A nationwide labor crunch in ports, rail yards and trucking is colliding with yet another week of Senate inaction on the Transport Jobs Act—a bill meant to tear down the barriers that keep veterans from stepping into thousands of open supply chain jobs.
The legislation, H.R. 3055, would require the Department of Transportation to publish a public “Veteran to Supply Chain Employee Action Plan” within 30 days of enactment, contributed to by the Department of Defense, Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Labor. The plan must spell out why veterans struggle to enter port operations, trucking, rail, warehousing and logistics jobs, identify where labor shortages are most acute, and recommend steps agencies should take to remove those barriers.
The House unanimously passed the bill in September though the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee has not acted on it, leaving veterans and employers waiting for answers.
Military.com reached out to the Department of Transportation, Department of Defense, Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Labor for comment.
Industry Says Veterans Are Natural Fit
Rail operators say many veterans do not realize how well their skill sets translate into civilian supply chain work.
“Nearly one in six rail employees is a veteran, yet many returning heroes are unaware of the opportunities available in the industry,” Jessica Kahanek, a spokesperson for the Association of American Railroads, told Military.com. “The same qualities that define military excellence like discipline, safety and teamwork are the foundation of railroading’s 24/7 mission driven work.”
“The same qualities that define military excellence…are the foundation of railroading’s 24/7 mission driven work.”
She said the bill “aims to raise awareness of opportunities for veterans across the entire supply chain,” adding that rail companies pride themselves on a long history of hiring veterans transitioning out of service.
Hiring Systems Don’t Recognize Vets’ Training
Long Island Cares, a regional hunger relief organization that also runs one of the area’s largest veterans resource programs, works with former service members across Long Island, NY who are searching for stable civilian employment.
“Meeting civilian requirements is one of the biggest hurdles,” Michael Haynes, of Long Island Cares, told Military.com. “Often the veteran has the experience, but it is hard to discern that based on the civilian job description.”
Haynes said the financial and logistical burdens can shut veterans out before they even apply.
“It is almost impossible to get around in Suffolk County if you do not have a car,” he said. “Getting a CDL is a big step. Low-income veterans have a tough time affording the class.”
He added that employers often want to hire veterans but struggle to match them with roles because civilian systems do not acknowledge their military qualifications.
Sponsor Calls Barriers Clear and Fixable
Rep. Tom Barrett (R-MI), who introduced the bill, has focused on licensing and credentialing as the most immediate obstacles.
In remarks he delivered when the bill passed the House and in comments he made during a House Veterans’ Affairs Committee hearing, Barrett said veterans often performed tasks in uniform that mirror civilian roles yet still must complete lengthy and expensive certification processes to qualify for those same jobs.
Barrett’s spokesperson said he is committed to working with senators to get the bill to President Donald Trump’s desk as soon as possible.
Agencies Stay Silent While Supply Chain Jobs Go Unfilled
Federal labor data shows persistent job openings across freight movement and warehousing—a sector that employed about 6.6 million workers as of June 2024, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The agency also projects sustained growth in transportation and material moving occupations over the next decade, driven by continued demand across trucking, rail support, warehousing and port operations. The department has highlighted those trends in recent workforce analyses, warning that shortages could worsen without new hiring channels.
Many veterans who once served in military transportation, maintenance and logistics roles are now working in essential supply chain jobs nationwide, including trucking, freight rail, warehousing and port operations. Employers say former service members often bring reliability, safety awareness and operational discipline that strengthen daily operations. Several sectors rely heavily on veterans to keep freight moving.
“If the barriers are addressed all logistics and warehousing sectors have the potential to hire a lot more veterans,” Haynes said.
Senate Delay Leaves Veterans Waiting
The Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee has not announced a hearing or markup on H.R. 3055.
Without Senate action, the bill remains stalled and the 30-day countdown for the federal action plan cannot begin. Military.com reached out to the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee for comment.
Major employers in logistics, manufacturing and material movement continue to expand hiring pipelines built specifically for veterans, citing strong performance, adaptability and familiarity with fast-paced operational environments. Industries facing persistent shortages are turning to veteran talent to stabilize staffing and meet growing freight and distribution needs across the country.
Supporters say the plan would give Congress its clearest picture yet of how veterans are being locked out of supply chain employment and how quickly those obstacles can be removed.
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