President Donald Trump announced plans to curtail the use of immigrant truck drivers in favor of veterans. Speaking at a military investment summit in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, Trump highlighted that veterans will be trained for truck driving roles currently filled by unauthorized immigrants. He asserted, without evidence, that these drivers are responsible for causing numerous accidents.
Trump stated, “We are going to take our veterans; we’re going to teach them a lot about driving trucks,” suggesting a preference for those who have served in the military to obtain commercial driving licenses.
His administration has initiated steps to limit commercial licenses for immigrants, including legal residents. In March, approximately 200,000 immigrant drivers with legal work status in the U.S. lost their licenses due to these measures.
An executive order from April 2025 instructed the Transportation Department to enforce an English language requirement for commercial drivers. It also prompted a review of licenses held by foreign citizens with work authorization.
Trump reiterated claims that immigrant drivers contribute to accidents and have issues with road sign comprehension and drug use. No comprehensive study currently supports these claims.
To legally operate commercial trucks in the U.S., foreign nationals must have valid work authorization and meet all the same driving school and testing requirements as other drivers.
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