The state of Ohio is fielding legislation set to draw more individuals into the trucking industry.
The bills are waiting to be assigned to a committee before they can move forward.
According to Land Line Magazine, the set of 4 bills is expected to increase employment in the Ohio trucking industry by making the process of obtaining a commercial driver’s license easier.
The bills would create funds for scholarships and loans for students, give tax credits to companies for developing on-the-job training, make it possible for 18-20 year olds to be insured and make it easier for 21-24 year olds to get insured, and simplify the CDL process for military veterans.
The entire package of bills is expected to bring new trucking jobs to 8,000 people, but Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association director of legislative affairs Mike Matousek says the bills give incentive to “churn out new drivers” and that “we need more qualified drivers, not simply more drivers.”
Matousek claims that the tax credit “is a taxpayer subsidy for large motor carriers,” which means that small-business trucking could be edged out.
The scholarships and loans bill would help students pay for CDL training by awarding scholarships worth half the cost of training and offering loans to help with the remaining cost.
The tax credit bill would make fleets eligible for as much as a 50% match of up to $50,000 in tax credits yearly.