WASHINGTON — On Monday, House lawmakers approved a bill designed to facilitate the transition of military veterans into supply chain careers, particularly in the trucking sector.
The legislation, titled the “Transitioning Retiring and New Service Members to Port Ocean Rail and Truck Jobs Act,” or the “Transport Jobs Act,” was passed via voice vote. It mandates the Secretary of Transportation to collaborate with other federal agencies to create a comprehensive plan that identifies obstacles to veteran employment in trucking, rail, shipping, and other vital infrastructure fields. Additionally, it calls for policy recommendations to eliminate these barriers, according to a summary of the bill.
“Our veterans are exceptionally trained and focused on their missions, yet many face challenges finding meaningful work after military service,” stated U.S. Rep. Hillary Scholten, D-Mich., who co-sponsored the bill with U.S. Rep. Tom Barrett, R-Mich., in May.
“It is crucial that we remove the obstacles preventing our service members from accessing these essential job opportunities. The Transport Jobs Act is an important initial step in this direction, benefiting both our veterans and enhancing our nation’s supply chain,” she added.
The act assigns the Transportation Secretary the task of developing a “Veteran to Supply Chain Action Plan.” This initiative aims to explore how companies engaged in the movement of goods can improve training, mentorship, and advancement opportunities, thereby increasing the participation of military members and veterans in the supply chain workforce.
To craft the plan, the bill instructs the Secretary to engage with industry representatives from the transportation supply chain, including employers and organizations that represent employees in this sector.
Next, the legislation will proceed to the Senate for discussion and action.
Concerns Among Veterans Regarding Long-Haul Trucking
Recently, it has come to light that individuals with military trucking backgrounds may hesitate to pursue truck driving as a career option.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration initiated a pilot program in 2019 to assess the viability of allowing 18- to 20-year-olds with military truck driving experience to operate commercially in interstate commerce (individuals under 21 are restricted to in-state driving only).
However, this three-year initiative was terminated in 2021 due to insufficient interest from potential participants regarding a commercial trucking career, as concluded by the FMCSA.
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