What is the "Trucking Action Plan" and How Does it Affect Players in the Trucking Industry?

The Trucking Action Plan was announced by the White House on December 16th last year with the purpose of providing a comprehensive plan that addresses driver shortage in the trucking industry for the public. 

This led to questions of owners/operators on what this plan has in store for them and its effect on the logistics industry. Here is a breakdown of what you should know about the said action plan as a player in the industry.

What’s in the Trucking Action Plan?

In an official statement, the White House said that the Trucking Action Plan was a “pilot initiative to create digital infrastructure to connect key stakeholders in the supply chain, and more”. 

The administration expects the said plan to address pressing industry concerns in logistics, strengthen the competitiveness of the country, and provide support to drivers. 

There are six key points that the action plan highlighted which were instituted through a series of steps:

1. Expanding the workforce through offering more positions for women in the industry;

2. Installing an easier process for apprenticeship programs;

3. Encouraging military veterans to be part of the trucking industry by providing jobs that appeal to them;

4. Providing support for pilot programs on training and licensing new drivers to work across state lines;

5. Funding assistance programs to States  for the improvement of their processes for CDL; and 

6. Conducting sessions with different players in the industry including but not limited to drivers, carriers, and industry unions to discuss their concerns and help in enhancing the workforce.

Result of the Trucking Action Plan

From December 2021 to February 2022, the rate of employment in the trucking industry has increased, describing it as the “best year for trucking employment growth since 1994”, says the White House. Added to that, the wages of frontline truckers also grew despite the increasing inflation. 

The White House also provided results of some of the six key points that were instituted:

Providing support for pilot programs on training and licensing new drivers to work across state lines. 

• Doubled issuances of new commercial driver’s licenses since 2021, granting more than 876,000 new CDLs since January of last year by cutting red tape and providing funding to help in expediting the release of CDLs.

Installing an easier process for apprenticeship programs

• Registered apprenticeships in trucking were scaled as the Department of Labor and Transportation launched the “90 Day Trucking Apprenticeship Challenge” in which employers in the trucking industry also participated. DOL saved time for employers to launch a program.

Encouraging military veterans to be part of the trucking industry by providing jobs that appeal to them.

• The Trucking industry connected and partnered with leading Veterans Service Organizations and launched a program called Task Force Movement: Life-Cycle Pathways for Veterans and Military into Trucking. This will help in the recruitment and retention of veterans and military family members. 

Conducting sessions with different players in the industry including but not limited to drivers, carriers, and industry unions to discuss their concerns and help in enhancing the workforce.

• Listening sessions with different key players in the trucking industry were hosted by the current administration to provide concrete actions to enhance job quality. Through this several programs were created including the launching of the Women of Trucking Advisory Board.

How does it affect owners/operators?

The key changes in the industry open more opportunities for more people to be recruited and retention improvement. The significant changes, if it continues, will address the gap between the growing freight volumes and the lack of commercial drivers. As major changes take place, driver recruitment may be challenging for you as the trucking industry undergoes these growing pains. However, one must not worry because help is always available.  Innovative Assist can lend a hand in recruiting truck drivers. Talk to us about your goals for your logistics business today!