Both major parties and the mainstream media are keenly aware that working families remain dissatisfied with efforts to restore an effective supply chain and curb inflation. In Washington, D.C., members of Congress have brought pressure to bear on the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), DOT, and White House to come up with long-term solutions. However, a small number of lawmakers recently floated a stop-gap measure called the SANTA 18 Act.
“The transportation of goods from a port of entry and another place within the same state as part of trade, traffic, or transportation originating outside such state or the United States by commercial motor vehicle shall not be considered interstate transportation for purposes of requirements relating to commercial driver’s licenses under this chapter,” the bill reportedly states.
The Supplying America Needs Truckers Aged 18 Act (SANTA 18 Act) would allow 18- to 20-year-olds who possess a CDL to haul loads from ports during peak seasons. These qualified CL professionals can already lawfully pull into warehouses and carry freight to locations within their state. To date, only New York and Hawaii place age restrictions on truckers 18-20, and statistical data shows no proven safety gains for limiting the workforce by age. Proving that lowering the interstate age and seasonal relief has become something of a political football, the SANTA 18 Act’s sponsor — U.S. Rep. Brian Mast — let loose some fiery words.
“Of course, Santa will deliver Christmas gifts to our kids in time. But will you?” Rep Mast reportedly stated. “Joe Biden’s supply chain crisis is driving prices up and delivery times down just as we approach the holiday season, and sadly, reindeer aren’t going to magically fix this problem. His ‘plans’ to fix the crisis haven’t worked. Keeping the ports open 24-hours-a-day, 7-days-a-week hasn’t helped because there aren’t enough truckers available to deliver the goods.”
Although the typical Washington, D.C., rhetoric may not help move the short-term legislative solution across the goal line, the measure does enjoy wide-reaching support. Upwards of 19 of the Congressman’s fellow Republicans have put their names down as co-sponsors. The SANTA 18 Act could garner bipartisan support based on a regulatory dysfunction Rep. Mast pushed back against.
“This precludes 18 to 20-year-olds from transporting cargo coming off of ships at overloaded ports, even if they have a commercial driver’s license and drive semi-trucks elsewhere within their state,” according to Rep. Mast. “This bill would cut that red tape to get more drivers on the road in time for holiday deliveries.”
Even if a majority of Congress cannot come to terms with a permanent legislative fix, the SANTA 18 Act would likely have an immediate and positive impact on offloading cargo at bottlenecked ports, according to Rep. Mast.
Unlike pressuring ports to operate 24/7 or levy $100 per day fines on containers, adding in-state truckers to manage in-state routes in California, Florida, and Texas, among others, would likely improve supply chains and tamp down inflation.
Source: freightwaves.com
Lawmakers will back anything that makes them look good. They don’t care what is best for safety or America in general as long as they look like a hero in the end. And if it turns out they were wrong to begin with, they either lie about or shift the blame to someone else. They have their best interests in mind NOT ours.
Letting young Kids even Have CDLs is wrong! They can’t drive a car right, and your going to let them make Decisions there minds can’t. Specially quick ones! If your going to let them drive that young, then have a well experienced driver with them! The kids nowadays want a wick buck with little work,( that’s any job) put a young kid, give him a floor load, better yet, give him a floor load he Must load himself, then drive 800 miles, and it has to be there yesterday!, then he has to break it down and put on pallets, and say it’s a load of loose cans of tuna, or some crap like that, and see how long he lasts? They think it’s fun and games and good money, maybe nowadays it’s easier, but back when I was owner op, you worked very hard for every dollar!! Just sayin. I think it wrong and way to young!
It’s A Accident waiting to Happen.Like Putting A Baby 6.Mons Old In the Driver seat “Drive Little Boys &Girls Drive & Will they be able to see over the Sterring wheels what Putem in that 3-Stick Truck that we Use to 2-Spitter Sticks &Clutch.. WoW.They’d walk Away can’t do that daddy.