A Republican bill with 5 Republican cosponsors · See all 5 cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Freedom Haulers Act directs the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to extend the commercial driver's license (CDL) skills test waiver for qualified former military members from 12 months to 24 months after separation. It also establishes a mandatory "Even Exchange Program" requiring states to waive knowledge and driving tests for specific military operators. These waivers apply to CDL issuance and certain endorsements, such as passenger, tank vehicle, and hazardous materials. To qualify, military operators must meet specific employment and safety record requirements. States must create the necessary procedures to implement these waivers.
Yes· 3 of 12
- Scored +9
Would veterans be better off under this, taking everything together?
Directly benefits qualified veterans by extending waiver periods and removing redundant testing requirements.
- Scored +5
Does this increase the pay, pensions or support veterans receive?
Provides a significant professional benefit by streamlining the transition from military to civilian employment.
- Scored +4
Would people in their twenties and thirties be better off under this?
Young veterans entering the workforce benefit from easier licensing.
The opposite
- Scored -2
Does this leave more decisions to the states?
Reduces state autonomy by requiring states to waive specific tests.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Extended Waiver Period: Former military members have more time to apply for a CDL skills test waiver, as the window is increased from 12 to 24 months after separating from the military (Section 2).
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Knowledge Test Waivers: Covered military operators can avoid the requirement to pass a knowledge test for a commercial learner's permit or CDL if they meet specific certifications and safety criteria (Section 3(a)(2)).
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Driving Test Waivers: Qualified military operators who hold a valid civilian license can avoid the driving test for a CDL if they prove they operated representative commercial vehicles for at least two years before separation (Section 3(a)(3)).
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Endorsement Waivers: Qualified operators may have driving and specialized knowledge tests waived for passenger, tank vehicle, and hazardous materials endorsements (Section 3(a)(4)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Strict Eligibility Requirements: The benefits are limited only to specific military occupational specialties and codes in the Army, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Navy, meaning other military roles are not covered (Section 3(a)(1)(A)).
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Clean Record Mandates: Individuals who have had a license suspended, revoked, or canceled, or those with certain traffic convictions or at-fault crashes, are ineligible for these waivers (Section 3(a)(2)(B)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would veterans be better off under this, taking everything together? — Directly benefits qualified veterans by extending waiver periods and removing redundant testing requirements. Would people in their twenties and thirties be better off under this? — Young veterans entering the workforce benefit from easier licensing. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — Lowers barriers to entry for high-paying CDL jobs. Would business owners be better off under this? — Increases the availability of skilled drivers for trucking companies. Would people in middle age be better off under this? — Provides employment opportunities for mid-career military transitioners. Would middle-income households be better off under this? — Assists middle-class veterans in maintaining income levels during transition.
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Does this increase the pay, pensions or support veterans receive? — Provides a significant professional benefit by streamlining the transition from military to civilian employment.
- Economy And Finance
- Is this likely to create jobs? — Easier access to CDLs for veterans can increase the pool of qualified drivers for the logistics and transport sectors. Is this likely to grow the economy? — Facilitating the transition of military skills to civilian transport roles supports economic productivity.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — Helps veterans enter higher-paying commercial driving careers more quickly.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this give the federal government more power? — Directs states to mandate an 'Even Exchange Program' through federal regulation. Does this make it easier to do business across state lines? — Standardizes license waivers across states for military operators. Does this leave more decisions to the states? — Reduces state autonomy by requiring states to waive specific tests.
- 9/14/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 8/31/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 8/27/2026
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- 8/13/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in House
Earl CarterRepublican · Georgia
Ryan MackenzieRepublican · Pennsylvania
Riley MooreRepublican · West Virginia
Addison McDowellRepublican · North Carolina
Joe WilsonRepublican · South Carolina