Badlands Media - Badlands Media Special Coverage: 7/30/26 - Trump Launches Freedom Haulers Initiative for Veterans

Episode Date: July 30, 2026

Trump gathers veterans, cabinet officials, and trucking executives at the White House to unveil the Freedom Haulers Initiative, a plan built around a simple pitch: illegal aliens out from behind the wheel, American veterans in. Expect striking numbers on non English speaking drivers pulled off the road, thousands of unlawfully issued commercial licenses cancelled, and a genuinely emotional lineup of veterans and their advocates explaining why military driving experience should translate directly into trucking careers. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and VA Secretary Doug Collins detail how the GI Bill and expedited licensing will smooth the path, a Werner Enterprises executive announces a major veteran hiring commitment, and a 30 year Army veteran shares his own transition story from service to the open road. It's part safety policy rollout, part tribute to veterans, with plenty of trucking industry statistics and a genuinely warm, ceremonial tone throughout.

The badlands, run of the badlands, explain those badlands. That's a hell of a name. 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 replaced them with proud American veterans. And it's about time.

I want to thank Secretary of Transportation. Sean Duffy is doing a fantastic job. Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Doug Collins, likewise really doing a good job. 92% approval, that's not bad, Doug. You'll get it up a little bit. Acting Secretary of Labor, Keith Sondeling, and along with President of Werner Enterprises,

Nathan Meysker, thank you very much, Nathan, and representatives from the American truck industry. They're all behind this 100%. I'm behind it 100%. We've got to stop it. It's a day you see another story. We're not going to let that happen. That won't happen with our great vets.

But above all, thank you to the amazing veterans 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 MVETS.

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 Senese Foundation, Vietnam Veterans of America, and Paralyzed Veterans of America. We thank you all and thank you all for being with. That's very special.

Thank you, everybody. For many years, American highways and roadways have been terrorized by unqualified illegal aliens dangerously driving big rigs. Rigs like that. You've got to know something to drive. Wow, that sucker is a big one. That's big stuff. But they're, you have to have a knowledge.

You have to have a talent for it. And these people don't have that. They're driving big rigs, semi-trucks, 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, 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, Pennsylvania State Trooper was killed by an illegal alien from Haiti driving a semi-truck. He was led in by Joe Biden and the open border policy of the country. 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 borders. Zero. The 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 drivers' licenses unlawfully issued to illegal aliens. 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 brand new Freedom Hallers, we call it Freedom Hallers, 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 to any veteran with a heavy vehicle experience from the military will now be eligible to skip redundant road test to obtain a commercial driver's licenses. We're going to make it as easy as possible for the veterans within two 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 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.

They're going to take about three or four weeks of training. 34 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 in Washington, D.C. 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% fewer accidents. Think of that, 42%. And that number, they say, is a very minimal number, even as they drive the double the number of miles of non-veteran drivers. So to end this, very simply, the Radical F wants more jobs for illegal aliens and more migrants and 18-wheeler's and Trump administration want 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 Duffin, you 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. Thank you very much. Sean, go ahead. So thank you, Mr. President. And to underscore your point, President Biden led 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 common sense rules of the road.

And since you signed that executive order, we all have been working overtime to make sure we take illegals off of the road. American roads and we give those jobs to great Americans, including great American veterans. So that's right. These these these are great paying jobs. They're anywhere from 80 to a hundred thousand 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 a month's long training for their skills and their knowledge test to drive this. vehicle over here. Well, the Secretary Pete Hegeseth 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 company? So you can go to freedom haulers.do.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 citizens, 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 is 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. Thank you, Johnny, 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. Brother, 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. And this, so when Sean and all, we heard about this, when we started looking at this,

some things that we have done, Ms. President, you're behind this and working to get veterans on the road. I can't think of anything more American. I can't think of anything that puts us first instead of the illegals who want to come take jobs. Let's put veterans in the seats, making jobs safer and better for all. for all Americans as we go along,

because veterans, look, you prove once you can do it. I know for a fact you can do it every single day. As we look at this, some of the questions that come, the Wild West is over, so what do we do? How do we get our veterans into this? Well, one of the things that I want to emphasize is, is that we're now not only taking you as veteran the GI Bill is going to be able to pay for this,

you're going to be able to actually get and use the money to go get your CDL license. You're able to get this, and we're going to make it a lot easier and a lot quicker. Like I said, for those of us who have Road in these, this will be a thrill. So we do that, we're gonna use the GI Bill. The DoL Act also did something is really important.

That was the CDL programs. It used to take almost two years to get in. We're now waiving that to where the CDL and disability, service-connected disabilities can get in that instead of having to wait the two years. So we're actually putting into place what is already there and saying, you know what? We're gonna make it easier for our veterans to do this.

Our VR and E programs are already ready to train veterans to go take these jobs as we go forward. But as we go forward, let me just emphasize one thing already, Mr. President. One in ten of our truck drivers across the country are veterans already. One in ten. Why don't we make it two in ten? Why don't make it three in ten? For those who want to get out and serve this country,

who want to be the leaders and be the safety experts who drove these to drive these will drive us as Americans in the future. We couldn't do this without a great partnership with the Cabinet and our partners in the business community as we go forward. 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. 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 two years, 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 for all of us to thank the people behind the camera and the man here for their service. As President Trump said, I am Nathan Meiskeyer. I'm the president of Werner Enterprises. Werner is one of America's largest, safest,

and most successful transportation companies. This year, Warner proudly celebrates seven decades of keeping the American economy moving. And after all, 75% of all freight in America moves by a truck. At Warner, 15% 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 Hallers program, Werner Enterprises is officially committing to hire 1,400 veterans in the coming year. This administration's Freedom Hallers 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. My fellow Americans, Mr. President, and distinguished guests, is it an honor to stand with you today? For 30 years of service, I have the privilege to wearing a uniform of the United States Army and the Army National Guard. Like so many will answer the call. My service took me through moments of hardships and sacrifice.

I reflect on which I carry with me every day. Servant 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 for 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 have vigilant, we're adaptable, and with unwaverable commitment to getting the job done, safely and on time. The trucking industry is more than just the 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 service members and the family, and God bless the United States of America. 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. And I want to thank you and especially all those people you're going to be hiring. I know a lot of your competitors are also doing the same thing. 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.

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