ATA Looks To Lower Minimum Driver Age To 18

big don is taking a break from the forum for a bit. he started a thread gone for a bit i think is the name of it...i would link it but dont know how to do that from my phone....

 

I've known a lot of 18 year olds who I'm certain could handle driving a rig. Despite being good kids, my concern is that they wouldn't have the life experience to deal with difficult shippers, receivers, dispatchers, and breakdowns. Also, many young folks are still living with their folks at 18, and to go from living at home to living on the road where you not only have to take care of yourself, but a truck and loaded trailer as well, could be a difficult transition.

 

I've rented cars at 24, but they gave me a fee of a few hundred bucks to do so

 

You already can get a cdl class A at 18. It is the same test everyone has to take, license looks no different. Once you turn 21 you magically can cross state lines. Not like there is a different test.

 

Good luck to the companies, Most 18yrs could give two flips about driving a truck, they barely want to drive a car and want automated self driving vehicles. Wal-Mart, GAP, and a few other large companies are raising wages, and your better companies are raising wages as well. Trucking is doing the exact opposite, trying everything to ignore and hold wages down.

300,000+ shortage coming to a theatre near you!

 

Most jobs pay like #### today, of course they can't support themselves. You can't just go out and raise a family single handily anymore, hell most couples working two jobs each are scratching by and not because they're wasteful but because most jobs pay slave wages. So most say screw it and just pursue their hobbies. This ain't the 50's any more people.

 

Dear ATA;
The word was, is, and always will be, compensation. Pay the drivers, respect the drivers, and you will retain the drivers.

The megas continue to undercut the freight market to the point they can't pay drivers a respectable wage. In my opinion, this is nothing more than the megas saying " We have used up and discarded the available work force that will work for peanuts and need to increase the pool.".

 

I believe it's a bad idea to be OTR at 18. And there is some very good points listed above as to why it's a bad idea. But Intrastate is fine. The ATA sees the driver shortage getting worse as time passes... But some of their largest clients prefer to hire green horns who will drive for peanuts.

 

I see everyone's point. All I ask is judge each case, case by case. Here are some facts from one such case. My oldest son graduated at 17. I asked him to go to a year of college for me. He did, got his CDL to move trucks around for me. After his year of college actually school was almost out he came to and said Dad I know this isn't what you want to hear but I found a truck and a grain wagon. I talked to Riceland, and they will give me a card to haul for them. The engine is down in the truck but that makes it cheaper, I know I could make it with a little help. So I co-signed the loan helped him rebuild the C-16 CAT and got the hell out of his way. Many nights I came in to find him working on the truck to run the next day. Many days he called me what should I do. Not one time did I buy fuel, tires, or insurance for him. He actually would tell me Dad go in go to bed I will finish your truck when I had troubles and needed to run. He just turned 21 the 10th of February. Bought a 2nd truck and trailer to put a driver in,his is paid for now. I didn't co-sign this time it's all on him. I would put him up beside any one when it comes to safety, and doing the right thing. True he has been around trucks all his life, started with a silver spoon I guess so. I am sure my opinion is biased as he is my son and I'm proud of him, but in 2 years he hasn't scuffed his or any one else's rig so he ain't doing bad. There are plenty of others his age that have the sense to drive an 80000 lbs missile some one called it.

 

The ATA wants to burn them out by 21.

You know, it sure is funny, the ATA only represents 394 trucking companies out of 53,000, who died and made them the spokesman of the trucking industry?


I work with an Pro-Active teen driving school, you'd be surprised how many teens are waiting till they are 18 just to get their driver's license.