FMCSA launches campaign to transition veterans to truck driving
Key takeaways
- The 'Freedom Haulers' campaign combines outreach and regulatory changes to support veterans entering trucking careers.
- The Military Skills Test Waiver window has been extended from one to two years post-service.
- Seven additional states have joined the Even Exchange Program.
- Werner Enterprises pledged to hire 1,400 veterans and spouses in 2027.
The Department of Transportation (DOT) recently revealed new steps to support military veterans’ transitions into commercial trucking careers.
Federal officials formally introduced the "Freedom Haulers" campaign. The initiative combines multi-agency outreach with a skills test waiver expansion to widen the pool of qualified commercial drivers.
For commercial fleet operators navigating driver recruiting and retention challenges, the campaign introduces a key regulatory update to speed up CDL onboarding for transitioning military personnel.
"Veterans embody the exact duty, grit, and precision this essential industry relies on," said FMCSA Administrator Derek D. Barrs. "Through Freedom Haulers, we’re welcoming our military heroes behind the wheel to secure our roads and strengthen the backbone of our economy."
Administration officials stated the campaign will be supported by a centralized federal microsite, digital media, and coordinated recruitment efforts involving the DOT, Department of Veterans Affairs, Department of Labor, and Department of Defense.
Extended military skills test waiver window
FMCSA is expanding the eligibility window for the Military Skills Test Waiver from one year to two years post-service. The waiver allows qualified veterans with military driving experience to obtain a commercial driver’s license (CDL) without taking the practical driving test. Federal officials report that more than 40,000 veterans have utilized this waiver to date.
Expansion of knowledge test exemption states
Seven additional states have formally joined FMCSA’s Even Exchange Program: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Indiana, Louisiana, Maryland, and Wyoming.
The program permits eligible service members with documented military heavy-vehicle experience to bypass both the written and skills tests, allowing participating states to issue CDLs in a matter of weeks. A total of 34 states now participate in Even Exchange.
Local CLP testing flexibility for active duty
Active-duty personnel and veterans up to two years post-service can now apply and test for a Commercial Learner’s Permit (CLP) or CDL in the state where they are currently stationed, eliminating the requirement to return to their home state of record.
Werner Enterprises pledges veteran hiring expansion
Werner Enterprises (No. 11 on the FleetOwner 500 For-Hire) said it is committed to hiring 1,400 military veterans and military spouses in 2027. The pledge represents a 67% expansion of the carrier’s current veteran workforce.
Industry associations applaud program
Major trucking association groups, as part of an industry long supportive of veterans, welcomed the program:
Chris Spear, president and CEO of the American Trucking Associations (ATA):
“For generations, veterans have played a vital role in keeping America moving. The skills developed in military service—leadership, discipline, adaptability, teamwork, and a mission-focused mindset—are the same qualities that define successful trucking professionals. Freedom Haulers recognizes that connection and seeks to create a stronger bridge between military service and trucking careers.”
Todd Spencer, president of the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA):
“Military veterans have the skills to succeed in trucking and that’s what makes them the safest operators of the 80,000-lb. commercial vehicles that traverse America’s roadways. OOIDA strongly applauds the Trump Administration for launching the Freedom Haulers initiative to ensure the most well-trained, professional men and women are operating large trucks on our nation’s roadways and keeping our supply chain secure.”
Jeffery Burkhardt, chairman of the Commercial Vehicle Training Association:
"Veterans possess valuable skills and professional ethics that translate readily into successful careers in the commercial trucking industry. Reducing unnecessary barriers to employment while maintaining the highest safety and training standards is a goal that benefits veterans, employers, and our nation's supply chain.”
