A lack of qualified commercial truck drivers and an aging driver population remains pressing concerns within the trucking sector.
In Oregon, more than 325 new truck drivers received free CDL training programs thanks to a $3.4 million federal grant. Notably, all program participants have already secured employment opportunities.
The grant is awarded by the Good Jobs Challenge, one of the Economic Development Administration’s workforce development program, which distributed $500 million in grants to 32 worker-centered workforce training partnerships. The initiative, named Driving Prosperity, is led by Southwestern Oregon Workforce Investment Board (SOWIB) in collaboration with Lane Workforce Partnership and Rogue Workforce Partnership. Other partners include regional workforce training organizations, employers, associations and educational entities.
Rachel Larson, Driving Prosperity program manager at SOWIB, explained that the entity had been working with public, private and charitable entities since 2018 to tackle a driver shortage. With six counties under the program, the grant allows a larger regional approach by combining three workforce boards, three transportation sector partnerships and seven trucking driving schools working together to increase the number of CDL drivers in Southern Oregon.
“Right now, there are more trucking jobs than qualified drivers,” said Larson. “Despite the labor demand, significant barriers impede job entry. Truck driver training programs are expensive and do not qualify for federal financial aid. Our goal is to increase the number of licensed drivers.”
Larson explained that residents who live in Coos, Curry, Douglas, Jackson, Josephine and Lane counties are eligible to apply for funding, as long as applicants meet the criteria needed to obtain a CDL.
