Transportation, Logistics and Distribution
Talent Network

The Transportation, Logistics, and Distribution (TLD) Talent Network was launched in late November 2008 at the TLD Workforce Roundtable hosted at Kean University. Over 100 participants attended the event representing educational institutions, workforce development organizations, employers, industry associations, government officials and other key stakeholders. The Roundtable provided a forum for employers to discuss their workforce needs, followed by smaller discussion groups that addressed responses to meeting those needs.

North Jersey Partners supports the implementation of the Talent Network strategy for workforce development in the TLD industry because it is a targeted approach. The TLD industry is an extremely important sector in our region. Overall, New Jersey employs more than 130,000 individuals specifically in goods movement industries. Moreover, a total of 280,000 individuals work directly in TLD occupations in a wide variety of industries, including retail trade, wholesale trade, and manufacturing.

The TLD Talent Network Model creates a network of organizations to identify needs and implement solutions in a specific industry. It supports industry's effort to be competitive, empowers workers with industry-related skills and competencies, and creates lasting change in the workforce. The U.S. Department of Labor Education and Training Administration through its Workforce3 One initiative developed the Competency Model that provides building blocks for talent development and will be used to support the TLD Talent Network created by North Jersey Partners.

The Heldrich Center at Rutgers - The State University of New Jersey and North Jersey Partners are collaborating with three colleges, four community colleges, one county vocational school district, four county Workforce Investment Boards (WIBs), and three academic centers to create the New Jersey TLD Talent Network. This Network will develop a workforce action plan for the TLD industry in New Jersey, design new curricula to meet industry needs, and implement other initiatives relating to training, recruitment, and career awareness.

For further information and explanation, please view the following documents:

Overview of North Jersey Partners Talent Network

Workforce³ One TLD Industry Competency Model

The Myth of Scarcity: Pushing the Supply Curve of Workforce Resources