Hoeven highlights need for truck drivers in North Dakota

FARGO — Hauling crops, gas and building materials, in all types of weather. U.S. Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D., highlighted a growing need for truck drivers in North Dakota on Thursday, Sept. 3.

Hoeven led a roundtable discussion with North Dakota State College of Science officials and commercial driver trainers to hear how future drivers prepare for the job.

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Derek Barrs with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration joined Hoeven in gaining first-hand experience that students receive, including on simulators.

Hoeven says more needs to be done to convince students to start truck driving.

"These guys are fantastic. We have been really aggressive in the, you know, career and technical education, of which, you know, trucking and many other pursuits," Hoeven said. "But we brought the national administrator in here to figure out how we can do it better."

Hoeven says initiatives such as Freedom Haulers have helped stimulate growth. Freedom Haulers works to help veterans obtain jobs in trucking.