Trump's bold plan to rip migrant truckers off American roads and hand the rigs to veterans

By ELINA SHIRAZI, US SENIOR POLITICAL REPORTER Published: 21:35, 30 July 2026 | Updated: 21:36, 30 July 2026 Two towering heavy rigs – one a green military behemoth, the other a massive blue truck decorated with military imagery and 'Operation: Freedom' – flanked the podium on White House grounds. President Donald Trump is targeting non-citizen big-rig operators, promising to purge unqualified drivers from American highways and hand those high-paying jobs to military veterans. 'We've got to stop it. It's dangerous what's happening,' Trump told the crowd, warning that American roads have been terrorized for years by unqualified illegal immigrants behind the wheel of massive tractor-trailers. 'Radical left maniacs at the state level have issued them commercial driver's licenses... They don't speak the language for the most part, they don't want to learn the language… and they cannot read basic road signs.' Road statistics were at the center of the President's pitch, with Trump citing at least 30 deaths last year caused by non-citizen drivers holding commercial licenses. He highlighted tragic fatalities, including a catastrophic Florida crash in August where an illegal immigrant from India made an illegal U-turn blocking highway lanes, killing three people, as well as the recent death of a Pennsylvania state trooper struck by an illegal immigrant driver from Haiti driving a semi-truck. Trump declared that his administration has already taken aggressive action, pulling more than 24,000 non-English speaking drivers off the roads and forcing states to revoke over 28,000 commercial driver's licenses issued unlawfully. 'Today we have the safest border in the history of our country,' Trump claimed, asserting that zero illegal immigrants had crossed the southern border in the past 14 months. President Donald Trump gets into the drivers seat of a semi-truck as he welcomes truckers and CEOs to the White House back in 2017 Road statistics were at the center of the President's pitch, with Trump citing at least 30 deaths last year caused by non–citizen drivers holding commercial licenses President Donald Trump , accompanied by Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, VA Secretary Doug Collins, and Acting Labor Secretary Keith Sonderling, immediately launched into an address targeting non–citizen big–rig operators, promising to purge unqualified drivers from American highways and hand those high–paying jobs to military veterans Trump declared that his administration has already taken aggressive action, pulling more than 24,000 non–English speaking drivers off the roads and forcing states to revoke over 28,000 commercial driver's licenses issued unlawfully Under the newly unveiled 'Freedom Haulers' initiative, military veterans with significant vehicle experience can bypass what Trump called 'redundant driving tests' to secure commercial driver's licenses immediately. Former service members without heavy vehicle experience will receive fast-tracked training lasting just three to four weeks. Thirty-four states have already signed onto the initiative, including Indiana, Wyoming, Louisiana, Arkansas, Alabama, Florida and Maryland. Trump noted that veteran truckers boast 42 percent fewer accidents despite driving double the mileage of non-veteran drivers. '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,' he declared. Cabinet members piled on praise for the President's initiative during the West Wing showcase. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy slammed the previous administration for letting millions in without background checks, noting trucking jobs pay between $80,000 and $100,000-plus annually. Calling Trump's leadership a 'master class,' Duffy proclaimed: 'Illegals are out, American patriots are in.' Two towering heavy rigs – one a green military behemoth, the other a massive blue truck decorated with military imagery and 'Operation: Freedom' – flanked the podium on White House grounds Military veterans and audience members look on as President Trump speaks during an event about the Freedom Haulers program Trump speaks alongside a semi truck during an event to announce the Freedom Haulers initiative at the White House Under the newly unveiled 'Freedom Haulers' initiative, military veterans with significant vehicle experience can bypass what Trump called 'redundant driving tests' to secure commercial driver's licenses immediately Industry leaders and combat veterans stepped forward to pledge immediate action. Nathan Meisgeier, President of Werner Enterprises, announced that his company is officially committing to hire 1,400 veterans in the coming year as part of the campaign. Meanwhile, 30-year Army and National Guard veteran Ricky Washington spoke about finding a renewed sense of purpose behind the wheel. 'The core values of the military align seamlessly with the trucking industry,' Washington said. 'We're disciplined, we're vigilant, we're adaptable, and we have an unwavering commitment to getting the job done safely and on time.' Trucking representatives from UPS, FedEx, the American Trucking Association and veteran support organizations watched as Trump closed out the event. 'This is going to be a big day for our wonderful patriots, our great veterans,' Trump concluded. 'They're going to produce like nobody else can produce.'