Carbondale Reporter

Illinoisans who want to get a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) will have access to a financial aid opportunity to cover application costs.

“The Illinois Pork Producers Association offers a scholarship program for applicants seeking to obtain or renew their CDL in Illinois,” Representative Patrick Windhorst said.

The Illinois Pork Producers Association (IPPA) noted there is a shortage of United States truck drivers.

“A common issue pork producers continue to talk about is the difficulty they face in finding and retaining good labor both on-farm and transportation support,” Thomas Titus, IPPA president, said on IPPA’s website. “Now, more than ever, it is our association’s goal to help producers support and retain their employees. Additionally, we want to recruit the next generation of pork industry advocates.”

Truck drivers are a part of the critical transportation industry — who else will go coast to coast for a package? While Schneider Jobs noted the industry lacks drivers, the U.S. Census reported it saw growth in 2016.

“Trucking is a story of bifurcation,” Steve Viscelli, an economic sociologist at the University of Pennsylvania, who has researched the industry for more than 15 years, said to CNBC. “There are some excellent jobs and some terrible jobs.”

The IPPA is offering a $1,000 scholarship for individuals who have a valid Transport Quality Assurance (TQA) certification or sign up for the class. Individuals must show that they haul pigs or feed for a pork producer in the state.

Illinois isn’t alone in incentivizing people to become truck drivers. Audacy reported the Washtenaw Community College is working with Tranico Truck Driving School 

Windhorst was first elected to the Illinois House in 2018. A Republican, their legislative experience includes serving on the Restorative Justice Committee and Judiciary - Criminal.  Windhorst is a state representative who resides in Metropolis, according to the Illinois House.