Trump proposes automatic CDL eligibility for some veterans

President Donald Trump announced a plan to grant automatic commercial driver’s license (CDL) eligibility to U.S. military veterans who operated heavy trucks during their service. Speaking at the U.S. Army War College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, on July 15, 2026, during the 2026 Pennsylvania Defense and Innovation Summit, Trump framed the move as a way to replace undocumented foreign truck drivers with qualified American veterans. He criticized undocumented foreign truckers for lacking English proficiency and being involved in fatal crashes, stating, ‘They can’t read signs. Many of them are on drugs or alcohol and they shouldn’t be driving these things.’ Trump’s administration previously issued an executive order requiring foreign-national commercial truck drivers to demonstrate English proficiency and comply with safety regulations. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has since enforced these rules to remove unqualified drivers from U.S. roadways. The president emphasized that veterans, many of whom already have truck-driving experience, would be prioritized under the new initiative. The FMCSA’s ‘Even Exchange Program’ already allows military personnel to waive the CDL knowledge test if they meet specific criteria. To qualify, veterans must have held certain military occupational specialties within the past year, including roles such as Army motor transport operator (88M), Marine Corps motor vehicle operator (3531), Navy equipment operator (EO), Air Force vehicle operator (2TI), and others. The program currently covers 56% of U.S. states, with Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Florida, and Wyoming among those adopting it. While the FMCSA sets CDL standards, individual states issue the licenses. The announcement comes amid broader efforts to tighten safety regulations for commercial drivers.