In the debate over allowing drivers under 21 to driver interstate, it’s a common argument to point out that 18-year-olds are considered mature enough to enlist in the military – so why are they not mature enough to drive a truck? Now some current and former members of the U.S. armed forces under the age of 21 will be allowed to drive trucks over state lines as part of a pilot program instituted by the Department of Transportation.
Participants in the pilot program will have to have comparable experience in the military to be able to drive CMVs interstate. They must have the U.S. Military equivalent of a CDL. They must be sponsored by a fleet who will provide them additional training that they’ll need in the civilian world – such as how to record their hours on an ELD.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) says that they expect to need at least 70 carriers to sign on as sponsors for at least a total of 200 drivers. FMCSA expects an average of 600 drivers will participate in the study each year.
During the three-year study, the pilot participants will be compared to an equal-sized control group of drivers between 21 and 24. Their safety and performance will be compared. Fleets will be responsible for reporting any incidents including crashes, injuries, alcohol-related citations, failure of a drug test, and more.
“This program will allow our Veterans and Reservists to translate their extensive training into good-paying jobs operating commercial vehicles safely across the country, while also addressing the nationwide driver shortage,” said DOT Secretary Elaine Chao.
Source: gobytrucknews, truckinginfo, fleetowner, overdrive, DOT
Maturity and experience are not the same…
If they’re under 21, and out of the military, they got kicked out. I’m 100% in favor of transferring military truck drivers to civilian truck drivers, but under 21 and booted from military? Military didn’t want them, why??
There are several reasons why. Perhaps they were wounded, or only had a two-year hitch, or were discharged for humanitarian reasons. My point is, there are plenty of reasons why a soldier might be out of the Army at 21. Not all of them are for bad conduct.
This is good, maybe they will figure out how much trucking sucks before they get out and will consider another profession.
Well Said!
Get with the times, I was driving road trains in outback Australia by the time I was 19. So much for your “””Freedoms”””.
Yes, free to be taxed and heavily regulated by our DOT. But at least the chinese havent taken over a third of our country, yet.
You drove them in the Outback, mostly on flat and in great weather for the most part. You didn’t take them through downtown Melbourne, or snowed in mountains. No one gives a sh if you drove over a few kangaroos, or even if you wreck in the desert on a gravel dirt road. That’s the difference.
There mature enough to join the military but not mature enough to have beer…. in my opinion it’s about experience, you get a learners permit at 16 but not a full licence until 18, a semi truck requires a skill set different from a car, but still requires the skills of driving a car. timeing stops and cross trafic takes time not just a class, and i can assure you 85 mph traffic in texas is very differnt then 55 mph traffic in Vermont. Not just the speed but terrain.. long flat ground vs rolling hills. This requires decision making skills that comes with experience and understanding the vehicle your driving. I’ve nothing against the age, I actually believe learning to drive should start at 14 and be able to get a full licence at 16.. Then 18 would be a good age for learning to drive cross country, but as things are 18 to 21 should have to stay in state.
If you want to decrease driver demand quit regulating experienced drivers out of the industry
Are insurance companies going to allow this?
These young guys serve on behalf of our country, doing the exact same job AND while being shot at ….Just like East L.A. or South Chicago…give them a break.
I don’t agree. I am retired Navy,Army vet and National Guard. We have strict rules there to have accountability for young vets, the private sector lacks in this area. Letting new drivers drive while instructor is in sleeper etc is one example, I saw a Prime instructor do this. Their student bypassed a scale while she was in sleeper, I knew this because she got out complaining at the truckstop of how stupid he was for doing that. I asked her where she was when it happened? She mumbled sleeper…
I’ve seen trainers sit in the passenger seat and explain how to back up to student instead of getting out on the lot to guide him in the dock. Lazy trainers I’m not impressed!
How many serve for less than 4 years? Those who are discharged before their 21st birthday are the only ones who will benefit from this, unless it’s the government’s intention for a trial program with disciplined individuals to eventually be applied to the undisciplined children that are out here. “See!? We told you that 18 year olds could do it!”
How can they complete their enlistment and still be under 21?
If they they join the military they should be allowed to drive trucks. That is a benefit of joining. Hope they make good CDL drivers once the get out. MAGA
Age to drive a CMV in Canada is either 18 or 19, depending on which province you live in.
We don’t have a plethora of massive, fiery truck crashes that we can blame on teenagers in trucks. We also have massive weather challenges, terrain challenges, and traffic challenges that these drivers manage to safely navigate. To top that off, Ontario is the only jurisdiction with mandatory truck-trailer training. Almost every driver I started with 10 years ago started the same way – jumped in the truck with an experienced driver for a few weeks after getting air brakes, and challenged their license when they were ready.
Agee with the Aussie above – so much for your “freedoms”.
Exactly.
18 year olds are only considered adults because the line had to be established somewhere. Military experience is irrelevant. They barely have experience driving a car at this point in their lives.
Well, you’re employed and they need a job.
That’s funny most of 18 year olds can’t find there way around there own town let a lone around the United states and stay on truck routes just look at crst Atlantic city board walk and Werner cross a bridge that coast them a half a million dollars to fix lmao
Since when do you have to be mature to join the military? How many mature 18year olds did I meet when I was in the military? Zero. In fact I would go as far as to argue that joining the military at 18 is evidence for the lack of maturity. It oftrn is a very immature decision for very immature reasons. That’s also why governments love very young men in the military. By the way to shoot a weapon does not require maturity. I have met 12 year olds who can shoot just fine. You give ’em a tank to drive in the desert, or on prooving grounds, and they might be able to do that also. Interstates are a little different.
Why help sorry companies with DECADES of near 100% truck driver turnover? If anything, this plan would abuse the new drivers, wouldn’t it?
As a female driver, I must say I’m actually for this now. Why, because the age group 18-25 cant find jobs that’s why. They are the highest unemployed and we need to employ them since all lower wage jobs are being taken by illegals and foreigners. I say if they can serve they can drive!
Everybody remain calm.
I repeat remain calm.
This whole debate is L O L material. These are the generation after the millinieals we are talking about. You think more than .0000000009% of these kids are going too this job??? I would be willing to bet that out of 10,000 military rejects that got approval, you would get 2 drivers that lasted a year. So let them in a truck. I have 25 yrs doing this and grandkids almost this groups age. I can gurantee you it is laughable. These self entitled little snits ain’t doing it. Better de regulate all the bullkrap before we r all gone.