Trump speech announces 'Freedom Haulers' initiative for military veteran trucking jobs

[0:00] her still today because there ain't no doubt i love this land god bless the usa nice song we thank lee [0:16] right lee has been with us from the beginning so it's great and thank you all for being here as we [0:23] take action to get illegal alien truck drivers off the american roadways we're doing a very strong [0:29] movement and we have had such support for this and replace them with proud american veterans [0:37] and it's about time i want to thank secretary of transportation sean duffy is doing a fantastic job [0:47] secretary of veterans affairs doug collins likewise really doing a good job 92 percent [0:53] approval that's not bad doug you'll get it up a little bit acting secretary of labor keith [0:59] sonderling and along with president of werner enterprises nathan my scar thank you very much [1:07] nathan and representatives from the american trucking association and the owner operators independent [1:13] drivers association they're all behind this 100 i'm behind it 100 we got to stop it it's dangerous [1:21] it's horrible what's happening every day you see another story we're not going to let that happen [1:25] that won't happen with our great vets but above all thank you to the amazing veterans with the [1:31] uh with with us i mean they've just been with us from the day they were born i suspect they're great [1:37] patriots and we love them and we want to thank ups fedex and werner for the job they've done thanks as [1:45] well to the national commander of mvets paul shipley chief operating officer of the independence fund [1:54] doug ackerman and the great patriots from the wounded warrior project american legion blue star families [2:02] gary sinise foundation vietnam veterans of america and paralyzed veterans of america we thank you all [2:09] and thank you all for being with us very special thank you thank you everybody for many years american [2:17] highways and roadways have been terrorized by unqualified illegal aliens dangerously driving big rigs rigs like [2:25] that you got to know something to drive wow that sucker is a big one that's big stuff but they're uh [2:33] you gotta you have you have to have a knowledge you have to have a talent for it and these people don't [2:38] have that they are driving big rigs semi trucks and tractor trailers all because radical left maniacs [2:45] at the state level have issued them commercial driver's licenses even though they're not entitled to [2:51] have them they don't speak the language for the most part many of these illegal aliens don't even [2:58] come close they don't want to learn the language they don't care about the language and they don't [3:02] speak it they don't speak english they cannot read basic road signs in many cases they've engaged in [3:09] reckless driving that has caused many many preventable deaths many too many to even talk about [3:16] last august three innocent people were killed in florida when an illegal alien from india [3:22] made an unlawful u-turn blocking all the lanes of the highway and causing a catastrophic crash it was [3:29] a disaster just a few weeks ago a pennsylvania state trooper was killed by an illegal alien from [3:36] haiti driving a semi truck he was led in by joe biden in the open border policy of the biden [3:42] administration by the way today we have the safest border in the history of our country and i don't [3:52] even say this usually but for the last 14 months because it's almost unbelievable to say but the [3:59] media will correct me if i give anything that's even slightly off as of 14 months in the last 14 [4:05] months zero illegal aliens were able to come through our southern border zero the last year alone [4:16] illegal aliens with commercial driver's licenses caused at least 30 deaths and many many very [4:22] seriously injured as president i made it our official policy to enforce english language requirements for [4:30] truck drivers and support american truckers on american roadways we've already removed more than 24 000 [4:39] non-english speakers from behind the wheel we've also forced states to cancel more than 28 000 [4:45] commercial drivers licenses unlawfully issued to illegal aliens they were they were given illegally [4:54] as we get illegal aliens off the roads today we're also taking action to replace these unqualified [5:00] migrant truck drivers with highly qualified american veterans under our brand new freedom haulers we call [5:14] it freedom haulers initiative any american who has driven a heavy truck for our military will [5:20] automatically be eligible for a commercial driver's license and it's good paying jobs to any veteran [5:28] with a heavy vehicle experience from the military will now be eligible to skip redundant road tests to [5:35] obtain a commercial driver's licenses we're going to make it as easy as possible for the veterans within [5:41] two years following their active duty service and for the veterans where no truck where you have a [5:47] a situation where you have not truck drivers in the military where you don't have truck drivers [5:54] they're going to be given a very quick pass we're going to teach them they're going to learn if they [5:59] didn't drive a truck in the military but we're in they're going to learn and they're going to learn very [6:03] quickly and they'll be licensed in a matter of a few weeks i think it is they're going to take about [6:09] three or four weeks of training 34 states have joined this initiative including indiana wyoming louisiana [6:17] arkansas alabama florida and maryland are joining us just today of many of the representatives and [6:24] leaders from the states are with us it's actually a very big deal this is a big deal we believe that [6:30] all 50 states in washington dc should join us in supporting these great veterans and frankly some of [6:38] the states didn't know about it they heard about it today and they're all i think they're all going [6:42] to be signing up data shows that truck drivers who are veterans account for 42 percent fewer accidents [6:49] think of that 42 percent and that number they say is a very minimal number even as they drive the double [6:57] double the number of miles of non-veteran drivers so to end this very simply the radical f wants more [7:06] jobs for illegal aliens and more migrants and 18 wheelers and trump administration wants safer roads [7:14] and more jobs for the american veteran now i'd like to ask a man who's done a fantastic job on this [7:21] subject and many others secretary duffett you say a few words followed by secretary collins nathan [7:27] and a great veteran truck driver ricky washington and i'll just stand here and watch thank you very much [7:34] sean go ahead so thank you mr president and uh to underscore your point uh president biden let in [7:45] millions of illegals into this country and he thought it would be a good good idea that when they come in [7:52] they get a job and they get a job driving a commercial motor vehicle they didn't have the training they [7:58] didn't have the skill we didn't do background checks in the last administration so they could have had a [8:04] a mile-long rap sheet of crimes or drunk driving or speeding violations but we didn't know who they [8:11] were and we saw that when those illegals were driving these big rigs they were killing american [8:17] citizens uh you're a family that was on the way to walmart or you're going to church on a sunday [8:23] you could lose your life on an american road so uh because of uh the president's initiative he signed [8:30] an executive order over a year ago it was the common sense rules of the road and uh since you [8:36] signed that executive order we all have been working overtime to make sure we take illegals [8:41] off american roads and we give those jobs to great americans including great american veterans so that's [8:49] right these these these are great paying jobs they're anywhere from 80 to a hundred thousand plus [9:01] dollars a year and it's important because you have men and women who drove big rigs in the military [9:08] who would then get out and have to go through uh months long training for their skills and their [9:15] knowledge test to drive this vehicle over here well if secretary pete hegsath thinks that you can [9:21] drive a vehicle like this uh donald trump and sean duffy think that you can drive a vehicle like that [9:27] so so so we have uh illegals are out american patriots are in in this administration we've had more [9:40] people uh trucking companies call us and try to find how do i hire more veterans how do i bring the [9:48] men the great men and women who serve this country how do i bring them into my uh to my company so you [9:55] can go to freedomhaulers dot dot dot gov uh to uh get more information but uh we are we are clearing the [10:04] deck for you to get a a great job a job in trucking mr president uh there's a lot of things that the [10:12] radical left as you mentioned get angry about because they're radical but safety for the american [10:18] citizenry is bipartisan this this is not a political issue this is an american issue let's make sure [10:26] american roads are safe let's make sure we put great patriots who serve this country on american [10:32] roads well trained with great skills and i think this is one of the great legacies of your administration [10:38] i am grateful for your leadership putting america first american veterans first american roads first [10:44] over the illegals uh who the last administration prioritized uh it has been uh just an honor uh to [10:50] work with you and to me he's a he's a master class to see how this president operates uh to watch him [10:57] and learn from him uh is amazing so thank you i appreciate it thank you johnny mr president i can't [11:08] think of anything else that says freedom more in our country than an open road truck and a veteran [11:15] because you have veterans they said one thing when they raised their right hand they pledged what others [11:19] 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 [11:25] i asked you that question i said mr brother what do you want me to do he said just take care of my [11:28] veterans so every day now since the last year and a half veterans at the va are first and only in what [11:35] we do and this so when sean and i we heard about this we started looking at this some things that we [11:44] have done mr president you're behind this and working to get veterans on the road i can't think of [11:48] anything more american i can't think of anything that puts us first instead of the illegals who want to [11:53] come take jobs let's put veterans in the seats making jobs safer and better for all americans as we go [11:59] along because veterans look you prove once you can do it i know for a fact you can do it every single [12:05] day as we look at this some of the questions has come the wild west is over so what do we do how do [12:11] we get our veterans into this well one of the things that i want to emphasize is is that we're now not [12:15] only taking you as veteran the gi bill is going to be able to pay for this you're going to be able to [12:19] actually get and use the money to go get your cdl license you're able to get this and we're going to [12:24] make it a lot easier and a lot quicker like i said for those of us who rode in these this will be a thrill [12:32] so we do that we're going to use the gi bill the dole act also did something that's really important [12:36] that was the cdl programs it used to take almost two years to get in we're now waving that where the [12:41] cdl and disability service connected disabilities can get in that instead of having to wait the two [12:46] years so we're actually putting into place what is already there and saying you know what we're going [12:50] to make it easier for our veterans to do this our vr and e programs are already ready to train [12:54] veterans to go take these jobs as we go forward but as we go forward let me just emphasize one [12:59] thing already mr president one in ten of our truck drivers across the country are veterans already [13:04] one in ten why don't we make it two in ten why don't we make it three in ten for those who want to [13:09] get out and serve this country who want to be the leaders and be the safety experts who drove these to [13:15] drive these will drive us as americans in the future we couldn't do this without a great partnership [13:21] with the cabinet and our partners in the business community as we go forward but i'm here to also [13:25] tell you you can't do it without a president who doesn't look at what can't be he looks at what can [13:31] be and donald trump has said when it comes to transportation and safety and keeping illegals [13:35] off the road but also putting our veterans first you have a president who not only says it [13:40] but he does it and we're here today to prove it god bless you i would like to thank president [13:51] trump for inviting us all here today it is a profound honor to stand with you here at the white house [13:57] along with the brave veterans the military leaders and cabinet members in the same month that we [14:03] celebrated the 250th anniversary of our great country if i could take a moment for those of you [14:08] that are at a camera and facing this way there are hundreds of veterans here today and i feel like [14:15] we owe it to the veterans who have sacrificed the saying is that all gave some and some gave all and [14:20] i would like to take a moment to for all of us to thank the people behind the camera and the men [14:25] here for their service as president trump said i am nathan meisgaier i'm the president of warner [14:38] enterprises warner is one of the america's largest safest and most successful transportation companies [14:45] this year warner proudly celebrates seven decades of keeping the american economy moving and after all [14:51] 75 percent of all freight in america moves by a truck at warner 15 percent of our 14 000 associates [14:59] nationwide are veterans and military spouses a statistic that we're proud of today i am proud to [15:09] announce a new strategic initiative for our company in tandem with the trump administration's freedom [15:15] haulers program warner enterprises is officially committing to hire 1400 veterans in the coming year [15:29] this administration's freedom haulers campaign will have a direct and powerful impact on our ability [15:35] to bring even more veterans into our workforce and into this great trucking economy cutting through red [15:41] tape and translating a veteran's military driving experience directly into a civilian commercial [15:46] driver's license veterans at warner often move up the ranks into roles as driver leaders [15:52] and many serve as premier road team captains mentoring the next generation of drivers [15:57] and representing the absolute best of american trucking we should all commit to ensure that every [16:04] veteran returning home is met not just with handshakes and hugs and applause but real opportunities [16:11] to lead drive and succeed thank you again to president trump and all of the members of the trump [16:17] administration who support our heroes and these pro-veteran initiatives may god bless our veterans [16:24] may god bless our leaders and may god bless america thank you my fellow americans mr president and [16:37] distinguished guests is it an honor to stand with you today for 30 years of service i have the privilege [16:43] of wearing the uniform of the united states army and the army national guard like so many who've answered [16:48] the call my service took me through moments of hardships and sacrifices i reflect on which i carry with [16:55] me every day serving this nation was an honor but when the time came to take the uniform off [17:01] i face the question veterans confront how do i continue serving for me the answer was on the open road [17:10] transition from military life behind the wheel of a commercial truck has brought a renewed sense of [17:16] mission for me veterans make exceptional truck drivers because they have the core values of the military [17:25] align seamlessly with the trucking industry we're disciplined we have vigilant we're adaptable and with [17:32] unwaverable commitment to getting the job done safely and on time the trucking industry is more than just [17:48] the sector of our economy it is its backbone of our commerce it is a place where service members veterans [17:56] military spouse can find a purpose a community and a way to continue keeping our great nation moving forward [18:05] thank you mr president god bless our service members and the family and god bless the united states of america [18:12] i just want to thank everybody for being here this is going to be a big day for our wonderful patriots [18:32] our great veterans uh they're going to produce like nobody else can produce and thank you very much [18:38] and i want to thank you and especially all those people you're going to be hiring but i know a lot of [18:43] your competitors are also doing the same thing so it's going to be really fantastic sean thank you [18:48] thank you doug thank you doug thank you everybody for the job you've done very much bye thank you