WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Transportation has launched a government-wide initiative to recruit military veterans into trucking, seeking to address workforce needs by connecting former service members with commercial driving careers and federal training resources.
The “Freedom Haulers” campaign is being led by the Transportation Department in partnership with the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Department of War and the Department of Labor.
The effort includes a digital advertising campaign, radio advertisements and a dedicated website that directs veterans to federal programs, private-sector partners and licensing resources intended to ease the transition into the trucking industry.
Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy and Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins introduced the initiative during a kickoff event on Monday, where they also outlined additional policy measures to support veteran recruitment into trucking.
The campaign highlights the use of GI Bill education benefits to cover commercial driver’s license training for eligible veterans. According to the department, veterans with at least 36 months of qualifying military service can typically receive full tuition coverage for CDL programs offered through colleges and technical schools.
The Transportation Department also pointed to Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration waiver programs that allow veterans with qualifying military heavy-vehicle experience to bypass certain commercial driver’s license road testing requirements.
“Trucking requires the precision, independence, and discipline that they forged in the military,” Duffy stated, adding that veterans can use their GI Bill benefits to transition into the industry.
Acting Labor Secretary Keith Sonderling stated that the initiative is intended to help address workforce shortages while encouraging veterans to pursue skilled careers in trucking.
According to the department, the campaign also promotes trucking as a career offering schedule flexibility, immediate employment opportunities following training and a role in supporting the nation’s freight supply chain.
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