Washington, D.C.: The administration of US President Donald Trump has revoked the commercial driver’s licences (CDLs) of more than 28,000 immigrant truck drivers as part of a sweeping enforcement campaign aimed at tightening regulations in the country’s trucking industry. Simultaneously, the administration has launched the “Freedom Haulers” initiative, a program designed to fast-track military veterans into commercial trucking jobs to address the resulting shortage of drivers.
According to a statement issued by the US administration, the licences of approximately 24,000 non-citizen commercial drivers were cancelled because they allegedly failed to meet the country’s English language proficiency requirements. Officials stated that these drivers were unable to adequately speak or read English, a mandatory qualification under existing federal transportation regulations for commercial vehicle operators.
The administration also announced that it had worked with individual states to shut down around 9,500 driving schools that were allegedly responsible for training and certifying drivers who did not satisfy the required standards.
The decision is expected to significantly affect the American trucking industry by creating a shortage of nearly 30,000 drivers responsible for transporting goods across the country. Industry observers believe the reduced workforce could increase pressure on freight movement and supply chains until replacement drivers are recruited.
The move is likely to have a notable impact on the Indian immigrant community in the United States, particularly truck drivers from Punjab and Haryana. According to figures cited by The Indian Express from the North American Punjabi Truckers Association, an estimated 130,000 to 150,000 truck drivers in the US trace their origins directly to these two Indian states, making them one of the largest immigrant groups employed in the sector.
The latest crackdown forms part of a broader enforcement campaign that intensified following a fatal road accident in Florida in August 2025. According to US authorities, a truck driver from India allegedly performed an illegal U-turn, resulting in a crash that claimed three lives. Following the incident, the US Department of Transportation began stricter enforcement of long-standing English language requirements for commercial drivers.
US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy argued that the driver involved in the Florida crash should never have been issued a commercial licence, citing inadequate compliance with licensing standards. Since the enhanced enforcement began, officials say approximately 26,000 commercial drivers have already been removed from service for failing to demonstrate sufficient English proficiency.
The federal government has also sought to pressure states into revoking additional licences by threatening to withhold millions of dollars in highway funding from California and New York over alleged non-compliance. The dispute has since reached the courts, while several other states, including Pennsylvania, Minnesota and North Carolina, have reportedly received warnings that they could also face funding cuts if they fail to comply with federal directives.
To fill the emerging labour gap, the Trump administration has introduced the “Freedom Haulers” campaign. The initiative allows military veterans who have experience operating large military vehicles to bypass the standard commercial driving skills test when applying for a CDL, enabling them to enter the trucking workforce more quickly.
The campaign was formally launched at the White House in the presence of President Donald Trump, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, Veterans Affairs Secretary Douglas A. Collins and Acting Labour Secretary Keith Sonderling.
In a statement, the Department of Transportation said the initiative builds upon the administration’s efforts to improve road safety, strengthen enforcement against unsafe drivers and create employment opportunities for American veterans. Secretary Duffy said that veterans possess the discipline, experience and skills required for commercial trucking and that the program would help them obtain licences faster and begin earning incomes in a shorter period.
