A bipartisan group of senators announced that they recently introduced S.3303, the Promoting Service in Transportation Act. The bill authorizes funding for the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to create and carry out a 5-year public awareness campaign to highlight the career opportunities in the transportation sector, with an emphasis on jobs within the trucking, aviation and rail industries. The sponsor of the legislation Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI) cited Michigan’s status as a “hub for transportation, trade and logistics” as part of the importance of introducing the bill.

Given the adverse impact workforce shortages are having on the transportation industry, especially in the case of professional truck drivers, this campaign would hopefully demonstrate the viability of these kinds of careers to prospective workers.