Assemblyman Billy Jones (D-Chateaugay Lake) held a press conference on Friday, Oct. 29, to highlight the commercial driver license (CDL) workforce shortage and discuss how it has impacted North Country businesses. Jones is pushing for the state government to develop solutions to help potential drivers obtain their CDL and showcasing local programs that help drivers obtain their CDL.

 “Small businesses are bearing the brunt of the global supply chain shortages, increasing transit costs and delaying supply deliveries,” Jones said. “Part of this disruption is due to a need for more CDL drivers, but anyone interested in obtaining this license faces a cumbersome system that can deter new drivers from entering the trucking industry.

Jones is looking into developing unique solutions, such as how a high school in California recently started offering a truck-driving program for students. Similar programs exist right here in the North Country at Champlain Valley Educational Services (CVES), and those programs need to be highlighted, advanced, and promoted. CVES has both CDL-A and CDL-B Training Courses for adults that works with local businesses such as Upstone Materials and Casella Waste to train and hire new drivers. Many local schools even help pay for the training required to be a school bus driver. CVES is looking for other local businesses to also become involved with their programs.

“The state needs to do more to not only promote these programs, but also to support them. I am proud to have secured funding to help pay for a tractor trailer for this program, which ironically is late being delivered due to supply chain issues,” Jones said.

Jones has also received several complaints about the process required to obtain a CDL including the pre-inspection test. Obtaining a CDL allows a driver to operate trucks with double or triple trailers, hazardous materials and a tank, along with passenger vehicles “We must streamline the CDL process and develop better initiatives to recruit the next generation of drivers. Addressing these issues is a win-win for local businesses, consumers and local governments,” Jones said.

Truckers are the backbone of our nation’s economy, but the industry faces a shortage of around 80,000 drivers, according to the American Trucking Association. The average age of a trucker is roughly 55 years old, so recruiting young drivers is important, Jones noted.