Registration recently opened allowing upwards of 3,000 CDL holders under the age of 21 to haul loads across state lines as part of the Safe Driver Apprenticeship Pilot Program.
“Once we hit that 3,000-cap, we will not be enrolling anymore until drivers age out, choose to leave the program, or leave the profession,” Nicole Michel, program manager with FMCSA’s Office of Research and Registration, reportedly said. “So, it will be very dependent upon enrollment levels and how we were getting drivers enrolled. But we’re planning on working with carriers that apply and are accepted.”
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) program was included in the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to address a persistent and growing truck driver shortage. Before the program, truckers between 18 and 21 years old could hold CDLs but were largely restricted to hauling within state lines or over specific distances.
With enrollment now open, the FMCSA seeks 1,000 motor carriers to participate in the newly-minted program, according to the FMCSA. Officials plan to collect data and evaluate the safety impact of young adults operating Class 8 vehicles over greater distances.
Alabama Trucking Association Launches ‘Careers in High Gear’
The Alabama Trucking Association recently launched its “Careers in High Gear” outreach program designed to tell success stories and attract the next generation of drivers and technicians.
“In Alabama, trucking is 1 in 15 jobs, with over 110,000 working people in our state. We’re a top 10 trucking state, and we were spending zero dollars on any coordinated campaign to improve our workforce,” Alabama Trucking Association President Mark Colson reportedly said. “Yeah, we complained about the problem of a shortage of drivers. We’re no longer sitting around a table complaining about a problem. We’re part of a solution, and we’re going to find solutions no matter what it takes because that’s what’s required.”
Colson led an initiative that identified the personality types who are attracted and well-suited to careers in the freight hauling sector. Research pointed to entry-level CDL holders possessing an adventurous spirit or people seeking a stable career path. Careers in High Gear is a marketing effort based on the real-life stories of everyday people who enjoy success in the trucking industry.
Yellow Corporation Opens Tuition-Free Trucking School in Detroit
Yellow Corp continues to take proactive steps to buoy the ranks of its truck driver workforce. The iconic brand recently opened its 21st driving academy in Detroit, Michigan, and qualified students who earn their CDL are offered a job that includes additional on-the-job training.
“Our Driving Academies open the door to an entirely new career for men and women who want to earn a good living with benefits,” Tamara Jalving, vice president of safety and talent acquisition at Yellow, reportedly said. “Training our own drivers is also the best way to tackle the driver shortage in America.”
Yellow Corps opened nine such schools in the past year. Students learn both the operations and logistics side of the industry and participants earn a wage while attending the program.
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