Trump unveils 'freedom haulers' plan to replace illegal immigrant truck drivers with veterans

WASHINGTON, DC: The Trump administration is continuously bolstering efforts to crack down on illegal immigrants living in America, with driving the illegals out of the country being one of the key priorities of President Donald Trump.

President Donald Trump on Thursday, July 30, announced a new initiative called 'Freedom Haulers' that aims to replace illegal immigrant truck drivers with US military veterans.

Trump launches veteran trucking workforce initiative

Trump unveiled the program ‘Freedom Haulers’ alongside Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and Acting Labor Secretary Keith Sonderling.

The administration said the initiative is designed to help veterans find trucking jobs while addressing workforce needs in the trucking industry.

The White House, along with the Departments of Transportation, Defense, Labor and Veterans Affairs, will oversee the program.

Under the initiative, eligible veterans will be able to get expedited commercial driver's licenses (CDLs) through the Department of Transportation. Veterans with no trucking experience will also be eligible for CDL training.

The Department of Veterans Affairs said the GI Bill can cover up to 100% of CDL tuition for training programs approved by a state approving agency.

Werner Enterprises, a transportation company, announced that as a part of the program, the company will hire 1,400 veterans and veteran spouses.

Indiana, Wyoming, Florida, Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Maryland are also set to join the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's Even Exchange Program, allowing military truck drivers to transfer their military driving experience toward civilian trucking careers.

Trump says 24,000 non-English-speaking drivers removed

Trump said the administration has removed more than 24,000 commercial drivers who could not speak English from the road and has worked with states to revoke more than 28,000 commercial driver's licenses that he said were unlawfully issued to illegal immigrants.

He also cited several deadly crashes that he said involved illegal immigrants while making the case for the new initiative.

Duffy said the program removes unnecessary barriers for veterans moving into civilian careers while also improving safety on the nation's highways.

"These are great-paying jobs. They're anywhere from $80,000 to $100,000-plus a year," Duffy said. "Illegals are out. American patriots are in."

"The trucking industry is more than just a sector of our economy — it's the backbone of our commerce," 'Operation: Freedom' driver Ricky Washington said.

"It is a place where service members, veterans [and] military spouses can find a purpose, a community and a way to continue keeping our great nation moving forward," he added.