Page 10 - Port of Baltimore - Issue 4 - 2022

[8] The Port of Baltimore ■ ISSUE 4 / 2022
The Happenings In and Around the Port — Send us your news for a possible item in the Soundings section in the Port of Baltimore Magazine. Email tina.irgang@todaymediacustom.com.
TRUCKING
New Task Force
Seeks to Move Veterans
into Trucking Jobs
Throughout the pandemic, Americans were reminded just how important the logistics industry is to their
daily lives. Most Americans experienced these issues as they saw empty store shelves and price increases. But those working at ports saw the problem up close. As a labor shortage in trucking sent ripples across the transportation sector, port workers faced logjams in transferring cargo for shipping, truckers faced long lines for loading and unloading, and consumers were left without basic staples.
In response to the trucker shortage, President Biden announced an initiative to get more Americans good-paying jobs in trucking — especially veterans and transitioning service members. In April, the effort formally launched as Patrick J. Murphy, the 32nd Under Secretary of the US Army and first Iraq veteran elected to Congress, visited the White
House to announce the launch
of “Task Force Movement: Life-
Cycle Pathways for Veterans and
Military into Trucking.”
Since then, the task force has partnered with various organizations to create expedited programs
to ensure capable, experienced veterans could get up to speed
on domestic regulations and get them out on the road. The Port of Baltimore is one of the key partners of Task Force Movement (TFM).
Maryland Port Administration
(MPA) Executive Director William
P. Doyle sits on the TFM Board of
Directors and has been a leader in identifying the needs of ports.
“We are very happy to be part of this important endeavor,” Doyle said. “Our veterans deserve as much thanks, support and assistance as possible. What those men and women mean to our country cannot
Top: Under Secretary of the Army and Task Force Movement for Trucking Chairman Patrick J. Murphy. Above: MPA Executive Director William P. Doyle hosted Murphy at the
Port. Pictured during the visit are, left to right: MPA Deputy Executive Director Brian Miller, Murphy, Doyle, ILA 333 President Scott Cowan and Maryland Motor Truck Executive Vice President Armand Patella.