Expand pilot program to allow 18-21-year-old truckers to drive interstate?
by PD McCloud
Are you joking?
Rep. Claudia Tenney (R-N.Y.) recently introduced the Waiving Hindrances to Economic Enterprise and Labor (WHEEL) Act, which would expand a pilot program approved under the FAST Act. As it stands now, this program requires participants to be veterans or active duty members of the military service and between the ages of 18 and 21.
Source: www.ccjdigital.com
The proposed expansion pilot program to allow 18-21 year old persons to drive a commercial motor vehicle is a very bad idea!
There is a common belief that those who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces, and were discharged honorably and/or are currently serving in the National Guard as part of their service to our country, are viewed as being more disciplined and matured than say someone who graduated high school and did not choose to enter the armed services. Much of this belief comes from the fact that those serving in the armed services learn discipline through following a structured training and indoctrination process. Thus the reason for the FAST Act, the pilot program to allow 18-21 year old persons to drive interstate vs. intrastate.
There is a reason insurance premium rates for younger drivers, ages 16 to 25, are so much higher than someone over the age of 30. Those in the younger group, statistically, are at a higher risk of having an accident. Much of this is due to their lack of experience. Now, put an inexperienced 18-21 year old behind the wheel of an 80,000 lb. commercial motor vehicle for longer periods of time than those operating intrastate, versus those driving interstate, the increased risk of a fatality accident increases immensely!
Of course the ATA would be behind this bill. After all, their goal is to fill seats with drivers in an effort to lessen the current driver shortage, not ensure public safety. The ATA is not out to put the public safety at risk purposely, however the support to expand this pilot program to allow all 18-21 year old persons to driver interstate does, in fact, put the public at risk due to the lack of experience these drivers would bring to the table.
During a time when the ATA, FMCSA and various state DOT officials are implementing rules and regulations on the trucking industry, under the guise of safety, I'm surprised that this attempt to expand the pilot program to allow younger drivers that historically maintain higher risk factors to obtain an interstate CDL is being taken seriously.
Read the full article
by PD McCloud
Are you joking?
Rep. Claudia Tenney (R-N.Y.) recently introduced the Waiving Hindrances to Economic Enterprise and Labor (WHEEL) Act, which would expand a pilot program approved under the FAST Act. As it stands now, this program requires participants to be veterans or active duty members of the military service and between the ages of 18 and 21.
Source: www.ccjdigital.com
The proposed expansion pilot program to allow 18-21 year old persons to drive a commercial motor vehicle is a very bad idea!
There is a common belief that those who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces, and were discharged honorably and/or are currently serving in the National Guard as part of their service to our country, are viewed as being more disciplined and matured than say someone who graduated high school and did not choose to enter the armed services. Much of this belief comes from the fact that those serving in the armed services learn discipline through following a structured training and indoctrination process. Thus the reason for the FAST Act, the pilot program to allow 18-21 year old persons to drive interstate vs. intrastate.
There is a reason insurance premium rates for younger drivers, ages 16 to 25, are so much higher than someone over the age of 30. Those in the younger group, statistically, are at a higher risk of having an accident. Much of this is due to their lack of experience. Now, put an inexperienced 18-21 year old behind the wheel of an 80,000 lb. commercial motor vehicle for longer periods of time than those operating intrastate, versus those driving interstate, the increased risk of a fatality accident increases immensely!
Of course the ATA would be behind this bill. After all, their goal is to fill seats with drivers in an effort to lessen the current driver shortage, not ensure public safety. The ATA is not out to put the public safety at risk purposely, however the support to expand this pilot program to allow all 18-21 year old persons to driver interstate does, in fact, put the public at risk due to the lack of experience these drivers would bring to the table.
During a time when the ATA, FMCSA and various state DOT officials are implementing rules and regulations on the trucking industry, under the guise of safety, I'm surprised that this attempt to expand the pilot program to allow younger drivers that historically maintain higher risk factors to obtain an interstate CDL is being taken seriously.
Read the full article
