CVTA Members Highlighted at White House 'Freedom Haulers' Event Expanding Veteran CDL Hiring
- andrew.poliakoff
- Jul 30
- 3 min read
Updated: 6 days ago
CVTA was proud to represent its members at the White House today, for the launch of the Trump Administration’s 'Freedom Haulers' initiative, which aims to expand career opportunities for military veterans in the trucking industry.
CVTA Executive Director Andrew Poliakoff stated: “From a CVTA perspective, today’s White House visit represented a perfect trifecta: recognizing our military veterans, celebrating the important work and industry leadership of CVTA members, and highlighting the high-quality CDL training and career opportunities our members provide every day.”
Veterans possess valuable skills and professional ethics that translate readily into successful careers in commercial trucking. It's important to reduce unnecessary barriers to employment while maintaining the highest safety and training standards to benefit veterans, employers, and our nation’s supply chain.
Standing alongside President Trump, U.S. Army & U.S. Army National Guard veteran and Werner driver, Ricky Washington's comments embodied this concept, "when the time came to take off the uniform, I faced a question every veteran confronts: How do I continue serving? For me, the answer was on the open road.
Transitioning from military life to behind the wheel of a commercial truck brought a renewed sense of mission. Veterans make exceptional truck drivers because the core values of the military align seamlessly with the trucking industry: discipline, vigilance, adaptability, and an unwavering commitment to getting the job done safely and on time."
CVTA members already play an essential role in that transition. Our national membership includes 100 school members operating at more than 400 locations across the United States and training thousands of veterans each year. Across the CVTA community, schools, employers, and vendors support policies that recognize military experience, streamline transitions into civilian employment, and create meaningful career pathways for those who have served.
That mission stands at the intersection of service, safety, and opportunity. FMCSA Administrator Derek D. Barrs captured the promise of bringing more veterans into the industry: “Veterans embody the exact duty, grit, and precision this essential industry relies on. Through Freedom Haulers, we’re welcoming our military heroes behind the wheel to secure our roads and strengthen the backbone of our economy.” CVTA members are already stepping forward to turn that promise into action. Nathan Meisgeier, President of Werner Enterprises, announced: “Today, I am proud to announce a new strategic initiative for our company. In tandem with the Trump Administration’s Freedom Haulers program, Werner Enterprises is officially committing to hire 1,400 veterans in the coming year.”
Werner’s commitment demonstrates the important role CVTA members play across the full pathway from high-quality CDL training to meaningful employment.
CVTA’s presence at the White House ensured the CVTA members’ work, experience, and priorities were represented as federal leaders launched the Freedom Haulers initiative. As this work moves forward, CVTA will continue advocating for stronger oversight and enforcement of the Training Provider Registry to remove noncompliant providers and allow reputable CVTA member schools to shine as trusted sources of high-quality training.
Andrea Marathakis, Senior Vice President & Success Coach with CVTA member 'Troops Into Transportation' stated, “today’s event reinforced a shared commitment to better serve our nation’s Veterans by recognizing their documented military driving experience and removing unnecessary barriers to civilian careers. Together, we can accelerate workforce readiness, maintain the highest safety standards, and create lasting success for veterans, employers, and the transportation industry.”
CVTA members currently partnering in the initiative include training providers Troops Into Transportation, TransTech, and Lehigh Carbon Community College, along with carrier partners Covenant, FedEx, Stevens Transport, Schneider, and Werner.
We look forward to working with federal partners, state licensing agencies, veteran organizations, and industry stakeholders to maintain the integrity of the CDL training and licensing system while connecting qualified veterans with reputable training and rewarding careers in trucking.
