EAST PEORIA (25News Now) – Two years after the federal government required Entry-Level Driver Training, trucker staffing numbers remain short.
It’s resulted in longer wait times on deliveries for those transporting goods.
One anonymous trucker said the hours are longer and the stress is higher on himself and other drivers.
The regulations require those who want to take their commercial driver’s license test to enroll a separate course on safety.
Since the change, Mid-West Truckers Association Vice President Matt Wells claimed the number of truck drivers hasn’t changed because it’s adding layers to the process of getting hired, especially for companies that don’t drive semi-trucks.
“You also have CDL requirements for your local township supervisors that operate their dump trucks. That need is completely different than the need of an over-the-road truck-driving company,” said Wells.
In September, the federal government put $48 million in grant funding to help college and other training organizations bring in more truckers, including Illinois Central College.
The workforce equity grant helps people who want a career change in truck driving.
The grant pays students $15 per hour to go to school while paying for the course.
“What’s great about it is you have those hourly-waged people who are coming in from companies along with those with WEI grants,” said ICC Truck Driving School Lead Instructor Kenneth Baker.
“So you’re getting the best of both worlds, and everybody helps everybody,” said Baker.
The driving school added 30 more students to the course so far in 2023 than they did in 2022.
Students test for their CDL and receive training tailored to their specific job duties by their company.
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