The White House has announced a new initiative called "Freedom Haulers" aimed at boosting the trucking industry by providing opportunities for veterans to transition into the field.
Tom Jacques, the director of Department of Transportation compliance at Waste Management and chairman of the board of directors for the Pennsylvania Motor Trucking Association, attended the White House event and praised the new plan.
"It's wonderful to get skilled workers who are disciplined and dedicated into an industry that requires discipline and dedication," Jacques said. "You don't get behind the wheel of a tractor-trailer without understanding the need to be disciplined and to be safe."
Under the initiative, qualified veterans with heavy-vehicle experience gained during military service can apply to waive the CDL road-skills test, allowing them to avoid duplicating training they received in the military.
Certain veterans in participating states may also qualify for a waiver of the written knowledge test, and those without military truck-driving experience will be eligible for expedited training.
Administration officials said this expedited training could be completed in several weeks.
According to data, truck drivers who are veterans account for 42% fewer accidents.
"There's no shortage of positions for truck drivers," Jacques said. "It's an aging workforce. It's something that people need to understand that we've got to be continually replenishing that workforce."
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy also spoke at the White House event, highlighting the high-paying jobs available in the industry.
"These are great paying jobs. They're anywhere from $80 to $100,000 plus a year," Duffy said.
The initiative has another component – getting illegal alien truck drivers off the roads.
"For many years, American highways and roadways have been terrorized by unqualified illegal aliens dangerously driving big rigs," Trump said.
The administration claims that 24,000 illegal alien drivers have already been taken off the streets, and at least 30 Americans were killed at the hands of illegal alien truck drivers last year.
"The Trump administration wants safer roads and more jobs for the American veteran," Trump said.
