Driving Prosperity: Oregon Boosts Commercial Truck Driver Training with Federal Grant

In a significant push towards addressing the national truck driver shortage, Oregon has successfully trained 360 new commercial truck drivers. This achievement is part of the “Driving Prosperity” initiative, funded through a generous portion of a $3.4 million Good Jobs Challenge grant by the U.S. Economic Development Administration, a part of coronavirus pandemic recovery efforts. The Southwestern Oregon Workforce Investment Board (SOWIB), which spearheaded the project, initially aimed to train 325 drivers over two years but surpassed this goal due to high demand.

The program distributed funds across six counties in an expansive 18,000-square-mile area in Southern Oregon, involving multiple workforce boards and partnerships. Notably, the project utilized innovative strategies, including the purchase of mobile CDL training simulators, to facilitate training. Financial support covered all associated costs, including tuition, fuel, and work attire, ensuring that participants did not have to pay out of their pockets.

Despite the successful training of hundreds and the strong ongoing interest in CDL training, the program faces sustainability challenges as it has fully allocated its current funding. The future of the initiative is uncertain, although efforts continue to support prospective drivers through local workforce centers.

Georgia Conrad, spokesperson for Oregon Workforce Partnerships, remains optimistic about the impact of the training. Many graduates are encouraged to stay and work locally, though they are not obliged to do so. The continuous high demand for CDL training underscores its significance and positive influence on the community. As Conrad emphasizes, there is still considerable work to be done in the transportation sector, but the achievements so far highlight the program’s vital role in Oregon’s economic and workforce development.