APPLETON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – As the pandemic continues to cause labor shortages, the U.S. government is attempting to help ease the trucker shortage.
A new federal apprenticeship is allowing 18-year-olds to drive semi trucks across state lines.
“It’s a good career and we need truck drivers,” said Ryan Josker.
Josker is in his first week of getting a Class A Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) in the Fox Valley Technical College’s 8 week program.
He didn’t have the same opportunity that 18, 19 and 20 year-olds are getting now.
A pilot program will train young people to drive trucks over state lines.
“I think its a good thing to have the younger generation start early,” said Josker.
Driving school enrollment at Fox Valley Technical College is slowly ticking up.
Director of Truck Driving, Rob Behnke, says the new program will put emphasis on the need for drivers.
“Provide additional career pathways for people in school, help them understand what transportation is all about,” said Behnke.
The young drivers will get more training.
“400 hours training with a student driver at the age of 18, 19 or 20 years of age,” said Behnke.
Scott Willert is the President of America’s Service Line.
Like most companies, Willert says they need more drivers.
“We’ve been going through this for a long time. The average age of our drivers is only going up. Not as many people are coming into the industry,” said Willert.
Willert says since 18 to 20 year old’s couldn’t haul interstate freight in Wisconsin, he couldn’t think about hiring them.
Now, the Green Bay company can go to high schools or job fairs and recruit young people.
“We could bring them in early and start training them. We wouldn’t bring them in at 18 and send them off to New York with a load,” said Willert.
Willert says as long as carriers are careful on how they mentor and train drivers, there shouldn’t be problems.
“They get paid well, they get to see the opportunity to see the country as a driver,” said Willert.
Willert and Behnke agree, they are excited to see young people maybe make truck driving their first stop in a career.
The pilot program is part of the federal infrastructure law.
It establishes an apprenticeship program for truck drivers under 21
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