Trucks transport containers at the Port of Los Angeles on November 24.
Mario Tama / Getty Images
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Mario Tama / Getty Images
Trucks transport containers at the Port of Los Angeles on November 24.
Mario Tama / Getty Images
In an ongoing effort to improve the nation supply chain problemsThe White House on Thursday announced a plan to hire and train a new generation of truckers to bolster an industry already stretched during the pandemic.
The Trucks Action Plan is part of the Biden administration’s Supply Chain Disruption Task Force, which aims to address short-term supply chain bottlenecks caused or worsened by the coronavirus pandemic. worse.
“Cargo plays an important role in America’s supply chain and economy. American truck drivers have been at the forefront of this pandemic, delivering goods to every corner of the country. this,” the White House said in a fact sheet about its plan.
Trucks are responsible for transportation about 72% of goods in the United States, and the White House statement notes that for most communities, trucks are the only form of freight available.
The White House said that while truck drivers’ wages rose 7-12% last year, the industry as a whole has yet to return to pre-pandemic employment levels.
“A strong, stable, and secure trucking workforce that provides well-paying jobs to millions of truckers is a vital lifeblood of our economy,” the White House said. we”. “But outdated infrastructure, the COVID-19 pandemic and a historic amount of freight moving through our economy have limited capacity across the entire supply chain, including trucking. .”
The fact sheet says the pandemic has exacerbated potential problems in the industry, including an aging workforce, high turnover rates and unpaid, wasted time for drivers.
The plan includes providing resources and funding to help states expedite the commercial driver licensing process, a 90-day challenge to expand registered apprenticeships, and access to veterans. when recruiting new drivers.
Senior administration officials emphasized that while some of the steps focus on long-term changes, their proposals include actions that support the short-term economic recovery and help ease difficulties. difficulty in the supply chain.
The road transport plan from the government, also steps have been taken to try to alleviate congestion at the backed up ports, which takes place when the country is faced with an inflation rate higher than they have been for decades.
On Thursday, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and Labor Secretary Marty Walsh will host a roundtable at the White House with trucking industry leaders.
The two ministries are also launching a Drive Well initiative, which the White House says will study ways to recruit new drivers from underrepresented communities and set up a task force to investigate the arrangements. predator truck rental.
