FOPT Files Formal Petition with U.S. Department of Labor to Recognize Commercial Truck Driving as a Skilled Trade

Jan 5
2 min read

Farmersville, Ohio — January 5, 2026 — The Federation of Professional Truckers (FOPT) has formally submitted a Petition for Rulemaking to the U.S. Department of Labor pursuant to the Administrative Procedure Act, 5

U.S.C. § 553(e), requesting that the Department initiate rulemaking to recognize commercial truck driving as a skilled trade within federal workforce development and Registered Apprenticeship frameworks.

Commercial truck driving is a safety-critical, federally credentialed occupation requiring extensive training, regulatory compliance, and professional judgment. Despite this, truck driving remains inconsistently recognized across federal workforce systems, limiting access to structured training pathways, apprenticeship alignment, and workforce funding mechanisms intended for skilled occupations.

FOPT’s petition is narrowly focused on matters within the Department of Labor’s authority. It does not seek changes to motor carrier safety regulations or Commercial Driver’s License requirements administered by the Department of Transportation. Instead, it requests that workforce policy and training systems reflect the reality of the profession and support standardized pathways that improve recruitment, retention, and safety outcomes.

What FOPT is requesting

Formal recognition of commercial truck driving as a skilled occupation within Department of Labor workforce development and training programs
Clear eligibility and alignment for Registered Apprenticeship programs, including standardized journey-level competency pathways
Clarification that commercial truck driving qualifies as a skilled trade for purposes of federal workforce funding and training grants administered under WIOA
Consistency across federal labor and training frameworks without altering DOT safety authority

Why this matters

Truck drivers operate complex equipment, transport hazardous and high-value cargo, and comply with extensive federal and state regulations. Recognizing trucking as a skilled trade within workforce and apprenticeship systems would strengthen training pipelines, support professional standards, and better align federal policy with the operational realities of commercial transportation.

FOPT has also released a one-page Executive Brief summarizing the petition for policymakers and stakeholders.

Documents