Central Minnesota Jobs & Training Services (CMJTS) is hosting another in a series of career expos and hiring events.

 

This time it’s all about transportation.

 

“This is the third in a series in a continuing focus on different business sectors,” says Tim Zipoy, business service specialist with CMJTS. 

 

Already this year, CMJTS has held successful events on the retail sector and  healthcare.

 

“It’s demand driven,” says Zipoy. “We ask these companies when they need people and they say “yesterday.”

 

One of those companies is Arfsten Transfer, Inc. in Clearwater, a company with 35 employees that includes 28 drivers.

 

“It’s hard to find good drivers,” says Arfsten Safety/Human Resources Manager Todd Haag. “Everybody is looking for them.”

 

Haag says he attends lots of job fairs, looking for drivers. 

 

“If I don’t get any candidates, at least people see our name,” he says.

 

Arfsten has already signed up for the expo, as has Blaine Brothers, the company that does maintenance on all of Arfsten’s trucks and trailers.

 

But the expo isn’t only about drivers.

 

“It’s not only the job that has a wheel in your hand. It’s behind the scenes - what it takes to put the truck on the road,” says Zipoy.

 

In addition to truck and bus drivers, careers in the transportation industry include mechanics and diesel engine specialists, dispatch and supply staff, storage and distribution, CDL training and licensing, shipping and receiving, sales, customer service and account management.

 

Companies are in need of  people to fill positions, and they don’t want to wait until the next Central Minnesota Area Job Fair in April to find workers.

 

“This offers another opportunity for employers to target the people they need,” says Leslie Wojtowicz,  development manager with CMJTS. 

 

Zipoy says some companies have already signed up to attend, including FedX and Spee-Dee Delivery. He says he’s waiting to hear from many more. The room at the Workforce Center can accommodate about 20 companies that will have representatives ready to interview and hire.

 

“We realize the labor market is challenging and there are opportunities for job seekers,” says Zipoy. “These targeted events help employers and job seekers.”

 

He says he’s also hoping for training vendors, like technical schools or trucking companies who are willing to train people.

 

“There might be a tractor trailer parked outside where people can get into and see what it’s like,” he says.

 

For some, transportation can be a whole new career. 

 

“There are blue collar jobs, white collar jobs, jobs for a career starter, jobs for a career changer,” says Zipoy. “The goal is to offer opportunities all across the spectrum. We’re hoping we can reach out to experienced people and those who can do on-the-job training.”

 

The Transportation Expo will take place at the Minnesota Workforce Center, 406 East 7th Street in Monticello from 1 p.m. until 4 p.m. on Dec. 14.