Blumenthal, Cassidy Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Eliminate Red Tape From Trucking Apprenticeship Programs for Veterans

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Ranking Member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, and U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA) introduced legislation making it easier for veterans to access trucking apprenticeship programs with their VA education benefits. The Veterans Transition to Trucking Act would allow the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to approve programs operated by interstate commercial trucking companies—streamlining the approval process and cutting unnecessary red tape making it difficult for veterans to partake in apprenticeships that operate across multiple states.

“Trucking apprenticeships offer meaningful employment and a fulfilling career pathway, and we owe it to our nation’s veterans to provide support as they seek next steps in their transition to civilian life. With the Veterans Transition to Trucking Act, we eliminate bureaucratic red tape hindering veterans from accessing trucking apprenticeships and ensure that veterans are able to access these programs through their VA education benefits. This commonsense legislation allows veterans to more easily access necessary training for a rewarding career when they return home,” said Ranking Member Blumenthal.

“Veterans deserve support,” said Dr. Cassidy. “Many struggle to find work when they come home. Having a commercial driver’s license opens a lot of doors for them.”

Trucking companies currently operating in more than one state must get approval from each state to allow veterans to use their VA education benefits for apprenticeship programs with their company. In some cases, these companies have opted out of offering apprenticeships for veterans due to the burdensome red tape required to get more than 20 different approvals. The Veterans Transition to Trucking Act would allow interstate commercial carriers to get one approval for their apprenticeship programs from VA—making it easier for veterans to access trucking apprenticeship programs.

The Veterans Transition to Trucking Act is supported by a number of Veterans Service Organizations and Stakeholders, including the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) and the American Trucking Association (ATA).

“A successful transition from military service to civilian life is not complete until a veteran can find meaningful employment, and the American trucking industry offers a significant number of well-paying jobs that can utilize veterans’ skills and experiences. Unfortunately, veterans can sometimes face bureaucratic hurdles when attempting to use their earned education benefits for trucking apprenticeship programs. DAV is proud to support the Veterans’ Transition to Trucking Act of 2025, as it would help streamline that process for our nation’s heroes, and we appreciate Sens. Blumenthal and Cassidy for introducing this important legislation,” said DAV National Legislative Director Joy Ilem.

“Members of our military put their lives on the line to defend our nation and our freedom.  When they return home, it is our responsibility to help them achieve the American Dream they fought to protect,” said ATA Senior Vice President of Legislative Affairs Henry Hanscom. “By slashing bureaucratic red tape for VA education benefits, the Veterans’ Transition to Trucking Act would expand career paths in trucking and make it easier for veterans to find good-paying jobs behind the wheel.  ATA commends Senators Cassidy and Blumenthal for their leadership on this bipartisan bill, and we look forward to working with them to enact their commonsense reform into law.”

The full text of the bill can be found here.

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