Project aims to recruit more Latino drivers

The Truckload Carriers Association (TCA) and the National Council of La Raza (NCLR) have launched an effort to train and recruit more Latinos as truck drivers. The Careers in Trucking Pilot Project was inaugurated January 15 in Philadelphia PA with truck driving simulators, as well as representatives from Professional Truck Driver Institute (PTDI)-certified commercial driver license (CDL) training schools.

The goal of the project is to provide truckload carriers with a new source of CDL drivers by recruiting qualified bilingual Latino drivers from United States communities. To accomplish this, TCA has been working with the NCLR and its community-based affiliate in Philadelphia, Congreso de Latinos Unidos Inc. Financing for training will come from the Philadelphia Workforce Development Corp.

Congreso will manage recruitment, screening, referrals, and support through the training and retention process. Selected training sites are schools with PTDI-certified courses: Lehigh Career and Technical Institute, Upper Bucks Campus in partnership with the Sage Corp, and All-State Career.

If successful, the Philadelphia program will be replicated throughout the nation, said TCA officials.

Upcoming series sessions will be held January 26 and February 19 from 9 am to 3 pm at Congreso de Latinos Unidos, 216 West Somerset Street in Philadelphia.