HB 386 Proponent Testimony — Kimberly McConville, Ohio Beverage Association
Summary
Proponent testimony on HB 386 by Kimberly McConville, CAE, Executive Director of the Ohio Beverage Association (OhioBev), to the House Economic & Workforce Development Committee. The testimony states that OhioBev supports HB 386 and represents nearly 10,000 beverage industry employees statewide. It reports that the industry has a $6.4 billion economic impact in Ohio and pays over $750 million in annual wages and benefits. It says members heavily advertise and recruit for Class A CDL drivers and that driver shortages are very challenging.
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“HB 386 Proponent Testimony — Kimberly McConville, Ohio Beverage Association.”
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HB 386 Proponent Testimony
Kimberly McConville, CAE Executive Director
House Economic & Workforce Development Committee
Chairman Zeltwanger, Vice Chair Powell, Ranking Member Sobecki and members of the House Economic and
Workforce Development Committee, I am Kimberly McConville, Executive Director of the Ohio Beverage
Association (OhioBev).
OhioBev supports HB 386 and is pleased to offer some perspective from an industry that relies on heavy-duty
vehicle operators to transport our products throughout Ohio and beyond. We remain an active part of a
coalition of business interests working on various ways to address CDL driver shortages.
Our Industry
I represent nearly 10,000 beverage industry employees statewide. Our members manufacture and distribute
some of the most popular non-alcoholic beverages in the world. Our industry has a $6.4 billion economic
impact in Ohio, pays over $750 million in annual wages and benefits and contributes over $516 million annually
in state taxes. A healthy beverage industry supports an additional 33,814 workers in restaurants, grocery stores,
and other retail outlets.
Fleet Management
My members constantly innovate—from diverse beverage portfolios to operational efficiency, this industry is
always looking for a better way to go to business. Fleet management is a critical cost center for all our
companies. Whether they are investing in hybrid trucks, installing no idle switches or using load and route
optimization software, this industry spends heavily on vehicle purchase, function, insurance and maintenance.
But the most critical part of our product distribution is human infrastructure. Getting our products from
production centers to warehouses and into stores, demands qualified drivers.
Within this challenge is the constant pressure to optimize production and warehouse logistics while meeting
high customer demands from retailers with minimal back stock. This means maximizing driver routes, managing
frequent trips and mitigating risk of late deliveries. This is a delicate balance, and driver shortages are very
challenging.
Driver Shortage Challenge
You have heard from the Ohio Trucking Association and others about current and projected driver shortages in
Ohio and beyond. How does this play out for us? All our members, whether in Twinsburg or Franklin Furnace,
heavily advertise and recruit for Class A CDL drivers. They offer a unique work / life balance that “long haul”
trucking companies cannot match, but their struggle to hire and retain drivers continues.
1170 Old Henderson Rd., Suite 201 P: (614) 442-1803 kimberly@ohiobeverage.com
Columbus, OH 43220 F: (614) 442-1830 www.ohiobeverage.com
@OhioBeverage
One member now has a dedicated HR director make monthly visits to CDL training schools to explain our
industry and its needs. But despite these efforts, we still have peak times when the delivery demands outpace
the number of available drivers, leaving trucks just sitting. If we are not delivering, our retail customers are
underserved, and our profit margins diminish.
Growing Our Own Drivers
To deal with a shrinking pool of qualified operators, my members increasingly use a “grow your own” approach.
We find existing employees wiling to train for their CDL and we provide both training and all fees for them to get
their CDL. This is a costly and time-consuming process with companies spending an average of $6,000 for
training and investing 6-8 weeks to train. Our training also prepares drivers for unique aspects of our business
such as interacting with retail customers and acting as brand ambassadors.
In addition to this “grow your own” approach, our members present to students at CDL schools and job fairs to
educate students on our industry and its unique benefits.
HB 386 Value
We appreciate the long- term approach HB 386 takes in growing the pool of qualified CDL drivers. By giving the
next generation of high school graduates another career path to consider, and financial help navigating that
path, HB 386 will grow interest in commercial truck driving. This in turn will supply more drivers to our member
companies who are ready to pay great wages and benefits. We have the jobs and HB 386 will help us put drivers
in trucks.
Bottom Line
Our industry needs more qualified, skilled drivers. HB 386 is an important part of solving this problem. We are
grateful to sponsors Hoops and Sobecki and many others for their leadership. Please consider giving HB 386
your full support. Thank you.
1170 Old Henderson Rd., Suite 201 P: (614) 442-1803 kimberly@ohiobeverage.com
Columbus, OH 43220 F: (614) 442-1830 www.ohiobeverage.com
@OhioBeverage
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