promote existing programmes that allow veterans with experience of driving large military vehicles to enter the haulage industry more quickly. It forms part of a wider White House effort to help former service members find civilian employment.
Military drivers offered faster route to a commercial licence
Veterans who recently operated large military vehicles may be allowed to bypass the practical skills test required for a commercial driver’s licence, or CDL. They must still study the rules and pass the written examination.
According to figures cited by independent.co.uk, more than 40,000 veterans have already used the exemption, which can allow qualified applicants to begin working as drivers within weeks.
Service members without relevant driving experience may attend commercial driving school during their final six months of active duty. CDL training can also be covered in full through the GI Bill, while some veterans may qualify for a housing allowance during the course.
The Department of Transportation plans to work with the Pentagon and the departments of Veterans Affairs and Labor to present truck driving as an attractive option for veterans seeking practical, independent work outside an office environment.
Enforcement removes thousands of drivers
The recruitment campaign comes as the federal government intensifies checks on commercial driving qualifications.
The Department of Transportation began enforcing existing English-language requirements more rigorously last summer. Since then, around 26,000 drivers have been taken off the road after failing to demonstrate sufficient English proficiency, according to the department.
A further 30,000 commercial licences have reportedly been cancelled after audits found they had been issued unlawfully. The reviews identified non-domiciled licences that remained valid after work permits had expired, as well as cases in which eligibility or immigration status had not been properly verified.
The federal government has also sought to withhold highway funding from California and New York over alleged failures to revoke additional licences. Those measures have been challenged in court, while Pennsylvania, Minnesota and North Carolina have also been warned that funding could be at risk.
“We are removing more and more dangerous foreign drivers off our roads every day and restoring the integrity of America’s trucking industry,” Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said, as quoted by The Independent.
He added that the Freedom Haulers campaign would encourage more former service members to “get behind the wheel of a big rig”.
Industry backs veteran recruitment drive
US haulage companies have welcomed both the licensing crackdown and the effort to attract more veterans.
Derek Leathers, chairman and chief executive of Werner Enterprises, said veterans account for 15% of the company’s workforce and bring leadership, discipline and technical expertise to the business.
Cole Stevens, chief strategy officer at Stevens Trucking, said military veterans often make strong drivers and managers because of their “integrity, accountability and mission-first mindset”.
The Department of Transportation said the average annual salary for a truck driver is now around $70,000, following a tightening of the freight market and an increase in rates.
New licence restrictions face court challenges
The administration has also proposed tighter rules governing which foreign nationals can obtain non-domiciled commercial driving licences.
Under the planned restrictions, eligibility would be limited to holders of H-2A, H-2B and E-2 visas. Applicants would also be required to take the test in English. The rules are currently being challenged in court.
Immigrants account for around 20% of all US truck drivers. However, non-domiciled commercial licences represent only about 5% of all CDLs, equivalent to roughly 200,000 drivers.
Some immigrant organisations argue that drivers are being unfairly targeted. Particular attention has fallen on Sikh drivers following fatal crashes in Florida and California involving drivers from that community.
