The U.S. Departments of Transportation (DOT) and Labor (DOL) announced the next steps on new initiatives that will expand apprenticeships and improve driver retention in the trucking industry. Several of these programs were included in the bipartisan infrastructure bill passed by Congress last year. The initiatives are intended to help improve workforce shortages in trucking and alleviate supply chain bottlenecks in the economy.
The Window & Door Manufacturers Association summarized the initiatives:
- Expanding Registered Apprenticeship programs: more than 100 employers and industry partners have stepped forward to work to expand Registered Apprenticeships in the last 30 days.
- Launching the Safe Driver Apprenticeship Pilot: an under-21 pilot program for truck drivers mandated in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
- Creating the Women of Trucking Advisory Board mandated in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The Advisory Board will help inform efforts to increase the number of women in the trucking industry.
- Creating a new task force, mandated by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, to investigate predatory truck leasing arrangements with DOL and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
- Beginning two studies to explore the issues of truck driver pay and unpaid detention time.
- Over $32 million in funding to states to improve the CDL licensing process.
