WMC’s Director of Tax, Transportation & Legal Affairs Evan Umpir testified before the Senate Committee on Economic Development and Technical Colleges in support of SB 271. This bill creates a grant program to support for commercial driver licenses. WMC sees the program as part of the solution to addressing the state’s critical need for drivers. In 2022 it was estimated that 78,000 drivers were needed nationwide to close the gap between current employment and optimal number of drivers to meet demand. The legislation will help fund CDL training to stretch training dollars farther and encourage additional slots for students. Funding for this program was included in the 2023-25 state budget. The bill awaits a vote by committees in both chambers before advancing.
