When I picture a safe driver, the image in my mind is not normally that of an 18-year-old. But, under a new apprenticeship offered by The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, that could be changing soon. 18-year-olds will soon be trained to drive multi-wheeled trucks across state lines, thanks to a new infrastructure bill.
What's Changed And Why Is This Happening?
Currently, the legal age for truckers who can drive across state lines is 21. 18-year-olds can drive commercial trucks, but only within state lines (except in Hawaii.) On Nov. 15 however, President Biden signed a bill allowing the legal age to drive trucks across state lines to be lowered to 18. This act, which is part of a $1 trillion dollar bill, was among other efforts done to modernize American infrastructure. Also in the bill were efforts to expand internet access and improve bridges and roads (South Carolina, the road thing is huge for you.)
How Groups Are Responding
The program hasn't set a start date yet but trucking groups are already singing its praises. Many are saying it will give a much-needed boost to the industry as more truckers leave the trucking industry every year. The billion-dollar operation saw trouble in 2020 when it lost almost 7% of its workforce during the pandemic.
Some groups are less optimistic, saying the bill would address a symptom of the problem instead of the core issue. Many argue the problem isn't in finding drivers but in retaining them. Long workdays and unforgivable scheduling make the job difficult to withstand (yes, there's much more to the job than the constant travel and roadside scenery.) The president of Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, Cathy Chase, said another concern was putting teenagers behind the wheel.
"We think that putting one of the most dangerous driving populations — teenagers — behind the wheel of 80,000-pound trucks will imperil not only the teen truckers themselves but everyone on the roads with them," she said.
So, How Is This Gonna Work?
Don't worry, teenagers will not suddenly be driving 18 wheelers cross-country in a week. The program requires the new drivers to spend "probationary time" with experienced drivers in the passenger seat. This probationary period can last up to three years.
In addition, participants in the program can not go over 65 miles per hour. They also must drive with forward-facing cameras and use active braking mitigation systems. 3,000 truckers can participate in the program at a time, and once participants reach the age of 21, they will have fewer restrictions and only need to have occasional check-ins
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