Biden-Harris Administration Marks 60-Days of Action Strengthening America’s Trucking Workforce

To build on this progress, support America’s historic economic recovery, and lay the foundation for a next generation trucking workforce, the Biden-Harris Administration is taking additional actions over the next 30 Days that will support millions of good driving jobs for years to come

With more than 70 percent of all goods in America shipped by truck, America’s trucking workforce plays a critical role in the U.S. supply chain and the broader economy. However, outdated infrastructure, the COVID-19 pandemic, and a historic volume of goods moving through our economy have strained capacity across the supply chain, including in trucking. Two months ago, President Biden launched a multi-agency effort to support and expand access to quality truck driving jobs now and in the years ahead. While more work remains, the Biden-Harris Administration has made remarkable progress in the last 60-days. Specifically, the Biden-Harris Administration:

• Expanded Registered Apprenticeships. Since the Trucking Action Plan was announced, more than 20 employers and in industry partners like the American Trucking Association, the North American Punjabi Trucking Association, Minority Professional Truckers Association have stepped forward to partner with the Administration to expand apprenticeships.  Read more from the Department of Labor on how 60 days in, the department’s 90-day Trucking Apprenticeship Challenge is driving interest in trucking apprenticeships across employers of all sizes.
• Launched the Safe Driver Apprenticeship Pilot. Established through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, this pilot will safely connect American adults under the age of 21 to good-paying jobs in the trucking industry.
• Cut red tape so it’s easier for drivers to get commercial drivers licenses. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) announced over $32 million in funding to help states upgrade their processing systems as well as technical assistance to speed up issuances.
• Met with Veterans Service Organizations representing nearly 4 million veterans to discuss ways the Administration and industry could attract, train, place, and retain veterans in trucking jobs. The Departments of Labor, Transportation, Defense, and Veterans Affairs, and the Small Business Administration also released a fact sheet to raise awareness about 16 different federal programs that can connect transitioning military personnel and veterans to rewarding careers in the trucking industry.  These programs will boost efficiency in the industry, connecting firms to countless potential workers. A highlight of these efforts is the Department of Labor’s Registered Apprenticeship program.

To build on this progress, support America’s historic economic recovery, and lay the foundation for a next generation trucking workforce, the Biden-Harris Administration is taking additional actions over the next 30 Days that will support millions of good driving jobs for years to come:

• Announce the results of the Labor Department’s 90-day Apprenticeship Challenge and announce new partnerships to continue to expand apprenticeships in the trucking industry.
• Sign charter document for the Women of Trucking Advisory Board. This week, Secretary Buttigieg will sign the charter document officially starting the Women of Trucking Advisory Board. As the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law established, this task force will help inform efforts to increase the number of women in trucking. Based on feedback received in recent listening sessions with leaders and advocates, the task force will provide recommendations to address the challenges facing current and prospective women, such as barriers to entry, on-the-job safety risks, workplace harassment, including sexual harassment, mentorship, quality training, and opportunities for advancement.
• Sign charter document to form new task force to investigate predatory truck leasing arrangements. Established through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the FMCSA, Department of Labor (DOL) and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) formed a Truck Leasing Task Force that will review leasing arrangements to identify actions that could make leases more equitable and transparent. 

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