WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump launched a federal effort Thursday aimed at helping military veterans secure commercial driver’s licenses more quickly, seeking to fill transport sector openings following a freeze on license renewals for foreign-born truckers.
“The radical left wants more jobs for illegal aliens and more migrants (in) 18-wheelers, and (the) Trump administration wants safer roads and more jobs for the American veteran,” Trump said.
The program expands an existing policy allowing veterans to obtain commercial licenses without taking additional driving tests if they operated heavy machinery during active duty. Under the modified policy, the military service waiver window expands from 12 months to 24 months.
The administration is also establishing a fast-track training system for veterans without prior heavy-vehicle experience. The Department of Veterans Affairs will fund the initiative and launch an outreach campaign to raise awareness among former service members.
“Any veteran with heavy vehicle experience from the military will now be eligible to skip redundant road tests to obtain a commercial driver’s license,” Trump said. “If they didn’t drive a truck in the military,… they’re going to learn, and they’re going to learn very quickly and they’ll be licensed in a matter of a few weeks.”
The move comes alongside federal regulatory actions designed to decrease the number of foreign-born commercial drivers, who currently account for nearly 18% of the nationwide trucking workforce. A Department of Transportation rule finalized in March restricting visa categories eligible for commercial licenses is projected to displace roughly 200,000 immigrant truck drivers.
That regulation impacts individuals holding Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals status, Temporary Protected Status, asylum claims and refugee status, while exempting lawful permanent residents and specific visa holders. Trump stated that officials have already revoked approximately 28,000 commercial licenses held by foreign-born drivers.
Additionally, the president noted that Werner Trucking has brought on 1,400 veteran drivers.
The American Trucking Associations estimates the nation currently faces a shortfall of 60,000 to 80,000 commercial drivers.
“As we get illegal aliens off the roads today, we’re also taking action to replace these unqualified migrant truck drivers with highly qualified American veterans,” Trump said.
Trump has asserted without supporting evidence that immigrant commercial drivers present safety risks on highways and lack English language skills. An executive order issued last year requiring driver English proficiency led to the removal of 24,000 commercial licenses. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy subsequently threatened to withhold federal highway funds from states failing to enforce the mandate.
Trump expressed hope that additional states would join the Even Exchange Program, which waives examination requirements for qualified military drivers. Eligible veterans must have served in positions such as motor transport operator, fueler, equipment operator, or pavement and construction equipment operator.
Indiana and Wyoming recently joined the program, joining states such as Illinois, Kansas, Wisconsin, North Carolina, North Dakota, Vermont, Virginia, Missouri, South Carolina, Idaho, Georgia, New Mexico, West Virginia, California, Iowa, Minnesota, Texas, Ohio, Maine, Utah, Washington, Mississippi, Tennessee, Michigan, Montana, South Dakota, and Pennsylvania. Meanwhile, Maryland, Louisiana, Arkansas, Florida, and Alabama have pledged to adopt the policy.