Bulk sector backs Trump’s ‘Freedom Haulers’ initiative

NTTC and ATA join federal leaders at the White House to promote a national push connecting military veterans with commercial driver opportunities, offering expanded CDL waivers and tuition coverage.

Key Highlights

  • The 'Freedom Haulers' campaign aims to fast-track military veterans into the trucking industry with streamlined licensing and training support.
  • Industry leaders emphasize the natural fit between military skills and the safety-critical demands of tank trucking.
  • Veterans are eligible for up to 100% tuition coverage for CDL training using post-9/11 GI Bill benefits.

The tanker industry is throwing its considerable weight behind the “Freedom Haulers” campaign—a newly unveiled Trump administration initiative to fast-track military veterans into the commercial trucking workforce.

National Tank Truck Carriers, led by NTTC President and CEO Ryan Streblow and NTTC Chairman Jeremy Mairs, represented bulk haulers in the July 30 kickoff event at the White House, emphasizing the natural fit between military service and the exacting safety demands of driving a tank truck. NTTC Advocacy Chairman Hans Schaupp, G&D Trucking/Hoffman Transportation owner Kevin Hoffman, and Bruce Jones—a military veteran who also is NTTC’s current Professional Tank Truck Driver of the Year—joined them in Washington.

Together, they noted the industry’s support is rooted in a shared commitment to strengthening the workforce, pointing to President Trump’s statement that veterans are 42% less likely to be involved in motor vehicle accidents.

“American military personnel serve our country with honor, discipline, and service,” Streblow said in a LinkedIn post. “They are ideal candidates for trucking careers, particularly for tankers that require skill and talent to operate safely. We have an obligation to take care of those who have taken care of us, and that starts with military personnel. When we place veterans in the tank truck industry, we all win.”

ATA supports streamlined licensing

American Trucking Associations also indicated its support for the effort. Under the Freedom Haulers program, veterans will be eligible for expedited commercial driver’s licenses for up to 24 months after active-duty service, extending the previous 12-month waiver window. The policy changes also expand access to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s Even Exchange program across 34 states and offer CDL training for service members without prior heavy-duty driving experience.

“For generations, veterans have played a vital role in keeping America moving,” ATA President and CEO Chris Spear said in a news release. “The skills developed in military service—leadership, discipline, adaptability, teamwork, and a mission-focused mindset—are the same qualities that define successful trucking professionals. Freedom Haulers recognizes that connection and seeks to create a stronger bridge between military service and trucking careers.”

Jason McDaniel | Bulk Transporter
G&D Trucking/Hoffman Transportation Vice President Jordan Hoffman, at right, congratulates Bruce Jones for earning the Illinois Trucking Association's 2024 Driver of the Year award last year at G&D/Hoffman's annual employee appreciation event.

Federal resources and financial incentives

Led by the White House in collaboration with the U.S. Departments of Transportation, Veterans Affairs, and Labor, the campaign aims to supercharge the veteran-to-trucker pipeline. According to the newly launched Freedom Haulers website, the program offers up to 100% tuition coverage for approved CDL training using standard post-9/11 GI Bill benefits. The site also points out that average annual earnings for truckers under the administration have reached $70,000, and that 25% of all military veterans are already employed as truckers.

FMCSA leadership weighs in

FMCSA Administrator Derek D. Barrs emphasized the personal and operational significance of bringing former service members into the commercial fleet.

“Having spent 35 years in law enforcement and raising an active-duty soldier, this mission is personal,” Barrs said in a White House release. “Veterans embody the exact duty, grit, and precision this essential industry relies on. Through Freedom Haulers, we’re welcoming our military heroes behind the wheel to secure our roads and strengthen the backbone of our economy.”

About the Author

Jason McDaniel

Jason McDaniel, based in the Houston TX area, has more than 20 years of experience as an award-winning journalist. He spent 15 writing and editing for daily newspapers, including the Houston Chronicle, and began covering the commercial vehicle industry in 2018. He was named editor of Bulk Transporter and Refrigerated Transporter magazines in July 2020.

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