INDIANAPOLIS, IND. (WOWO) Gov. Mike Braun is highlighting commercial driver’s license training as a key pathway to higher wages and career advancement for Hoosier workers through the state’s Power Up Indiana initiative.
The program provides incentives to Indiana employers that invest in training and credentialing their existing employees, with the goal of moving workers into higher-skilled positions while helping businesses build and retain their workforce.
“Growing wages by growing skills helps workers, their families, businesses and the community,” Braun said. “Power Up Indiana shows how employer-led training upskills Hoosiers, connecting people to in-demand work while supporting business needs across the state.”
Power Up Indiana is designed to help employers offset the cost of workforce training while creating measurable career advancement for employees. The program is open to businesses across Indiana and is focused on employer-led training that can strengthen internal talent pipelines.
Under the initiative highlighted by Braun, participating employers must demonstrate that workers who receive the training also receive a wage increase of at least 10 percent. The requirement is intended to ensure state-supported training translates into higher earnings for employees rather than simply adding another credential.
CDL training is one example of how employers can use that approach to move workers into jobs with greater responsibility.
Hydromax Services is working with Ivy Tech Community College to provide CDL training to employees. The program includes hands-on instruction covering vehicle inspection standards, Department of Transportation requirements and field operations.
The training is intended to help Hydromax employees qualify for commercial driving responsibilities while also improving safety and efficiency for crews working on projects and service lines.
At FF-DFI Transport, a wholly owned subsidiary of Delco Foods, Power Up Indiana is being used to create a pathway from driver-helper positions into professional driving careers.
Employees begin by gaining hands-on experience before receiving support as they work toward their CDL credentials. About half of the company’s current drivers have advanced through that CDL development pathway, according to the governor’s announcement.
The company says the approach is helping address its driver workforce needs while also supporting safety, employee retention and professional development.
C&R Construction is using CDL training to expand the responsibilities employees can take on. Workers who earn their licenses can safely operate commercial vehicles and qualify for a wider range of assignments.
That flexibility can also help employees remain on the payroll during seasonal slowdowns by allowing them to perform additional types of work.
For C&R Construction, which has about 60 employees, Power Up Indiana helps reduce the financial burden of training while giving workers an opportunity to advance and giving the company a broader pool of qualified employees.
The three companies represent different ways employers can use workforce training to address the same underlying challenge: finding and retaining skilled workers while giving existing employees a reason to stay and advance.
The broader Power Up Indiana program is intended to reward employers that build talent from within instead of relying exclusively on outside hiring. State workforce officials describe the initiative as a way to support upskilling, career progression and wage growth while strengthening Indiana’s overall talent pipeline.
The state’s current Power Up Indiana materials say eligible training can include industry-recognized technical credentials, cross-training and reskilling, leadership development and registered apprenticeships. Employers can receive reimbursement for qualifying training, with the program structured to encourage investments that produce measurable wage gains.
For workers, the CDL examples underscore the program’s emphasis on turning training into a concrete career step: an employee gains a recognized credential, takes on additional responsibilities and moves into a position with greater earning potential.
For employers, the state says the strategy can help address workforce shortages, strengthen retention and develop employees who already understand the company’s operations.
Braun’s administration launched Power Up Indiana as part of a broader workforce strategy focused on helping Indiana businesses develop existing employees and connect Hoosiers with higher-paying opportunities.
The Indiana Department of Workforce Development says Power Up Indiana is available to businesses of all sizes and sectors, including manufacturers, health care providers, logistics companies and other employers looking to build internal talent pipelines.
In the CDL programs highlighted by Braun, the objective is straightforward: help workers gain skills that qualify them for more responsibility, help companies fill critical positions and make sure the training investment results in higher wages and stronger career opportunities for Hoosiers.
