Bill would codify Trump's vets-to-CDLs initiative | 'Deportable' Russian driver busted with meth

Congress looks to codify ‘Freedom Haulers’ vets-to-truckers initiative

U.S. Rep. Brian Mast (R-Florida) this week introduced legislation to codify the Freedom Haulers initiative, permanently securing the fast-track pathway for military veterans to earn commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs). 

Last month, President Donald Trump, DOT Secretary Sean Duffy, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration chief Derek Barrs and others unveiled the initiative as a way to connect veterans to trucking careers and use veterans to replace “illegal” CDL holders.

"Veterans have already proven they have the discipline, the training, and the grit to handle the world’s most demanding jobs in the world’s most dangerous places. Hauling America's freight should be next," Mast said in introducing the legislation. "President Trump opened the fast lane for veterans to get behind the wheel and my bill make sure it stays that way."

Currently, the initiative exists as a directive from the Trump administration. Mast's bill writes the guidance into federal law:

• Doubling the Military Skills Test Waiver window from 12 months to 24 months after service, letting veterans with heavy vehicle military experience skip the CDL skills test during that window.
• Making the Even Exchange Program permanent, allowing qualified veterans to bypass CDL knowledge exams and receive licenses faster.

Text of the bill is available here. As of Aug. 14, the bill has one co-sponsor -- Rep. Buddy Carter (R-Georgia). The legislation was referred to the House Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure.

[Related: 'Freedom Haulers': Trump fast-tracks CDLs for veterans to replace 'illegal' drivers]

Trucking conditions remained strong in June

Trucking market conditions in June weren’t quite as strong as in May, but FTR’s Trucking Conditions Index still reflected a very favorable market for carriers.

The firm’s TCI for June fell from 20.4 in May to 17.1 in June due to a slightly less robust freight rate growth that was partially offset by lower diesel prices in June to produce overall market conditions that were not quite as positive as those in May. However, the outlook for carriers is a bit stronger than it was in the prior forecast.

“We expect the market to be favorable for carriers throughout our two-year forecast horizon, but the recovery appears to be stabilizing,” said Avery Vise, FTR’s vice president of trucking. “For example, spot rates in July softened as seasonally expected even though fuel prices rose sharply – quite a different dynamic than what occurred in March. Even if spot rates have peaked, contract rates likely will continue to rise well into 2027.

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Vise added that the market’s strength is largely due to supply-side constraints, particularly with dry van and refrigerated fleets.

“An encouraging signal is the ongoing recovery in manufacturing demand, and consumer spending has been solid,” he said. “Data center construction clearly has boosted flatbed especially. Concerns include slowing U.S. job growth, a persistently weak housing sector, and stubborn price inflation for both consumers and businesses. Although freight demand still doesn’t look that strong, we see little sign that trucking capacity will rise substantially in the near term.”

[Related: Spot rates underperform, fuel prices dip]

Louisiana sheriff’s office busts ‘deportable’ Russian truck driver hauling drugs

Livingston Parish Sheriff Jason Ard is shown with the methamphetamine seized at roadside from a tractor-trailer.Livingston Parish Sheriff's Office

Livingston Parish (Louisiana) Sheriff Jason Ard announced one of the largest methamphetamine seizures in his parish and the state.

Sheriff’s deputies in the K9 Division recently conducted a traffic stop on a tractor-trailer along I-12 Eastbound in Denham Springs. During the stop, the truck driver was identified as Vitalyevich Rakov, “a deportable Russian” national. Rakov was taken into custody due to his illegal status.

A subsequent investigation into the tractor-trailer led LPSO Narcotics to discovering approximately 358.14 kg (789.56 lbs.) of methamphetamine concealed in the trailer.

Rakov remains in ICE custody and this investigation is ongoing.

Driver honored for helping fellow trucker after witnessing rollover

Mark Binner, a truck driver for ABF Freight, has been named a Highway Angel by the Truckload Carriers Association for his courageous actions in rescuing an injured truck driver trapped inside an overturned tractor during severe storm conditions in southwestern Iowa.

Mark BinnerOn the morning of June 11, Binner was traveling near McPaul, Iowa, when he encountered severe weather that included high winds, torrential rain and tornado activity. As conditions rapidly deteriorated, he witnessed a tractor overturn in the storm.

“The wind was crazy, and the rain was super heavy,” said Binner. “I was following a couple of other trucks, and everybody started slowing down. One of the trucks ahead of me tipped over from the wind. I’d been through a rollover myself years ago, so I just wanted to pay it forward and help the guy out.”

Binner stopped, grabbed his medical kit and ran through the rain toward the overturned truck. When he reached the wrecked tractor, Binner found the driver trapped inside and struggling unsuccessfully to open the passenger-side door.

Spotting that part of the windshield had peeled away from the cab, Binner, wearing work gloves, pulled on the damaged windshield in an effort to create an escape route. A powerful gust of wind suddenly caught the windshield, ripping it completely free from his hands.

The driver was covered in blood, so Binner immediately provided first aid, helping control the bleeding before escorting him through the storm to the safety of his ABF Freight tractor. Once inside the cab and out of the elements, Binner called 911 and remained with the driver until emergency responders arrived.

“He was standing inside the cab because it was lying on its side,” Binner said. “I pulled the windshield out and helped him climb through the opening. Then we went back to my truck, where I got out my first aid kit and cleaned up some cuts from the shattered glass. We stayed there until the police arrived.”

Reflecting on the incident, Binner downplayed his actions.

“It was a pretty simple deal,” he said. “I just went back, pulled him out and sat him in my truck for a little while. It wasn’t that big of a deal.”