Trucking Industry Support on Track for Supply Chain

The national supply chain issues of the past year have been felt by businesses and consumers in Eastern Oregon right along with the rest of the country. The large agriculture and natural resources industry that support the local communities have struggled to just simply get their products to markets due to trucking and logistics bottlenecks. Determining ways to eliminate these logjams will go a long way toward improving economic conditions for Eastern Oregon businesses in 2022. Glimmers of hope are on the horizon, as efforts at both the local and federal levels aim to bolster the national trucking industry’s capabilities.

Eastern Oregon

Baker Technical Institute (BTI) in Baker City has built a reputation of world-class training opportunities. The organization offers several technical training programs, including for trucking and logistics industries. BTI’s School of Trucking & Logistics offers a four-week behind-the-wheel driving school to train students to obtain their CDL and give them valuable experience as drivers capable of entering the workforce as safe operators. In addition to the course on BTI’s driving range in Baker City, BTI can bring their training to clients with a mobile virtual-reality simulator to enhance student learning through the ability to experience snow, wind and emergencies in a safe manner.

Federal initiatives

Nationally, the Trucking Action Plan is designed to address supply chain issues this year. In early January, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) announced several new initiatives to support drivers, improve driver retention and expand access to quality jobs. One example is the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) will provide over $32 million in funding to help states expedite commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs). They will also send every state a toolkit detailing specific actions to take to expedite the process like expanding hours and locations as well as moving processes online. In addition, FMCSA will begin studies on driver detention time and driver compensation and the impacts of current practices on safety and driver retention.

Veteran Facilitation

Use of the Off-Base Transition Training Pilot Program (OBTT) will be explored to extend employment readiness curriculum to connect veterans, National Guard and Reserve members, and their spouses to a career path in trucking. DOL and VA will work to ensure veterans’ driving experience is recognized for those seeking a CDL and will build on proven models, such as SkillBridge programs. Partnerships between the Employment Navigator and Partnership Pilot (ENPP) and the trucking industry will be expanded.

90-day Trucking Apprenticeship Challenge

There are currently more than 10,000 apprentices in the trucking industry, but the DOL and national partners are committed to helping accelerate new program development. The joining DOL/DOT Challenge aims to put more well-trained drivers on the roads by recruiting employers interested in developing new Registered Apprenticeship programs and supporting those interested in expanding existing programs. Registered Apprenticeship programs are the gold standard of driver training because they provide paid, on-the-job learning. Expanding this proven workforce strategy in the trucking industry will ensure high-quality instruction for new drivers and will help employers develop and train a skilled workforce. 

FASTPORT 

This DOL-funded national apprenticeship intermediary partner focuses on the transportation sector and is committed to working with trucking employers, unions, and industry associations to achieve program creation goals. DOL is investing $8 million in more national apprenticeship intermediaries who can help employers start Registered Apprenticeships.

Safe Driver Apprenticeship Pilot Program 

The three-year Safe Driver Apprenticeship Pilot Program has been launched as an under-21 pilot program for truck drivers. DOL’s Office of Apprenticeship’s (OA) has consultants located across the country who will assist organizations interested in starting a new program or joining an existing program. 

Women of Trucking Advisory Board

The Women of Trucking Advisory Board has been created to review challenges facing women interested in joining the profession. Topics of focus will include on-the-job safety risks, mentorship, quality training, and opportunities for advancement. 

Truck Leasing Task Force

The Truck Leasing Task Force will be created by May 2022 to review inequitable leasing arrangements to identify how to make these practices more equitable and transparent. Current practices, such as predatory truck leasing arrangements, result in unmanageable debt for incoming drivers. 

Assistance is available

Oregon Trail Electric Cooperative understands supply chain issues are at the top of your business’ concerns. We recommend staying aware of the developments with the programs above or contacting us to learn more about the Trucking Action Plan and other programs coming in 2022!