The White House has announced a new campaign to recruit veterans as truck drivers, aiming to replace the tens of thousands of illegal immigrant drivers who lost their licenses in a recent crackdown. The campaign, called Freedom Haulers, will promote programs that allow veterans to skip the required skills test for a commercial driver’s license.

Background

The Transportation Department began enforcing existing English language requirements for truckers last summer, resulting in about 26,000 drivers being pulled off the road for failing to demonstrate English proficiency. Additionally, 30,000 commercial licenses were canceled because they were issued illegally.

The federal government has been actively enforcing CDL rules, and the trucking industry has applauded the administration’s effort to get unqualified drivers off the road. Companies have praised the new effort to get more veterans behind the wheel, citing their leadership, discipline, and technical skills as essential to success.

Program Details

Veterans who recently drove large military vehicles can skip the 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 pay for 100% of commercial driver’s license training and may even provide a housing allowance while in school.

The Transportation Department plans to work with the Pentagon and 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. Truck drivers currently make an average of $70,000 a year, and veterans who served for at least three years can use the GI Bill program to pay for CDL training.

Original reporting: Texarkana Gazette — read the source article.