President Trump Advocates Replacing Immigrant Truck Drivers with Veterans

Crackdown on Immigrant Truck Drivers

President Trump expressed intentions to limit commercial licenses for immigrant drivers in the United States, including those who are legally residing in the country. He attributed truck crashes to these drivers.

Recruitment of Veterans

During a panel at a military investment summit in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, Trump shared plans to crack down on unauthorized immigrant truck drivers and proposed employing veterans instead. He stated that veterans would receive training on driving trucks, aiming to replace drivers lacking legal immigration status.

Eligibility Criteria

The president assured that any American who has experience driving heavy trucks for the military would automatically qualify for a commercial driver’s license. However, he did not elaborate further on the proposal specifics.

Policy Changes and Impact

The initiative reflects a broader strategy by the administration to restrict commercial licenses for immigrants, including legal residents. In March, nearly 200,000 immigrant drivers with authorization lost their licenses.

An executive order from April 2025 mandated the Transportation Department to enforce an English language requirement for commercial drivers and reassess licenses of foreign citizens authorized to work in the U.S.

Claims Without Evidence

Trump attributed semi-truck crashes to immigrant drivers, despite a lack of comprehensive studies verifying the involvement of immigrant drivers in such accidents. He reiterated on Wednesday that many immigrant drivers lack road sign reading abilities and misuse drugs. Foreign nationals authorized to work in the U.S. must meet the same standards as others, such as completing driving schools and passing tests, to drive commercial trucks.