Veterans and truck drivers praise Freedom Haulers Initiative as a pathway into trucking

Speakers at an event celebrating the Freedom Haulers Initiative said the program will make it easier for veterans to transition from military service into the trucking industry and could improve roadway safety. A UPS employee who served six years in the Maryland Army National Guard (Speaker 2) told the audience the skills veterans learn driving military vehicles translate to civilian trucking and thanked President Trump for the initiative.

Speakers framed the initiative around two goals: increasing veterans' employability and improving highway safety by removing unsafe drivers, then hiring veterans in their place. "This really addresses 2 critical issues in trucking," said Speaker 3. At least two veterans recounted long driving careers and expressed optimism that the program will connect them to high‑paying work; one recounted the president saying, "just take care of my veterans," and described how veterans are being prioritized by the VA, according to the speaker.