Gov. Heineman Announces New Job Training Funds for Nebraska’s Trucking Industry

(Lincoln, Neb.) Gov. Dave Heineman announced a new job training program aimed at promoting Nebraska’s transportation industry by training new driving instructors. The program also provides trucking companies with the flexibility needed to hire new commercial truck drivers.

 The Nebraska Department of Economic Development (DED) has awarded a $75,000 job training grant to as part of a partnership established with the Nebraska Community College Association, and the Nebraska Trucking Foundation, Inc., which is a division of the Nebraska Trucking Association.

 “This program will help more Nebraskans obtain the training they need for jobs in the trucking industry, while addressing a need for drivers in one of our state’s fastest growing industries,” Gov. Heineman said. “Truck driving is just a beginning in a very broad and diverse high wage, high demand career path that connects Nebraska to the global economy this is an opportunity from which our Nebraska owned businesses in rural Nebraska can greatly benefit.

 “I want to thank the members of this partnership for their work to increase the pool of qualified truck drivers in one of our state’s growing industries.”

 The job training grant is focused on helping alleviate a shortage of commercial drivers by offering new drivers the opportunity to substitute an intensive 250 supervised hours of behind-the-wheel training for the two years of on-the-road experience typically required for commercial truck drivers to be hired.

 Driver trainees still need to meet age restrictions, attend an accredited professional driving school, and obtain their commercial driver license. Federal regulations require intrastate drivers to be 19 and those driving across state lines to be 21.

 The grant will also increase the pool of driving instructors at several of Nebraska’s smaller trucking companies. The partnership will help at least 13 small trucking companies enroll experienced drivers in the driver finishing instructor program offered by four of Nebraska’s community colleges. After completing the program, instructors would be qualified to oversee the 250 hours of behind-the-wheel time for new drivers.

 The $75,000 job training grant will cover a portion of the costs associated with instructor training courses and the new ride-along program for new drivers.

 Larry Johnson, President of the Nebraska Trucking Association, said, “Nebraska’s central location presents the perfect opportunity for growth in the transportation, distribution, warehousing and logistics industries. As these sectors grow, it becomes more important that we find innovative ways to attract and train people to meet the growing demand. We are very interested in expanding our recruitment efforts to all those interested in pursuing a new career.”

There are nearly 83,000 licensed drivers working for the more than 11,500 commercial trucking companies registered in Nebraska. More than 90 percent of Nebraska’s trucking companies have less than 20 trucks and are located primarily in state’s smaller communities. About 400 new trucking companies are started each year in Nebraska.

 The average starting wage for a truck driver in Nebraska ranges from $35,000 to $45,000 annually.

DED Director Richard Baier said, “These job training dollars target our smaller trucking firms across rural Nebraska in an attempt to meet their need for highly trained and skilled drivers. This pilot project will help Nebraska companies meet the growing demand for drivers needed to deliver goods to consumers all across the country.”

 A study commissioned by the American Trucking Association estimates that 20,000 drivers are needed nationwide, with the potential for the shortage to grow to 111,000 by 2014. 

 The grant is part of funding associated with the Customized Job Training Advantage, which was developed in 2005 as part of the Nebraska Advantage business incentives program. Nearly $12.5 million has been committed to help businesses train workers in many of the state’s fastest growing industries.

Photos