If you’re a veteran in the DC area, here’s a great way to spend this Veterans Day.
Freedom Haulers, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s initiative to help veterans build careers in trucking, is hosting a Veterans Day celebration on the National Mall on Wednesday, November 11, at 3 PM ET. It’s free, it’s open to the public, and you don’t need to RSVP.
Bring the family. Bring a buddy you served with. The program is short, there will be trucks to check out, and there’s time set aside for photos.
What to expect
The event is built to be quick, with plenty of time to meet people and take photos.
- Short remarks from U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, FMCSA Administrator Derek Barrs, Truckload Carriers Association President Jim Mullen, and Army veteran Bobby Brown, who drives for Schneider National.
- Big rigs parked on site, including the America 250 truck.
- Veterans who were recently hired through Freedom Haulers, in driving and office roles alike.
- Time for photos once the program wraps.
Event details
- When: Wednesday, November 11, at 3 PM ET
- Where: The National Mall at 12th St and Jefferson Dr SW, Washington, DC
- Cost: Free and open to the public. No RSVP needed.
- Getting there: Parking isn’t provided, so take Metro. The Smithsonian station on the Blue, Orange, and Silver lines is right by the event.
- What to bring: A jacket and a camera. You’ll be outside, so check the forecast before you head out.
About Freedom Haulers
DOT launched Freedom Haulers in July with the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Department of War, and the Department of Labor. It helps veterans turn the skills they built in uniform into careers in trucking, and it gathers the federal programs and hiring partners that make that switch easier in one place.
Here’s what’s available to veterans and service members right now:
- Your GI Bill can pay for training. According to DOT, the VA’s tuition cap typically covers the full cost of CDL training at colleges and technical schools for veterans who served at least 36 months.
- Military driving experience counts. Veterans with two years of safe experience driving heavy military vehicles can skip the CDL skills test. As of July, you have two years after leaving the service to apply, up from one.
- Fewer tests in more states. In states that take part in the Even Exchange Program, qualified military drivers can skip the CDL knowledge test too. Seven states joined in July, including Maryland, bringing the total to 34.
- Still serving? Test where you’re stationed. Active-duty service members can now apply and test for a CDL in the state where they’re stationed, with no trip home required.
- Companies are hiring. Employers that signed on have committed to bringing on veterans in driving and office roles. Werner Enterprises alone pledged to hire 1,400 veterans and military spouses in 2027.
Learn more at freedomhaulers.dot.gov.
Thank you for your service
To every veteran, and every family that served alongside them, thank you. We’re proud to help spread the word, and we hope to see some of you out there on Wednesday.
