The White House is launching a new "Freedom Haulers" initiative aimed at fast-tracking commercial driving licences (CDLs) for military veterans, framed as a response to a wave of fatal truck crashes involving illegal immigrant drivers. The scheme comes amid a joint Department of Homeland Security and Department of Transportation investigation into truck driver training schools accused of issuing fraudulent certifications and falsified records, including CDLs granted to non-citizens. The administration is presenting the programme as both a road-safety measure and an opportunity for veterans seeking civilian careers.

The DHS-DOT probe is specifically examining improper certification practices at trucking schools, with officials citing concerns that lax oversight has allowed unqualified or ineligible drivers onto US roads. The article, sourced from Fox News, does not provide further specifics on funding, timelines or the scale of the veteran fast-track programme, noting only that Donald Trump was due to unveil it on the Thursday following publication.