On 24/7, the administration of President Donald Trump launched the "Truckers for Freedom" campaign. This initiative aims to attract service members and veterans to the trucking industry, addressing a labor shortage that followed a crackdown on immigrant driver licenses. The campaign focuses on assisting military personnel experienced in operating heavy military vehicles to quickly transition into civilian freight driving.
Service members who have driven military vehicles weighing over 2,5 tons may be exempt from the practical examination when applying for a commercial driver's license (CDL). However, they must still re-learn traffic laws and pass the theoretical test. This fast-track mechanism has been utilized by over 40,000 veterans, allowing them to begin work within weeks.
Service members not eligible for the practical exam exemption can pursue commercial driving training during their final six months before discharge. Veterans who have served for at least three years are eligible to use their GI Bill benefits to cover the full cost of CDL training and receive additional housing allowances if they qualify.
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US armored vehicles gather in Washington D.C. before a parade in 6/2025. Photo: AFP
The US government began strictly enforcing English language proficiency requirements for drivers in summer 2025. Subsequent nationwide reviews revealed numerous immigrant CDLs remained valid even after the holders' work permits had expired. Additionally, some licenses were issued without authorities fully verifying the applicants' immigration status.
Following these reviews, approximately 26,000 drivers had their licenses suspended for failing to demonstrate English proficiency. The US Department of Transportation also reported that about 30,000 other commercial driver's licenses were revoked due to improper issuance.
The intensified license crackdown followed an accident in Florida in 8/2025, where a driver of Indian origin made an illegal U-turn with a tractor-trailer on a highway, resulting in a collision that killed three people. At the time, US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy commented that the individual "should not have been licensed".
A driver makes a U-turn with a tractor-trailer on a US highway, causing an accident on 17/8. Video: X/Breaking911
The Trump administration also seeks to restrict the categories of immigrants eligible for CDLs and require English proficiency documentation. Under the proposed plan, only holders of H-2A, H-2B, or E-2 visas would qualify. However, the legality of these regulations is currently under judicial review.
Opponents argue that the administration's actions discriminate against immigrants, citing a lack of evidence that this group causes more accidents. Sikh drivers have particularly come under scrutiny, as individuals from this community were involved in both the fatal Florida accident and another deadly incident in California.
Immigrants currently constitute about 20% of the US truck driver workforce. However, immigrant CDLs represent only 5% of all commercial driver's licenses nationwide, accounting for approximately 200,000 drivers.
The US Department of Transportation reports that truck drivers earn an average income of approximately USD 70,000 annually. The administration anticipates that this salary, coupled with the independent nature of the work, will appeal to veterans seeking alternatives to desk jobs after leaving military service.
By Ha Linh (Based on AP, Washington Post)
