The Trump administration has launched a new campaign called ‘Freedom Haulers’ to help veterans become truck drivers, replacing tens of thousands of illegal immigrant drivers who lost their licenses in a crackdown this year.
Background
The Transportation Department began enforcing existing English language requirements for truckers last summer, which led to the removal of about 26,000 drivers from the road for failing to demonstrate English proficiency. Additionally, 30,000 commercial licenses were canceled because they were issued illegally.
The ‘Freedom Haulers’ campaign will promote programs that allow veterans who recently drove large military vehicles to skip the required skills test for a commercial driver’s license. Other soldiers can attend a commercial driving school during their last six months of active duty. The GI Bill will also pay for 100% of commercial driver’s license training and for some people even pay a housing allowance while they are in school.
Industry Response
The trucking industry has applauded the administration’s effort to get unqualified drivers off the road and close down sham CDL schools. Companies have praised this new effort to get more veterans behind the wheel, citing the discipline and technical skills that veterans bring to the job.
According to Derek Leathers, chairman and CEO of Werner Enterprises, ‘Veterans make up 15% of our workforce and bring the highest levels of leadership, discipline and technical skills that are essential to our success.’ Cole Stevens, chief strategy officer at Stevens Transport, added that ‘Their integrity, accountability, and mission-first mindset make them an incredible asset.’
Details of the Program
The Transportation Department plans to work with the Pentagon and the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Labor to promote the career field as a good job that offers independence to veterans who don’t want a desk job in civilian life. Veterans still have to study the rules and pass the written test for a commercial driver’s license, but soldiers who recently drove big military vehicles over 2.5 tons can skip the skills test.
The government said more than 40,000 veterans have already used that program, which can enable them to get on the road within a few weeks. Truck drivers currently make an average of $70,000 a year, as the truck market has tightened up and rates have increased.
Original reporting: KOAT Albuquerque — read the source article.
