Opening Remarks
Apprenticeship program raises the bar on safety
I Mark Colson President and CEO Alabama Trucking Association
‘(This) program bridges a critical gap between high school and workforce readiness, creating a rich talent pool for the transportation industry.’
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n recent months, we have all experienced the frustration of making a trip to the store for something we want or need and leaving without it. There are many reasons for the current supply chain problems: a recent winter storm stranding hundreds of vehicles on I-95; changing customer behaviors caused by the pandemic; or workforce shortages forcing businesses to leave orders unfulfilled, bare store shelves, or delayed freight. Our industry has always been keenly aware of how one link affects timing and performance across the whole supply chain. For years, a top concern for the industry has been a shortage of qualified commercial drivers – a shortage that has grown from 61,500 pre-pandemic to 80,000, despite substantial pay increases over that same time. When Congress passed its bipartisan $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill (The American Jobs Plan) last fall, it provided long-term funding for traditional infrastructure and added provisions for next-generation workforce development in the form of apprenticeship programs for new commercial drivers. The Jobs Plan also includes a national pilot that authorizes up to 3,000, 18- to 20-year-old drivers to undergo supervised training in vehicles equipped with advanced safety technologies. After which, these young workers would be eligible to operate as their older counterparts with some additional surveillance until they turn 21. Critics of the program say it is not safe, and that bringing in younger drivers isn’t the best way to address workforce supply chain issues. What they don’t say, however, is that 18-year-olds are already driving commercial trucks in America within state borders or intrastate. Currently, in Alabama, and 48 other states and the District of Columbia, 18-to 20-year-olds can earn a CDL and operate large commercial vehicles inside their state’s boundaries – federal law prohibits those under 21 from engaging in interstate commerce. That means, they can transport 80,000 lbs. of farm equipment 356 miles from Mobile to Huntsville but can’t haul that same load 40 miles to Pascagoula, Miss. But it’s not only about where these new drivers can go, it’s also about long-term careers. What the apprenticeship program offers is a path from earning a CDL to experience. It puts an older driver in the passenger seat to give a personalized education. They learn how to use the most progressive safety technology available like active braking collision mitigation, video event capture and speed governors that set the truck at 65 MPH or less. It’s an additional 400 hours of advanced training. Also, only the safest companies and drivers will be allowed to participate in this testing phase as both have to be approved by DOT after submitting their applications. Driving a truck is complex, and everyone should be invested in making sure the people who get behind the wheel are ready for the responsibility. Simply put, these will be some of the most well trained and vetted drivers we have ever put on the road. You’ll see on the following pages of this publication that our Association is committed to building the next generation of industry workers with well-researched and executed marketing campaigns to identify and link potential candidates to thousands of trucking jobs across Alabama, as well as working with the Alabama Community College System to enhance the CDL offerings. At its core, the apprenticeship program bridges a critical gap between high school and workforce readiness creating a rich talent pool for the transportation industry. Trucking is a great career choice to earn a very comfortable living in a field with almost limitless possibility. There is no silver bullet to addressing the trucking’s workforce problems. We need a comprehensive approach. We need entry level drivers to be highly skilled and safety focused, and we must create clear pathways for individuals to enter our industry and get the training they need, especially high school graduates. Fortunately, the Safe Driver Apprenticeship Pilot is a strong start to accomplish these goals. The trucking industry is ready to welcome these new apprentices and is excited to give them a solid foundation for their future professional and personal lives. A LABAMA T RUCKER • 1 ST Q UARTER 2022
