18-21 year old truck drivers

Discussion in 'Experienced Truckers' Advice' started by Wild Murphy, May 6, 2015.

  1. Wild Murphy

    Wild Murphy HAPPY TRUCK DRIVER

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    I keep hearing on the radio about possibly getting more 18-21 year old people to fill the seats because there is a shortage of drivers.

    Graduated licenses, good mentors, safer trucks due to cameras, collision avoidance systems, etc...

    I think this is a very bad idea. No 18 year old male should be driving 80,000 lbs period. We can't get them to slow down in a car and not text now. I think this profession is for more mature, experienced drivers. Plus you can pay them less when they are younger...

    What say you?
     
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  3. sherlock510

    sherlock510 Road Train Member

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    Well I had a graduating class of around 800, not a single person ever mentioned driving truck after graduation. Unless they come from a generation of drivers these fresh grads aren't hopping in big rigs..
     
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  4. NYSuperTrucker

    NYSuperTrucker Light Load Member

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    I'm on the fence....I started driving both Class B and Class A vehicles at 18, right when I could get my license, hauling air freight and heavy duty truck parts....intrastate and then interstate when I could venture outside state lines at 21. I remember my time back then, motivated, eager to learn and be safe and get experience. I viewed being a truck driver as an honor, a privilege. You have to remember, the idiots out on the roads that are driving around texting and being stupid are not the same people that have that drive to become a professional truck driver. I think those statements you make about "no 18yr old male should be driving 80,000lbs" comes from concern for the motoring public and for us fellow CDL-ers, but can also apply to veteran drivers. I see a lot of guys who already have their license, older than 30 who shouldn't be on the road, but I understand where you are coming from.

    Add in all that driver shortage and electronics to make "everything safer" and it doesn't make the situation any better. At that point, you are motivated by not the drive to be the best, but simply numbers.
     
  5. Ridgeline

    Ridgeline Road Train Member

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    There is no shortage of drivers.
     
  6. RunFlat

    RunFlat Light Load Member

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    Im 18, hold a permit. I can understand what your talking about, but honestly, I don't know any 18, 19, 20, 21 year olds wanting to drive truck. I grew up in the industry all my life, so its basicly all I wanted to do. I also haven't attended a driving school, im being taught by a 30 year vet with 30 years of safe driving.
    I think ill do alright.
     
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  7. ColoradoGreen

    ColoradoGreen Heavy Load Member

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    I'm 23. I started driving when I was 20. The vast majority of what I've done has been oversize/ overweight. I learned around heavy haul.

    the first trucking I did I was oversize hauling derailed coal hoppers sitting between 15-6 to 15-11 tall. And you want to say younger drivers shouldn't be allowed because they wouldn't be "mature" enough?

    Right.
     
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  8. DrtyDiesel

    DrtyDiesel Road Train Member

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    There is a shortage of good drivers.
     
  9. SRQGhost

    SRQGhost Medium Load Member

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    You are right about this. I have seen a 17 year old driver back his pick up equiped with those nice back up sensors and camera hit the kingpin on our 5th wheel trailer and dented his tailgate and then backed into a tree because he was in a hurry and didn't look where he was going.
     
  10. CargoWahgo

    CargoWahgo Road Train Member

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    I say yes.

    The unemployment gap for 18-21 is embarrassing. They could use a decent job instead of going into major debt to a college or selling drugs.

    In Indiana they hand out trucking jobs to ex cons let's give that job to little jimmy out of high school instead of when he gets out the can.

    Anyone who disagrees is ultimately selfish.
    The bad ones will get kicked out quicker with a stronger overall pool.

    Seriously have some kid you know go apply to red lobster ...they'll say come back when you are 21.
    It really is a major problem for kids today it ain't as easy as we had it.
     
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  11. w.h.o

    w.h.o Road Train Member

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    Doubt any insurance company will cover a 18 driver to run 48. Would be nice I remember when I was 18 I wanted to become a trucker
     
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