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Farms can train their own employees through Entry Level Driver Training

A trucking compliance officer is sharing ways farmers and retailers can ease the hurdles of Entry Level Driver Training.

Rodney Knittle, Assistant Director of Transportation and Infrastructure with Illinois Farm Bureau tells Brownfield many members don’t realize they can register as a training provider and train their own employees.

“I think it is a doable situation for a lot of our members who have had a CDL for two years or more and experience driving a commercial motor vehicle for two year or more. They can train their own employees just like they always have and get them that tool to be able to haul grain, commodities and inputs to and from their farm.”

He says creating loyalty with employees is crucial to avoid losing them to another trucking opportunity.

“In agriculture today we have more people getting semis than we ever have. It is an efficient way to transport products safely. So, a lot of people are transitioning from smaller trucks and tractors and wagons to semis.”

Illinois Farm Bureau hosted Rules for the Road seminars reviewing updated trucking laws in a dozen locations across the state over the past month.

Knittle says according to the American Trucking Association there is a national truck driver shortage of 78,000, down only 2,000 from the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.