Truck driving, infrastructure industry stare down worker shortage

10:53

November 19, 2021

Tim Kernstein, with the Phoenix Truck Driving Institute, says the truck driver shortage is creating a greater demand for workers. As a result, wages are up for new drivers. (Peter O'Dowd/Here & Now)

States are eager to get their hands on money from the infrastructure bill to fix roads, bridges and expand broadband. These projects are expected to create 1 million new jobs over the next decade, but where will all the workers come from?

Here & Now's Peter O'Dowd speaks with Joe Kane, a fellow at Brookings Metro who focuses on infrastructure.

O'Dowd also gets the latest on the truck driver shortage from Tim Kernstein of the Phoenix Truck Driving Institute.

Magdalena Garcia is getting a commercial drivers license so she can start a trucking company with her mom and brother. Women make up just a fraction of truck drivers in the U.S. (Peter O'Dowd/Here & Now)

This segment aired on November 19, 2021.