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Quote:DETROIT -- The federal government is moving forward with a plan to let teenagers drive big rigs from state to state in a test program.

Currently, truckers who cross state lines must be at least 21 years old, but an apprenticeship program required by Congress to help ease supply chain backlogs would let 18-to-20-year-old truckers drive outside their home states.

The pilot program, detailed Thursday in a proposed regulation from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, would screen the teens, barring any with driving-while-impaired violations or traffic tickets for causing a crash.

But safety advocates say the program runs counter to data showing that younger drivers get in more crashes than older ones. They say it's unwise to let teenage drivers be responsible for rigs that can weigh 80,000 pounds and cause catastrophic damage when they hit lighter vehicles.

Probably better than the old grumpy ones that think they own the road. jk. Good idea or not?

(01-20-2022 11:26 PM)BEARCATDALE Wrote:  read thread title

Quote:DETROIT -- The federal government is moving forward with a plan to let teenagers drive big rigs from state to state in a test program.

Currently, truckers who cross state lines must be at least 21 years old, but an apprenticeship program required by Congress to help ease supply chain backlogs would let 18-to-20-year-old truckers drive outside their home states.

The pilot program, detailed Thursday in a proposed regulation from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, would screen the teens, barring any with driving-while-impaired violations or traffic tickets for causing a crash.

But safety advocates say the program runs counter to data showing that younger drivers get in more crashes than older ones. They say it's unwise to let teenage drivers be responsible for rigs that can weigh 80,000 pounds and cause catastrophic damage when they hit lighter vehicles.

Probably better than the old grumpy ones that think they own the road. jk. Good idea or not?

Well, this is NOT SCARY at all. You ever wonder why young drivers have such HIGH INSURANCE rates. Hmmmmmm........Its because they are more inclined to be in an accident. Insurance companies know this and adjust the rates accordingly.

I can just see the Mayhem guy for All State doing a commercial now driving a big rig and smashing cars while texting. Nice

I don't know, they are old enough to drive semi's in the deserts of Iraq and Afghanistan, right? I also assume they can drive the big rigs in state? If so what difference does it make if they cross over into another state?

This reminds me of the Jimmy Carter/Federal Reserve solution to the upside down interest rates faced by S&L's in the 1970s. Their income was coming from 3-4% locked in interest rates on old mortgages, but they were having to pay 12+% for their funds. Solution: Let them expand beyond the home mortgage business to higher interest rate paper. Only problem was that higher rates came along with higher risks, and they lacked the skill sets to evaluate such risks properly. Inevitable result--10 years later we had an S&L crisis, when all those higher risk loans stopped performing.

(01-20-2022 11:26 PM)BEARCATDALE Wrote:  read thread title

Quote:DETROIT -- The federal government is moving forward with a plan to let teenagers drive big rigs from state to state in a test program.

Currently, truckers who cross state lines must be at least 21 years old, but an apprenticeship program required by Congress to help ease supply chain backlogs would let 18-to-20-year-old truckers drive outside their home states.

The pilot program, detailed Thursday in a proposed regulation from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, would screen the teens, barring any with driving-while-impaired violations or traffic tickets for causing a crash.

But safety advocates say the program runs counter to data showing that younger drivers get in more crashes than older ones. They say it's unwise to let teenage drivers be responsible for rigs that can weigh 80,000 pounds and cause catastrophic damage when they hit lighter vehicles.

Probably better than the old grumpy ones that think they own the road. jk. Good idea or not?

I suspect this move will result in many many unnecessary traffic fatalities per year. There is a reason drivers under 24 pay higher insurance rates. Is it really a wise idea to have the most inexperienced within that group (teens) drive 80,000 pound vehicles? I would guess not. I suspect few companies will embrace the idea as the liability will fall on them—-either in steep insurance rate increases or in the form of actual claims.

"18 down and round, loaded up and roll'n! We gonna do what they say can't be done!"

(01-21-2022 08:17 AM)TigerBlue4Ever Wrote:  I don't know, they are old enough to drive semi's in the deserts of Iraq and Afghanistan, right? I also assume they can drive the big rigs in state? If so what difference does it make if they cross over into another state?

I doubt there are very many big rig in-state drivers under 21. The fact that they cant cross over state lines means they arent likely to be employable. If anything, they would be driving smaller box trucks for in-state transfers.

Well, while I know that the risks of wrecks likely will increase a bit, if an 18 year old can go to war and die, enter into legal contracts, etc……..In essence - be treated as an adult. I’m okay if they drive a truck……

I used to sling trucks around the yard at UPS when I was 18...

Could back those jokers in blindfolded

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I've would have used the National Guard on their two weeks active duty. One week on their Specialty and one week driving a big rig. If you can train an 18 year old you can train a National Guardsman. Just saying...

Who knows many may like it and become full timer OTR drivers.

PS, with one stipulation that they get paid for their military service and whatever they earn as drivers. It'll be a big paycheck to some.

(01-21-2022 02:36 PM)olliebaba Wrote:  I've would have used the National Guard on their two weeks active duty. One week on their Specialty and one week driving a big rig. If you can train an 18 year old you can train a National Guardsman. Just saying...

Who knows many may like it and become full timer OTR drivers.

PS, with one stipulation that they get paid for their military service and whatever they earn as drivers. It'll be a big paycheck to some.

Id say the level of training, level of supervision, and level of discipline--found in those military application of kids driving trucks all exceed what you'll find in the private sector. Frankly, I dont think the number of truck drivers available is a real problem. That said---even if it is true that there arent enough truck drivers available----then its almost always an easily fixable issue. The number of people who have left the work force is at a record number. The laws of supply and demand have not been repealed. The supply of drivers will increase if the pay goes high enough. They want to put inexperienced kids behind the wheels of these big trucks because its cheaper.