Trash collection delays are a result of a nationwide shortage of CDL-equipped drivers. | Carl Campbell/Unsplash
Trash collection delays are a result of a nationwide shortage of CDL-equipped drivers. | Carl Campbell/Unsplash
The city of Phoenix revealed the establishment of a temporary pay incentive to attract more commercial driver's license (CDL) operators.
The initiative offers a $3-per-hour pay increase beginning Nov. 28 for drivers with a valid CDL, according to a news release from the city. Trash collection delays and the need for more drivers are results of a nationwide shortage of CDL-equipped drivers.
"I proudly support the long overdue hiring and retention incentives for the city's Public Works employees," City Council member Carlos Garcia said in the news release. "By taking care of our city workers, we can also do right by our residents. We apologize for the inconvenience the bulk trash collection delays have caused and moving forward, we hope to have better systems in place to communicate with our residents when issues arise."
The extra $3 per hour will be added to a $2,500 incentive for new solid waste equipment operators (SWEOs), the news release noted. A retention incentive of $3,000 for current SWEOs is also being offered.
"We thank Phoenix residents for their patience during this time," City Council member Debra Stark said in the news release. "Our Public Works drivers are working hard to catch up on the bulk trash schedule. Thank you to our drivers for their dedication to the job and for working overtime to return service levels to what Phoenix customers rely on."
The city offers a solid waste equipment operator apprenticeship program, which officials call the first of its kind in the nation, according to the news release. The program allows applicants to receive the on-the-job training and instruction needed to earn a CDL.
"We are actively working to get bulk trash pickup back on track, and the city has done an incredible amount of outreach to individual truck drivers and partnered with neighboring cities to try and fix this issue," City Council member Sal DiCiccio said in the news release. "I would love to see the city continue to think outside of the box and look into hiring back retired, certified truck drivers to get this job done."
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