Trump launches Freedom Haulers to fast-track veterans into trucking careers

President Donald Trump on July 30, 2026 unveiled the Freedom Haulers initiative at the White House, a military-to-trucking pipeline designed to transition veterans into professional trucking careers. The program, backed by Werner Enterprises, J.B. Hunt, Schneider, Stevens Transport and UPS, removes financial and bureaucratic barriers to secure CDL licenses and jobs for veterans, regardless of prior heavy-truck experience. Federal agencies including the Departments of Transportation, Veterans Affairs and Labor will provide GI Bill benefits, apprenticeships and expanded CDL pathways. Werner Enterprises, an Omaha, Neb.-based carrier, announced plans to hire 1,400 veteran drivers by 2027, with 15% of its 14,000 nationwide associates already veterans or military spouses. The company offers advanced military pay credits, full GI Bill apprenticeship benefits and the Operation Freedom program staffed entirely by veterans. J.B. Hunt, founded by a veteran, provides expedited CDL certification through military experience waivers, paid apprenticeships and federal SkillBridge support. Schneider offers veterans driving-experience credit and up to $1,647 per month in GI Bill housing benefits alongside full paychecks. Stevens Transport’s Operation Patriot provides GI Bill on-the-job training benefits during a 12-month paid apprenticeship for veterans, active-duty service members, reservists and National Guard members. UPS, the nation’s largest carrier, employs more than 25,000 veterans and offers resources for long-term, high-earning careers. Trump framed the initiative as a response to the removal of 24,000 foreign truckers lacking English proficiency and the cancellation of 28,000 CDLs issued to undocumented foreigners, citing at least 30 deaths caused by illegal alien truck drivers in the prior year. The VA will fund truck driving school for veterans through the GI Bill and Veterans Readiness and Education program, with 2,800 veterans already using these benefits, and will launch a targeted outreach effort to 19 million veterans. The Department of Labor’s Employment Navigator and Partnership Program will provide one-on-one career assistance to transitioning service members and spouses on military bases.