The US Department of Transportation (DOT) and the US Department of Labor (DOL) has announced it is moving forward with new initiatives set out in the Trucking Action Plan aimed at supporting drivers and improving driver retention.
The plan, revealed in December, aims to ensure jobs in the trucking industry are good, safe, and sustainable, and attractive to the new generation of truck drivers who will remain in the industry over the long-term.
DOT and DOL is now progressing initiatives in the plan including:
- Expanding Registered Apprenticeship programs
- Creating the “Women of Trucking Advisory Board”
- Creating a new taskforce 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
- Launching the “Safe Driver Apprenticeship Pilot” –an under-21 pilot program for truck drivers
- Over $32 million in funding to states to improve CDL licensing process
“In some parts of the trucking industry, 90% of drivers turn over each year,” said US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.
“Making sure truck drivers are paid and treated fairly is the right thing to do, and it will help with both recruiting new drivers and keeping experienced drivers on the job.”
