The Trump administration has unveiled a new initiative called "Freedom Haulers" aimed at boosting the trucking industry by providing a boost to the industry's workforce.
The plan, announced at the White House, allows qualified veterans with heavy-vehicle experience gained during military service to waive the CDL road-skills test, allowing them to avoid duplicating training they received in the military.
According to the initiative, certain veterans in participating states may also qualify for a waiver of the written knowledge test.
Veterans without military truck-driving experience will be eligible for expedited training that administration officials said could be completed in several weeks.
Data shows that truck drivers who are veterans account for 42% fewer accidents, administration officials said.
Tom Jacques, an Army veteran and trucking company executive, praised the new plan, saying it's wonderful to get skilled workers into an industry that requires discipline and dedication.
"It's wonderful to get skilled workers who are disciplined [and] dedicated into an industry that requires discipline and dedication," Jacques said.
Jacques noted that the trucking industry is always in need of new drivers and that truckers play an important role in the everyday lives of Americans.
"If you take a look at the trucking industry, the behind the scenes, that's what gets the commodities where they're at," Jacques said.
The initiative has another component — getting illegal alien truck drivers off the roads.
According to administration officials, at least 30 Americans were killed at the hands of illegal alien truck drivers last year, and 24,000 illegal aliens drivers have already been taken off the streets.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy noted that truckers are paid well, with salaries ranging from $80 to $100,000 plus a year.
"These are great paying jobs," Duffy said.
The initiative aims to provide safer roads and more jobs for American veterans, administration officials said.
