An Army veteran and trucking executive, Tom Jacques, praised President Donald Trump’s announcement of the Freedom Haulers Initiative at the White House on Wednesday, July 31, 2026. Jacques, director of Department of Transportation compliance at Waste Management and chairman of the Pennsylvania Motor Trucking Association, called the plan "wonderful" and said he supports entering an industry that is "always in need."

The initiative enables qualified veterans with heavy-vehicle experience gained during military service to waive the Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) road-skills test, recognizing their prior training and allowing them to enter the trucking workforce more quickly. Jacques highlighted that many veterans who drove big rigs in the military currently must undergo months-long retraining to obtain civilian licenses.

President Trump emphasized that American highways have been "terrorized by unqualified illegal aliens dangerously driving big rigs," noting that many such drivers cannot speak English or read road signs. Data cited during the event shows that truck drivers who are veterans have 42% fewer accidents, despite driving double the miles of non-veteran drivers.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy also participated in the White House event, which aims to expand trucking opportunities for military veterans and improve industry safety and reliability. Jacques noted the importance of truckers during the COVID-19 pandemic, when many workers were furloughed or worked from home, but truckers continued essential operations.

The Freedom Haulers Initiative seeks to tap into a disciplined workforce of veterans to address ongoing driver shortages and safety concerns in the trucking industry.

Sources