TDL Partnership Encourages Employers to Hire

As the workforce intermediary for the transportation, distribution, and logistics (TDL) sector, the CBIA Education and Workforce Partnership helps develop meaningful partnerships to strengthen the talent pipeline, eliminate the gap between employers and jobs seekers, and encourage economic growth.
Aligning with those goals, the TDL Workforce Partnership addresses the need for skilled commercial drivers. Working with local employers, entry-level drivers in the Greater Hartford area receive on-the-job training to build skills leading to family sustaining wages.
Produce distributor FreshPoint, an active participant in the TDL Workforce Partnership since its inception in 2014, has been a key partner and used the program to grow its workforce.
Last year, with financial assistance from the TDL Workforce Partnership, several FreshPoint employees attained nationally recognized logistics credentials to support their career growth.
Maria Joy, HR Business Partner, says the company is passionate about their people, the experience, and knowledge they bring to the industry.
“We recognize the potential of entry-level employees and help them succeed,” said Joy.
Just within the past three months, FreshPoint has hired and trained six new drivers using the Entry-Level Driver Training and Employment Program (ELDTEP) wage subsidy.
“The process is simple and aligns with our existing training program,” said Karen Lane, HR Generalist, at FreshPoint.
“We submit payroll records along with a training checklist at 4- and 8-week intervals, and within a week or two we receive a check for 25% of the new hire’s wages.
“Training new drivers can be a costly investment and this wage subsidy helps.”
This program is funded by the Workforce Solutions Collaborative of Metro Hartford. Grant funds support onboarding, training and coaching of new hires but funding for this initiative ends in December.
The TDL Workforce Partnership meets quarterly. The next meeting will be held at 10:30 a.m. on September 28 at 350 Church Street, Hartford.
Contact CBIA’s Deb Presbie (860.244.1932) for more information or to RSVP to the meeting.