Administration of Donald J. Trump, 2026
Remarks on Announcing the Freedom Haulers Initiative
July 30, 2026
The President. Thank you very much, everybody.
What a nice song. We thank Lee, right? Lee has been with us from the beginning. So it's great.
And thank you all for being here as we take action to get illegal alien truck drivers off the American roadways—we're doing a very strong movement, and we have had such support for this—and replace them with proud American veterans. And it's about time.
I want to thank Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy, who is doing a fantastic job.
Secretary of Veterans Affairs Doug Collins, likewise, really doing a good job. Ninety-two percent approval. That's not bad, Doug. You'll get it up a little bit. [Laughter]
Acting Secretary of Labor Keith Sonderling and—along with President of Werner Enterprises Nathan Meisgeier. Thank you very much, Nathan.
And representatives from the American Trucking Association and the Owner-Operators Independent Drivers Association, they're all behind this a hundred percent. I'm behind it a hundred percent.
We've got to stop it. It's dangerous. It's horrible what's happening. Every day, you see another story. We're not going to let that happen, and that won't happen with our great vets.
But above all, thank you to the amazing veterans with the—with us. I mean, they've just been with us from the day they were born, I suspect. They're great patriots, and we love them.
And we want to thank UPS, FedEx, and Werner for the job they've done.
Thanks as well to the national commander of AMVETS, Paul Shipley; chief operating officer of the Independence Fund, Doug Ackerman; and the great patriots from the Wounded Warrior Project, American Legion, Blue Star Families, Gary Sinise Foundation, Vietnam Veterans of America, and Paralyzed Veterans of America. We thank you all, and thank you all for being with us. Very special. Thank you, fellas. Thank you, everybody.
For many years, American highways and roadways have been terrorized by unqualified illegal aliens dangerously driving big rigs—rigs like that.
[At this point, the President referred to trucks parked on the White House driveway.]
You've got to know something to drive—wow. That sucker is a big one. [Laughter] That's big stuff. But they're—you've got to—you have to have a knowledge. You have to have a talent for it, and these people don't have that.
They are driving big rigs, semitrucks, and tractor trailers all because radical-left maniacs at the State level have issued them commercial driver's licenses, even though they're not entitled to have them.
They don't speak the language for the most part. Many of these illegal aliens don't even come close. They don't want to learn the language. They don't care about the language, and they don't speak it. They don't speak English. They cannot read basic road signs.
In many cases, they've engaged in reckless driving that has caused many, many preventable deaths. Many. Too many to even talk about.
Last August, three innocent people were killed in Florida when an illegal alien from India made an unlawful U-turn, blocking all the lanes of the highway and causing a catastrophic crash. It was a disaster.
Just a few weeks ago, a Pennsylvania State trooper was killed by an illegal alien from Haiti driving a semitruck. He was let in by Joe Biden in the open-border policy of the Biden administration.
By the way, today, we have the safest border in the history of our country. And I don't even say this usually, but for the last 14 months—because it's almost unbelievable to say—but the media will correct me if I give anything that's even slightly off. As of 14 months—in the last 14 months, zero illegal aliens were able to come through our southern border. Zero.
Last year alone, illegal aliens with commercial driver's licenses caused at least 30 deaths—and many, many very seriously injured.
As President, I made it our official policy to enforce English-language requirements for truck drivers and support American truckers on American roadways.
We've already removed more than 24,000 non-English speakers from behind the wheel. We've also forced States to cancel more than 28,000 commercial driver's licenses unlawfully issued to illegal aliens. They were—they were given illegally.
As we get illegal aliens off the roads, today, we're also taking action to replace these unqualified migrant truck drivers with highly qualified American veterans.
Under our brandnew Freedom Haulers—we call it "Freedom Haulers"—initiative, any American who has driven a heavy truck for our military will automatically be eligible for a commercial driver's license, and it's good-paying jobs too.
Any veteran with a heavy vehicle experience from the military will now be eligible to skip redundant road tests to obtain a commercial driver's licenses—we're going to make it as easy as possible for the veterans—within 2 years following their Active Duty service.
And for the veterans where no truck—where you have a situation where you have not truck drivers in the military—where you don't have truck drivers, they're going to be given a very quick pass. We're going to teach them. They're going to learn. If they didn't drive a truck in the military but were in, they're going to learn, and they're going to learn very quickly. And they'll be licensed in a matter of a few weeks, I think it is.
Secretary of Transportation Sean P. Duffy. Yes. Yes.
The President. They're going to take about 3 or 4 weeks of training.
Thirty-four States have joined this initiative, including—Indiana, Wyoming, Louisiana, Arkansas, Alabama, Florida, and Maryland are joining us. Just today, many of the Representatives and leaders from those States are with us.
It's actually a very big deal. This is a big deal.
We believe that all 50 States and Washington, DC, should join us in supporting these great veterans. And frankly, some of the States didn't know about it. They heard about it today, and they're all—I think they're all going to be signing up.
Data shows that truck drivers who are veterans account for 42-percent fewer accidents.
Think of that. Forty-two percent. And that number, they say, is a very minimal number, even as they drive the double—double the number of miles of nonveteran drivers.
So, to end this very simply, the radical left wants more jobs for illegal aliens and more migrants in 18-wheelers, and Trump administration wants safer roads and more jobs for the American veteran.
Now, I'd like to ask a man who's done a fantastic job on this subject and many others, Secretary Duffy, to say a few words; followed by Secretary Collins; Nathan; and a great veteran truck driver, Ricky Washington.
And I'll just stand here and watch. [Laughter] Thank you very much. Sean, go ahead. Thank you.
Secretary Duffy. So thank you, Mr. President.
And to underscore your point, President Biden let in millions of illegals into this country, and he thought it would be a good idea that when they come in, they get a job, and they get a job driving a commercial motor vehicle. They didn't have the training. They didn't have the skill. We didn't do background checks in the last administration, so they could have had a mile-long rap sheet of crimes or drunk driving or speeding violations, but we didn't know who they were.
And we saw that when those illegals were driving these big rigs, they were killing American citizens. You're a family that was on the way to Walmart or you're going to church on a Sunday, you could lose your life on an American road.
So, because of the President's initiative, he signed an Executive order over a year ago. It was the "Commonsense Rules of the Road," and since you signed that Executive order, we all have been working overtime to make sure we take illegals off American roads and we give those jobs to great Americans, including great American veterans.
So——
Audience member. Yes!
Secretary Duffy. That's right.
These are great-paying jobs. They're anywhere from 80- to 100,000-plus dollars a year. And it's important, because you have men and women who drove big rigs in the military who would then get out and have to go through monthslong training for their skills and their knowledge test to drive this vehicle over here.
Well, if Secretary Pete Hegseth thinks that you can drive a vehicle like this, Donald Trump and Sean Duffy think that you can drive a vehicle like that.
So we have—illegals are out; American patriots are in, in this administration.
We've had more people, trucking companies call us and try to find: How do I hire more veterans? How do I bring the men—the great men and women who serve this country, how do I bring them into my—to my company?
So you can go to FreedomHaulers.DOT.gov to get more information. But we are clearing the deck for you to get a great job in trucking.
Mr. President, there's a lot of things that the radical left, as you mentioned, get angry about because they're radical. But safety for the American citizenry is bipartisan. This is not a political issue. This is an American issue.
Let's make sure American roads are safe. Let's make sure we put great patriots who serve this country on American roads, well trained, with great skills.
And I think this is one of the great legacies of your administration. I am grateful for your leadership, putting America first, American veterans first, American roads first over the illegals who the last administration prioritized. It has been just an honor to work with you.
And—to me, he's—a master class. To see how this President operates, to watch him and learn from him is amazing. So thank you. I appreciate it, Mr. President.
Secretary of Veterans Affairs Douglas A. Collins. Thank you, Sean.
And, Mr. President, I can't think of anything else that says "freedom" more in our country than an open-road truck and a veteran. Because you have veterans—they said one thing. When they raised their right hand, they pledged what others would not do. They said, "I will go and do what others will not do." And it is this country.
When you told me—and I asked you that question. I said, "Mr. President, what do you want me to do?" He said, "Just take care of my veterans." So, every day, now, since the last year and a half, veterans at the VA are first and only in what we do.
[Secretary Collins continued his remarks, concluding as follows.]
But I'm here to also tell you, you can't do it without a President who doesn't look at what can't be, he looks at what can be. And Donald Trump has said, when it comes to transportation and safety and keeping illegals off the road, but also putting our veterans first—you have a President who not only says it, but he does it, and we're here today to prove it.
God bless you.
The President. Thank you. Very good.
Werner Enterprises President and Chief Legal Officer Nathan J. Meisgeier. I would like to thank President Trump for inviting us all here today. It is a profound honor to stand with you here at the White House along with the brave veterans, the military leaders, and Cabinet members in the same month that we celebrated the 250th anniversary of our great country.
If I could take a moment, for those of you that are out of camera and facing this way, there are hundreds of veterans here today. And I feel like we owe it to the veterans who have sacrificed—the saying is that "all gave some and some gave all," and I would like to take a moment to—for all of us to thank the people behind the camera and the men here for their service.
As President Trump said, I am Nathan Meisgeier. I'm the president of Werner Enterprises. Werner is one of the—America's largest, safest, and most successful transportation companies. This year, Werner proudly celebrates seven decades of keeping the American economy moving. And, after all, 75 percent of all freight in America moves by a truck.
At Werner, 15 percent of our 14,000 associates nationwide are veterans and military spouses—a statistic that we're proud of. Today I am proud to announce a new strategic initiative for our company. In tandem with the Trump administration's Freedom Haulers program, Werner Enterprises is officially committing to hire 1,400 veterans in the coming year.
The President. Great. That's great. That's great.
Mr. Meisgeier. This administration's Freedom Haulers campaign will have a direct and powerful impact on our ability to bring even more veterans into our workforce and into this great trucking economy, cutting through red tape and translating a veteran's military driving experience directly into a civilian commercial driver's license.
Veterans at Werner often move up the ranks into roles as driver leaders, and many serve as premier road team captains, mentoring the next generation of drivers and representing the absolute best of American trucking.
We should all commit to ensure that every veteran returning home is met not just with handshakes and hugs and applause, but real opportunities to lead, drive, and succeed.
Thank you again to President Trump and all of the members of the Trump administration who support our heroes and these pro-veteran initiatives.
May God bless our veterans, may God bless our leaders, and may God bless America. Thank
you.

The President. Thank you. Great job. Thank you very much.
Army veteran and Werner Enterprises truck driver Ricky Washington. My fellow Americans,
Mr. President, and distinguished guests. It is an honor to stand with you today.
For 30 years of service, I had the privilege of wearing the uniform of the United States Army and the Army National Guard. Like so many who have answered the call, my service took me through moments of hardships and sacrifices. I reflect on which I carry with me every day.
Serving this Nation was an honor, but when the time came to take a uniform off, I faced the question veterans confront: How do I continue serving? For me, the answer was on the open road.
Transition from military life behind the wheel of a commercial truck has brought a renewed sense of mission for me. Veterans make exceptional truck drivers because they have—the core values of the military aligned seamlessly with the trucking industry. We're disciplined, we are vigilant, we're adaptable, and with unwaverable commitment to getting the job done safely and on time.
Audience member. Yes!
Audience member. And patriotism!
Mr. Washington. Hooah!
The trucking industry is more than just a sector of our economy; it is its backbone of our commerce. It is a place where service members, veterans, military spouse can find a purpose, a community, and a way to continue keeping our great nation moving forward.
Thank you, Mr. President. God bless our servicemembers and their family. And God bless the United States of America.
The President. Good job.
Anybody like to say anything? [Laughter] No?
I just want to thank everybody for being here. This is going to be a big day for our wonderful patriots, our great veterans. They're going to produce like nobody else can produce.
And thank you very much.
[The President addressed Mr. Meisgeier.]
And I want to thank you and especially all those people you're going to be hiring. But I know a lot of your competitors are also doing the same thing. [Laughter] So it's going to be really fantastic.
Sean, thank you.
Thank you, Doug.
Thank you, everybody, for the job you've done, very much. Bye. Thank you.
NOTE: The President spoke at 1:31 p.m. on West Executive Avenue at the White House. In his remarks, he referred to referred to musician Lee Greenwood; Harjinder Singh, a commercial truck driver who was arrested in connection with a fatal traffic accident near Fort Pierce, FL, on August 12; and Michael Bon, a commercial truck driver who was arrested in connection with a fatal traffic accident in Cass Township, PA, on July 1.
Categories: Addresses and Remarks : Freedom Haulers initiative. Locations: Washington, DC.
Names: Ackerman, Doug; Biden, Joseph R., Jr.; Bon, Michael; Collins, Douglas A.; Duffy, Sean P.; Greenwood, Lee; Meisgeier, Nathan J; Shipley, Paul; Singh, Harjinder; Sonderling, Keith; Washington, Ricky.
Subjects: Acting Secretary of Labor; Border security; Department of Transportation, Freedom Haulers initiative; Illegal immigration; News media, fairness and accuracy; Secretary of Transportation; Secretary of Veterans Affairs; Veterans, service and dedication.
DCPD Number: DCPD202600505.