Several truck safety advocacy organizations are calling on the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) to formally end the Safe Driver Apprenticeship Pilot (SDAP) program, which allows drivers under the age of 21 to operate commercial vehicles in interstate commerce. The groups argue that the program failed to meet its goals and poses unnecessary safety risks.
In a formal letter submitted to FMCSA, the Truck Safety Coalition (TSC), joined by Citizens for Reliable and Safe Highways and Parents Against Tired Truckers, urged the agency to reject a request from the American Trucking Associations (ATA) to extend the pilot. The SDAP program officially concluded in November after three years in operation.
Safety Groups Say Program Fell Short
The advocacy groups described the teen trucker pilot as ineffective, stating that it produced little usable data while consuming federal resources. They disputed ATA’s claim that the program generated enough information to justify its continuation.
According to the letter:
- The program achieved only about 1% of its original participation goal.
- The low enrollment makes it difficult to draw meaningful safety conclusions.
- FMCSA staff time and resources were spent on a program with minimal impact.
The groups emphasized that Congress intended the pilot to be temporary and data-driven, and they argue the results do not support expansion or extension.
Concerns About Teen Driver Safety
Opponents of the SDAP program say the core issue is safety, not data collection. Both TSC and the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) argue that lowering the interstate CDL age increases risk on already dangerous roadways.
Key safety concerns raised include:
- Drivers aged 19–20 are significantly more likely to be involved in fatal crashes.
- Data from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety shows this age group is six times more likely to be in deadly truck crashes compared to drivers 21 and older.
- Truck driving consistently ranks among the most dangerous occupations in the U.S., according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The groups also pointed to broader safety trends, noting that truck crash fatalities remain high. Nearly 5,500 people were killed in truck-related crashes in the most recent year on record, with more than 150,000 injured. Since 2009, truck crash deaths have risen by more than 60%.
Pushback on the Driver Shortage Argument
ATA has long argued that allowing younger drivers into interstate trucking could help address workforce shortages as older drivers retire. However, safety advocates and OOIDA counter that the issue is not a lack of licensed drivers, but a lack of qualified and experienced drivers willing to work under current conditions.
They maintain that recruiting younger drivers into long-haul trucking without stronger safeguards increases risk without solving underlying workforce challenges.
What Happens Next
FMCSA has confirmed it is reviewing the results of the SDAP program and is preparing a required report to Congress. That report, due by March 10, may include recommendations on whether the program should be extended, modified, or permanently ended.
For now, safety groups are urging regulators to prioritize proven safety measures and reject policies they believe could worsen crash risks on U.S. highways.
Source:
https://www.freightwaves.com/news/safety-groups-urge-fmcsa-to-kill-sdap-extension
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