Jobs & the Economy

There are 3.5 million professional truck drivers throughout the country. That’s 3.5 million individuals who sacrifice family time to be on the road.

America churns out nearly $20 trillion in annual domestic product. We continue to move away from the Great Recession and toward a renaissance, marked by 4.2% growth in the second quarter.

America is facing a nationwide shortage of truck drivers. Reports estimate 890,000 new drivers will be needed over the next decade to replace an aging, retiring workforce.

The U.S. Department of Transportation is working to connect young men and women serving in our military with good-paying job opportunities, while helping address our country’s shortage of qualified drivers. This initiative will provide data to analyze the safety impact of 18- to 20-year-old drivers with military training operating commercial motor vehicles in interstate commerce.

At Pilot Flying J, we understand just how essential trucking is to America’s economy. That’s why we teamed up with the American Trucking Associations this past September to launch an education outreach program that raises awareness about the truck driver profession and its contributions to the economy.

The truck driver shortage highlights the need for industry changes to be able to attract and retain the best employees. One of these is hours of service (HOS) reform.

Indiana is known as the Crossroads of America due to the numerous highways that crisscross our state and the related logistics firms that rely upon a stable workforce of drivers. However, the logistics industry is faced with a growing shortage of drivers that is acutely felt in the Hoosier state.

America is facing an acute truck driver shortage. That’s why recruiting drivers among the next generation is key to the industry’s future success.

Growing up during the ‘70s, I was fortunate enough to experience hit movies like “Smokey and the Bandit” along with TV shows like “B. J. and the Bear.” These Hollywood hits once inspired a generation of truck drivers who knew the trucking profession was cool.

The current workforce shortage facing the commercial trucking industry increases prices for businesses and consumers. Making commercial trucking jobs more accessible and appealing to the next generation of drivers, the DRIVE-Safe Act empowers their futures, the economy and American businesses without sacrificing safety programs.

With predictable schedules and access to great benefits and pay, Walmart strives to be the best place for truck drivers to work. That’s why we have turnover as low as 7% historically compared to 90% nationally. However, the shortage affects Walmart, too; recently, we began offering up to $1,500 referral bonuses.

Holland, a regional LTL shipping leader, partnered with the Department of Labor and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to create a truck driver apprenticeship program for veterans. Holland also received a $40,000 grant from FASTPORT for the program.

I’m proud to sponsor the H.R. 5358, DRIVE-Safe Act. If enacted into law, this bill would address a hole in our transportation system.

Virtually every product you rely on to make it through your day can be traced to the back of a truck. That includes the food for your meals, the gasoline for your car and medicine for your children, not to mention the computer or phone you are using right now to read this article.

It’s time to focus on policies that will create jobs and strengthen the U.S. economy.

The key to creating jobs and fostering economic growth is tax reform. Congress is working to create a tax system that is simpler, fairer and will deliver much-needed relief to middle-class families.

Industries across the country are anxious to enact a territorial tax system because they want to create jobs and bring revenue that’s currently parked overseas back to American communities and invested in the pockets of hard-working Americans.

Equipment manufacturers support some 1.3 million U.S. jobs and added $159 billion to the economy last year.

Trade is hot. In 2017 alone:

The Trump administration has stated its trade strategy: Identify and remedy “unfair” practices using existing U.S. trade legislation and reduce bilateral trade deficits.

Getting tax reform passed Congress requires Republican unity. To avoid division, they should focus on corporate income tax reform.

Although unclear whether Trump realizes it, he’s exposed an uncomfortable truth. Most trade deals the U.S. has struck have been pursued not for economic reasons but rather strategic objectives.

The nearly 800,000 young people protected by Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) are our neighbors, students and friends. And with 91 percent in the workforce, they are also our coworkers.

Healthcare’s an important source of jobs. Healthcare spending was 17.8% of GDP in 2015 and accounted for 12.8% of private sector jobs. Employment increased 20% between 2005 and 2015. It’s a particularly important source of employment for workers without a college degree, most of whom earn low wages. Healthcare jobs are moving from hospitals to outpatient facilities. Despite rapid job growth, median real wages stagnated or fell.

The need for a paid family leave policy in the U.S. is urgent. Demands on working families have grown dramatically over recent decades.

Higher education is more important in today’s economy than ever before – it’s also more expensive. Many students rely on debt to finance their degrees.

Amazon’s big announcement that it will build a second headquarters has ignited interest among U.S. and Canadian cities and states hoping to be its chosen home.

Education beyond high school, vocational and technical certificates and college degrees is critical in today’s economy. The public workforce development system, charged with helping people upgrade skills and find jobs, is an unrecognized but mighty ally.

When you make a new hire, you want the best available talent. Don’t shortchange your company by overlooking the rich talent pool comprised of veterans and military spouses.