On Wednesday, August 17th, Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) visited CVTA member Tim Kordula at Karl’s Transport’s CDL school in Antigo, Wisconsin. The purpose of this visit was to help the Senator understand the nature of CDL training and educate her team on how to address some of the issues arising in the industry. Victoria Slatton, CVTA Executive Director, was also present for the visit, and several members of the press attended the event as well.
I stopped in Antigo today to see the great work that Karl’s Transport CDL School is doing to educate and train Wisconsin truckers. We are building a stronger & more diverse workforce by getting #WomeninTrucking, strengthening our supply chain, and moving #MadeinWI products. pic.twitter.com/PFECFXNU8G
— Sen. Tammy Baldwin (@SenatorBaldwin) August 17, 2022
Upon her arrival and initial introductions, Tim Kordula explained some of the issues his school was facing, including roadblocks in obtaining WIOA funding for his students. Over the years, WIOA grants have allowed thousands of individuals to attend truck driver training schools and begin their careers as commercial drivers. On average, Mr. Kordula has around ten students per class and for his upcoming session four students are not able to attend because their funding did not go through due to red tape from the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development and other various government agencies.
Mr. Kordula explained to Senator Baldwin how these grants are a lifeline to many students seeking a career change and bureaucratic hurdles are a burden many schools are facing. Upon hearing about these concerns, Senator Baldwin agreed this was a serious problem and offered to “double team” with Mr. Kordula in working with the IRS and various other agencies that are causing these delays. She was supportive of Mr. Kordula’s commitment to removing financial barriers to training and agreed that this was essential in fighting the trucker shortage.
After this initial greeting, Senator Baldwin was shown the Virage simulators his school uses as part of their training curriculum. These simulators allow future drivers to fine-tune their skills in a safe environment before getting behind the wheel of a CMV. Mr. Kordula stated that he “will not graduate anyone unless they show 100% proficiency” and explained how these machines are a helpful tool in that mission.
Next, in a move that surprised and impressed many of those who were in attendance, Senator Baldwin not only got into one of Karl Transport’s training vehicles but physically drove the truck around the lot. While she was in the rig, her team explained that she had visited several CDL schools and was growing “comfortable” with the equipment. Her Press Secretary jokingly stated that she was on her way to obtaining a CDL license herself, and went on to explain that she was very committed to understanding the issues those in the industry are facing, which is why this has become one of her priorities.
After a quick loop around the lot, everyone went back into Mr. Kordula’s training room for a quick word from Senator Baldwin and a few questions from the press. Senator Baldwin stated:
“…Currently it’s about 80,000 [truck drivers] across the country that we’re short, and it only is predicted to get worse. So, a lot of us have been putting our heads together to problem solve to get more people into this field.”
She went on to explain how she got into the “Women in Trucking” issue and explained that a task force is being put together to explore ways to get more women into the profession. The task force is still in early stages but she is hopeful that it will help “shape transportation policy.”
The meeting ended with a short roundtable with Senator Baldwin, Tim Kordula, and Victoria Slatton. Some of the issues discussed included the importance of WIOA funding and how better training can lead to more women entering the profession because safety at every level removes barriers into entering the field. Mr. Kordula explained that he is proud that 19% current drivers at Karl’s Transport are women, and attributed these numbers to his commitment to safety and fostering a sense of community.
Victoria Slatton brought up ELDT implementation and stated that the growing TPR list has been a major concern for many CVTA members. Since the ELDT’s implementation, there has been an increase in these substandard CDL “schools” that require additional auditing and regulation by the FMCSA. Senator Baldwin agreed with this assessment and thanked Mrs. Slatton and Mr. Kordula for bringing it to her attention.
The meeting ended with Mr. Kordula thanking Senator Baldwin for this visit and assured her that she was welcomed back at any time. Senator Baldwin also thanked Mr. Kordula and expressed again that she was committed to working with CDL schools to ensure they continue to operate in a way that keeps the supply chains moving without sacrificing safety on the roads.
CVTA would like to officially thank Tim Kordula for his hospitality during the visit and Senator Baldwin for her encouragement, time, and understanding.
Campus tours with lawmakers like this one allow CVTA members to build relationships directly with those in power, and are an important advocacy tool for the Association. If you are interested in conducting a campus tour at your school, we will help connect you to an appropriate lawmaker in your area and provide any guidance needed to make the tour a success.