The US government has revoked commercial truck driver licenses (CDLs) of approximately 28,000 non-citizen drivers as part of a new initiative to replace them with military veterans. Announced last week and confirmed by White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt on Tuesday, the program aims to facilitate veterans in obtaining CDLs without the usual skill tests, accelerating their entry into the trucking workforce, according to livemint.com.
The initiative was launched to address workforce shortages in the trucking industry by prioritizing US military veterans for commercial driving roles. The program removes licensing barriers for veterans, allowing them to obtain CDLs more quickly compared to traditional applicants. The trucking industry has welcomed the changes, viewing the move as a way to bolster the driver pool with trained and disciplined personnel, livemint.com reported.
This policy shift comes amid ongoing concerns about labor shortages in the US trucking sector, which is critical for supply chains and goods transportation. By revoking licenses from non-citizens and promoting veterans, the administration is emphasizing national security and employment for service members. The move also reflects broader immigration enforcement trends affecting the trucking workforce, as documented by livemint.com.
The program's rollout began last week, with the White House confirming the revocation of 28,000 non-citizen CDLs and the streamlined licensing process for veterans. The next phase will focus on integrating veterans into trucking roles across the country, with the administration monitoring the impact on industry staffing levels, according to livemint.com.