Trump Proposes Replacing Immigrant Truck Drivers with Veterans

President Trump announced a plan to replace unauthorized immigrant truck drivers in the United States with military veterans. Speaking at a military investment summit in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, on Wednesday, he claimed immigrant drivers without legal status were responsible for many road accidents, although he did not provide supporting evidence.

Trump stated, “We are going to take our veterans; we’re going to teach them a lot about driving trucks.” He proposed that any American who has driven a heavy truck for the military should automatically qualify for a commercial driver’s license, but he did not give further details on how this initiative would be implemented.

This announcement is part of a larger move by Trump’s administration aimed at reducing commercial licenses for immigrants, including those legally residing in the country. Earlier this year, in March, around 200,000 immigrant drivers lost their licenses despite having the authorization to live and work in the United States.

In April 2025, an executive order was issued targeting commercial drivers. It mandated the Department of Transportation to enforce an English language requirement and review the licenses of authorized foreign workers in the trucking industry. Trump has consistently blamed collisions involving semi-trucks on immigrant drivers, alleging they struggle with reading road signs and substance abuse issues. These claims lack comprehensive study or evidence to support them.

To legally operate commercial trucks in the United States, foreign nationals with work authorization must undergo the same training and testing as any domestic driver.