Push to Let Teens Drive Trucks Interstate Divides the Industry

Discussion in 'Trucking Industry Regulations' started by autopaint, Sep 9, 2021.

  1. kemosabi49

    kemosabi49 Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

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    The Department of Labor recently said that there is no driver shortage. That the companies have a retention problem. There are @500,000 new CDLs issued in the U.S. every year. Probably 80 to 90% don't stay a year. Poor wages and working conditions and companies that don't care if they get new drivers home is not a system that will get drivers to stay.
    If any other industry had a 80% + turnover rate every year, heads would roll until the retention problem was corrected. In trucking, it is just business as usual.
     
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  3. HoneyBadger67

    HoneyBadger67 Road Train Member

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    The key part here is "what I would put up with". That right there says they feel that it would be much easier to railroad and abuse an 18-21yo than they are a 30-50yo.
     
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  4. Cattleman84

    Cattleman84 Road Train Member

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    The majority of 18 to 20 year olds now days wont put up with a fraction of what a 30 to 50 year old will... They think they are "entitled" to what ever they want, or at least better than thier predecessors.
     
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  5. '88K100

    '88K100 Road Train Member

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    Unfortunately newbies are stuck with long haul jobs.
    18 year old with any sense is not going to be tethered to a truck 24 hours a day for 10 hours pay.
     
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  6. aussiejosh

    aussiejosh Road Train Member

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    Actually you make an very interesting point back in the days of the Vietnam war it was successfully argued in Australia that if the "soldier" was old enough to go and fight and lay down his life than he was old enough to drink therefore the legal drinking age of 21 was reduced to 18. While I get the point point about fighting at a young age there is a big difference between being able to point and shoot a rifle and driving a 40 ton juggernaut, and with the army, there is always a responsible leader be it an NCO or a commissioned officer to guide a soldier in battle, with driving your all on your own.
     
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  7. Snow Hater

    Snow Hater Medium Load Member

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    As if we don't have enough to watch for out there. All people are somewhat irrational until around the age of 25 when their brains finish developing.
     
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  8. gentleroger

    gentleroger Road Train Member

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    Then raise the cdl age to 25.

    18 year Olds can already get a cdl. They just can't cross state lines. An 18 year old can pull twin 53 footers in New York. He can run Laredo to Texarkana or Sand Diego to San Francisco. He can do local deliveries all thru Chicago.

    There is no logical "safety" argument to preclude 18 year Olds from crossing state lines.
     
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  9. skallagrime

    skallagrime Road Train Member

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    No, humans being a "wet" computer are by their very nature irrational, regardless of age. But yes there is some good evidence to suggest higher rates of impulsivity and less self control under the 25 year old mark.

    This is not a bad thing neccessarily, it allows adolescent (in the technical sense) behaviour to give the individual life experiences that stick with them, its the people that rigidly adhere to rules regulations and what their parents tell them that end up being unfit for any changes in the world around them. You can argue which things SHOULD and SHOULDNT change, but there is no doubt that a population of clones (be it genetically or mentally) is more productive, but less resilient
     
  10. Lucky12

    Lucky12 Medium Load Member

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    I know any 18 y.o. that goes OTR 48 will be an "elite" kid after a year on the road. Imagine knowing all the roads, cities and states through experience at 18-19 years old

    That said I'm not sure all of them would be mature enough to do it. Certainly some will be, what a great thing to do for a year or two between High School & College. I would highly recommend it to any inclined to give it a try. What a fantastic life experience.
     
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  11. skallagrime

    skallagrime Road Train Member

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    Eh, most of US arent mature enough to do it, i know im not at least. and they still let us :p
     
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