Pandemic Darlings The pandemic economy, in original documents
Home Source documents Representative Jim Hoops — HB 129, Commercial Truck Driver Student Aid Program (March 10, 2021)

Representative Jim Hoops — HB 129, Commercial Truck Driver Student Aid Program (March 10, 2021)

Summary

Testimony dated March 10, 2021 from Representative Jim Hoops of the Ohio House of Representatives, addressed to Chairman Edwards and members of the House Economic and Workforce Development Committee. It concerns HB 129, which would establish the Commercial Truck Driver Student Aid Program, a dual scholarship and loan program for students attending CDL school. The testimony states that the program appropriates $5 million and that HB 166 eliminated funding for the OhioMeansJobs Workforce Revolving Loan Program. It cites the American Trucking Association for a current driver shortage of over 60,000 that could grow to over 160,000 by the year 2028.

Summary drafted by a model from the document's text below and checked by script against that text before publication. It is a navigation aid, not a reading of what the document proves. Where AI is used

Cite this document

“Representative Jim Hoops — HB 129, Commercial Truck Driver Student Aid Program (March 10, 2021).” Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/2021-03-10-econ-workforce-dev-testimony-hb129sponsortestimony-hoops-73c7ca2edb/, SHA-256 bcaa326c6e6cbcb80a7e1599f3d4cb9af912841bc8287b115e96ee9af51ea292.

Full text

            Jim Hoops                                                                       Verne Riffe Center
       st
    81 Ohio House District                                                                 77 South High Street
                                                                                          Columbus, Ohio 43215
              Finance
        Commerce and Labor                                                                Phone: (614) 466-3760
       Chair: Public Utilities
                                                                                          Rep81@ohiohouse.gov




                                        Ohio General Assembly
                                     Ohio House of Representatives
                                           Representative Jim Hoops
March 10, 2021

Chairman Edwards, Vice Chair Powell, Ranking Member Upchurch and members of the House Economic and
Workforce Development Committee, thank you for the opportunity to testify along with my joint sponsor
Representative Sobecki on HB 129, which would establish the Commercial Truck Driver Student Aid Program.
Many of you have likely heard from businesses in your districts about the challenges of finding qualified
workers. This challenge has hit the transportation industry especially hard. According to the American Trucking
Association, the current driver shortage is over 60,000 and it could grow to over 160,000 by the year 2028.
While many trucking companies have enough applicants to fill open positions, they are turned away due to
hiring constraints specific to the trucking industry, including age requirements, CDL testing standards, drug and
alcohol testing and clean driving records.
HB 129 is designed to address the need for qualified drivers by creating a dual scholarship and loan program.
The bill is designed to require enrollees to have a stake in the process while also removing the financial barriers
facing Ohioans attempting to pursue a career in one of Ohio’s most in-demand professions. The Commercial
Truck Driver Student Aid Program appropriates $5 million to provides students attending CDL school with a
combination of grants and loans. Measures have also been added to the bill to incentivize drivers to remain in
Ohio once they complete their CDL training.
This legislation is needed now more than ever as there are few state resources specifically designed to offer
financial aid to students pursuing a CDL. In fact, in the most recent operating budget (HB 166), funding was
eliminated from the OhioMeansJobs Workforce Revolving Loan Program, which was heavily utilized by
students attending CDL school. We hope HB 129 will help fill the gap left by the elimination of the revolving
loan program.
The Commercial Truck Driver Student Aid Program will create opportunities for Ohioans seeking higher
paying jobs, without saddling them with debt. HB 129 will also ensure Ohio’s industries in need of drivers have
access to qualified CDL holders. I hope you can support this important piece of legislation and we will be happy
to answer any questions you may have.




                            77 SOUTH HIGH STREET, COLUMBUS, OHIO 43215-6111
                                           www.ohiohouse.gov

File and source

File
2021-03-10_econ-workforce-dev_testimony_hb129sponsortestimony-hoops.pdf
Size
263,905 bytes
SHA-256
bcaa326c6e6cbcb80a7e1599f3d4cb9af912841bc8287b115e96ee9af51ea292
Our copy
2021-03-10_econ-workforce-dev_testimony_hb129sponsortestimony-hoops.pdf
Original
No public link identified.
Back to top