TruckingIndustry.news

Teens To Solve the Truck Driving Shortage?

by Jana Ritter - Published: 7/10/2015

While some would even debate whether the truck driving shortage really exists, the crisis been an on-going topic of headline news and has ignited many debates over what the best possible solution is to fill the number of truck driving jobs available across the US. Although most truck drivers have made it clear that more money is the most likely cure all, Congress is now proposing a bill that would reduce the age requirement for interstate CDLs from 21 to 18.

Teenagers and Trucks

In other news
January 05, 2018 - Trucker Faces 20 Years After Pleading Guilty To Smuggling Alien Found Dead In Locked Toolbox
January 02, 2018 - Police Identify 2 Oregon Truck Drivers Killed In Fiery Head-On Crash
December 27, 2017 - Iowa First Of Eight States To Debut New Truck Parking Information System

While Federal regulations currently require commercial drivers to be at least 21 to drive commercial trucks across state lines, this week Republican senators introduced a bill that would allow contiguous states that join together in "compacts" to drop the age to 18 for interstate trips and said there would be no limit on the number of states that could join the compacts. They also said that after four years, the Transportation secretary would report to Congress on whether teens have "an equivalent level of safety" in comparison with older truckers.

Jackie Gillan, president of Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, says no way. Any parent already knows how worrisome it is to hand a teenager the keys to the family car and this bill would basically be allowing mere teens to drive big rigs weighing as much as 80,000 pounds across the nation’s interstates. Not to mention that they’d be working as many as 82 hours a week, the standard hours already permitted in the trucking industry. “It’s a catastrophe waiting to happen. The combination of inexperience, high-risk driving and large trucks can cause unbelievable devastation," Gillan said.

According to findings from the Transportation Department's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, she may very well have good reason for concern. In 2013, regular drivers ages 18-20 had a 66 percent higher fatal crash involvement rate than drivers who were age 21 years or older.

Truck Driver

However, statistics from the American Trucking Association itself has been prompting the industry to scramble for solutions to address the shortage of truck drivers. The ATA estimates that the current shortage of drivers is roughly 35,000 to 40,000, and the number of retirements and individuals leaving the industry will soon require trucking companies to recruit up to 100,000 new truck drivers a year over the next decade.

Dave Osiecki, chief of advocacy for trucking associations, also points out that many states already allow teens to drive commercial trucks within state lines and it doesn’t make sense that we would allow a teen to drive hundreds of miles from one end of the state to the other but restrict that same driver from driving the same distance into another state. "We absolutely support lowering the age limit. It would be good for our industry, it would be good for commerce, it would be good for the economy."

What do you think?Are younger truck drivers going to fill the available truck driving jobs AND be good for the industry overall?


Joshua Daniel Pye
Joshua Daniel Pye
You want drivers start paying better bottom line, there's a lot of good drivers out there that quit driving cause the pay is crap overall. To many people have there hand in the transportation industry and the driver gets the leftovers
Scott Winn
Scott Winn
I agree
Bobby Adams
Bobby Adams
I was otr not one wreck no violations gave a 110% I loved going to different cities n states But when a crack head at McDonald's driving nicer car than me I parked truck now I drive local You give all you got for shit pay n respect
Aaron Baltosser
Aaron Baltosser
Pay the drivers what they are actually worth, and the shortage of drivers vanishes. The companies just refuse to do the right thing with regards to pay.
Sean Fried
Sean Fried
Bad idea, truck driving is serious business. How about dispatchers and companies that don't abuse drivers. That will solve your problem. Pay is not even the issue. How about fair pay for not fudging hours, logs etc. Bringing in younger and dumber drivers will not solve anything. It will create more death.
Angel Eduardo Jimenez
Angel Eduardo Jimenez
Been driving class a and b since I was 18, till this day 0 accidents 0 violations. I wish I could have been doing OTR since then.
Sean Fried
Sean Fried
And God bless you. When I was 19 I worked at a place where they handed out diet pills like candy. I was INTRAstate at the time and was in the yard everyday. As fast as we would pull in, they would send you right back out. Be safe.
Thomas Graumenz
Thomas Graumenz
Learned how to drive on my X-box. Hoowee baby ,cant wait to get out there and mow down some 4 wheelers. I think its about time to hang it up. 34years and now this BS.
Shane Robinson
Shane Robinson
Yup i got half that and your said it .getting stupid out here.
Kyle Gearhead Nugent
Kyle Gearhead Nugent
i hear ya man. just school boy drivers giving us pros a bad name
Luke Maroo
Luke Maroo
Agreed
David Harrison
David Harrison
I'm surprised insurance companies are agreeing to this new compromise in highway safety. Another blackeye.
Christopher David Martinez
Christopher David Martinez
It's all they got to work with....all the old veteran drivers are bowing out because all the stupid shit and low pay.....you can't even park at a truck stop any more with out gettin your mirrors taken off by some idiot can't back a truck...
Jay Mcclanahan
Jay Mcclanahan
I got 20 years in an i feel some 18 year old farm kids would be more responsible than so petiphile
Edward Hodgkinson
Edward Hodgkinson
Great.... More instant truck driver s
Billy Zirkle
Billy Zirkle
The fix to the trucking shortage is many diffrent things. 1..stop all the regulations 2..better pay and benefits 3..hours of service changes. 4..train new truckers by EXPERENCE trucks not book smart guys. Can't teach experience.
Aaron Baltosser
Aaron Baltosser
You can't teach the desire to be good at it either. Better work with the guys that have the driving skills, then pay them accordingly.
Billy Zirkle
Billy Zirkle
Good point Aaron...
Aaron Baltosser
Aaron Baltosser
That is something I learned while Active Duty Navy. There are portions of the population that are good for absolutely nothing except keeping cops and paramedics employed. I sure don't want any of them driving a truck. It would have an extremely poor outcome.
Eugene Conley Jr.
Eugene Conley Jr.
When is someone gonna wKe up and realize we have a shortage because nobody wants to work an 80hr week away from home for shit pay? Maybe they should raise the rates and make diesel fuel fucking cheaper! People will be beating down doors to get a trucking job!
Fred Ellis
Fred Ellis
How about easing up on the BS regulations? That is half the problem right there.
Nancy Merriwether Mirabelli
Nancy Merriwether Mirabelli
No they only want u to make 200.00 dollars a week so you can depend on your government haha
Aaron Baltosser
Aaron Baltosser
They can't drive cars because of lack of basic skills. Folks want to give them an 18 wheeler to drive? Just the cell phone thing should disqualify normal teens. Texting and driving all the time.
William Charles Jr
William Charles Jr
I want to see the data on the shortage of drivers. every big company I worked for always had a shortage of freight
Marquita Lowry Carroll
Marquita Lowry Carroll
Not legally old enough to make safe drinking decisions until 21, but you'll do fine in a big truck at 18. Uhmmmm..... I just can't get on bored with this, not in this day and age. Heck, even the 20 something's scare the crap out of me with the mindset most "youngin's" have now a days. They're usually making bad decisions and the selfishness they seem to have, isn't helping them in making even the simplest judgement calls, such as merging and lane changes!
Cathy McQuistion
Cathy McQuistion
What a closed minded ignorant comment. They can join the USMC but you don't want them to drive. SMH
Marquita Lowry Carroll
Marquita Lowry Carroll
Ma'am, there's much better guidance and training in our service. Trucking in this day and age has become a horrible, money grabbing, free for all. CDL schools are just as bad as puppy mills. Cheap seat freight companies will replace a warm body with another faster than the blink of an eye. I'd be all for the 18 thing.... IF AND ONLY IF training of these young minds was better than we've seen in the last 20 years! I'm hopeful, but not holding my breath. And just for the record, I've been driving since I was 14. It was an entirely different world and my dad was an amazing and calm teacher.
Marquita Lowry Carroll
Marquita Lowry Carroll
Jerome, I found one of the articles. As you can tell, I weighed in on this too!
Jerome Teague
Jerome Teague
Its crazy! No way in hell should they be allowed to
Marquita Lowry Carroll
Marquita Lowry Carroll
I just can't see any good come from it either.
Jerome Teague
Jerome Teague
Its the same thing when these big companies went to automatic just so they could hire more ppl who really not qualified
Marquita Lowry Carroll
Marquita Lowry Carroll
EXACTLY!!!
Terry Davis
Terry Davis
Well, if these.....ahhh....pups, are the answer, God help us!!
Shane Robinson
Shane Robinson
One week warriors man .. !!!
Tylar Solomon
Tylar Solomon
If they do that they need to start them out at 15 on closed tracks. Get 3 years of experience on closed tracks with good instructors. I am only 23 but grew up on a farm so I've been driving since I was 15. OTR is a huge difference but having those years driving around the farm and short drives helped me out sooo much.
Kyle Gearhead Nugent
Kyle Gearhead Nugent
been around them since i was old enough to walk. grew up in one
Marquita Lowry Carroll
Marquita Lowry Carroll
I agree with you 100%!
Thomas Graumenz
Thomas Graumenz
Farm hands still make the best drivers.
Dustin Deike
Dustin Deike
O wait haha. Anyone see what California is doing? Yea illegal immigrants class A.
Kate Campbell
Kate Campbell
To many hot heads behind the wheel now. We need good trainers. People that will stay up with students until they know the student understands what they must do on the road to be safe. I have heard horror stories about trainers that would scare the crap out of anyone. I lucked out and had a good one.
Jason D. Stimpson
Jason D. Stimpson
My opinion some might work out.But overall its not the answer.Trucking companys are going to have to pay more period.Been doing this 18 years a lot has changed since I have been driving.
Kyle Jordan
Kyle Jordan
The roads will be littered with the cars of my enemy's!
Matthew Shoe
Matthew Shoe
Hasn't the government made enough horrible decisions when it comes to trucking? This may be their crowning jewel of bad decisions
Charles Dunn
Charles Dunn
This article states your allowed to drive 82 hours in a week? Really? Driving 25 years, that's news to me!
Chauncy London
Chauncy London
Lol yeah I'm looking at the group of kids in the picture and I'm not seeing it. Bad thing is that I am the new generation, but I've got an old soul. Been driving 4 years and own my own truck now. You have to come into the job with a maturity level no one seems to posess anymore. Yeah the industry is horrible now, but I couldn't imagine doing anything else. It's what I was born to do.
Scott Runnels
Scott Runnels
Old enough to die for our country old enough to drive a truck as far as I'm concerned. As I see it in every skilled trade you get what you pay for.
Dustin Mathews
Dustin Mathews
Even if, most insurance companies won't touch someone until their 23. And it's not just money, take away alot of these ridiculous laws and rules alot of the old drivers would come back.
Dale Hunter
Dale Hunter
Oh yeah,that's it put more inexperienced drivers on the road. More accidents,more fuel for D.O.T. to implement more stupid rule changes.
Seth Pitman
Seth Pitman
Most of us who have some sort of clue started young anyway.
Seth Pitman
Seth Pitman
Bunch of over reacting.
Robert W. Day II
Robert W. Day II
Better pay and ease up on the regulations. If we're considered as professional drivers then we should be paid that way. My question would be; Why do we have to almost work 70 hours just to get by?
Peter Duhon
Peter Duhon
More money would be nice but what we need is a 24 hour restart and more running time. If we can run more then we make more money and haul more loads but when u have to sit as a shipper for 5 and 10 hours at a time that just screwed up ur day and we need better trip planner so this don't happen and the shipper and costumer need to be held accountable for all the waiting time
Jason Runion
Jason Runion
As if the insurance rates aren't high enough!...
Chris Frye
Chris Frye
Well get ready for more crashes and deaths on the roads.. lawyers are sitting waiting with huge smiles on their faces cause they know they got tons of money coming from all the law suits that's gonna happen. How about stop treating us drivers like criminals. Allow us to carry protection. Crappy pay, screwed up regulations and the growing number of attacked and killed drivers is what's driving people out of it.
Todd Jackson
Todd Jackson
But need swift an the big companies to stop hauling all this cheap freight so that the freight charge will go up or make bottom line flat rates across the board.
Jeff Bryan
Jeff Bryan
Yep,just what we need!!
Todd Jackson
Todd Jackson
Not to mention home time blows put 2 to 3 week's. With how big some of these companies are should get a driver home every week. But since the cost of living has gone way up an the pay hasn't changed in years probably a lot of drivers don't an can't afford a home go to..
Brad Donovan
Brad Donovan
all we have to do is take them out for a summer intern ship and se how many realy want to do it. The ones that will are going to be from trucking family
Joe Swett
Joe Swett
Part of the reason rates ARE so low is because the bottom feeders WILL work for nothing and live in the truck for weeks at a time. In a sense I respect that they are willing to do that, but it's a sweatshop on wheels. There needs to be some minimum wage for drivers. There's no bottom and it gets worse every damn year. Everything else goes up and pay stays the same or drops.
Joe Swett
Joe Swett
The reason there is a driver shortage is PISS POOR PAY! It's not worth the time away from home, and they keep finding bottom feeders with no other choices that will take peanut pay and live in the truck. You get what you pay for and these sweatpants wearing fools are far from professional grade.
Christopher David Martinez
Christopher David Martinez
Let them SOLVE the problem and not BE the problem....TRUCKERS AGAINST TEEN TRUCK DRIVERS 2015....vote for it!!!!!
Cathy McQuistion
Cathy McQuistion
OK, then vote against teens in the military.
Christopher David Martinez
Christopher David Martinez
No... But I have seen how teens drive big trucks...and they are too aggressive...its down right despicable a teen take my life...from my family because he can't maintain his temperament..
Shear'Ree
Shear'Ree
Bad idea!
Charles Dunn
Charles Dunn
Honestly, my son, 19 years old could out drive a lot of the 21 yrs and above driver out there. He is a responsible, respectable guy, been riding along with me since s toddler, I see guys out there doing things everyday that is childish, immature, irresponsible, downright dangerous. Foreign drivers whom speak or read very little English. Maybe they could start with neighboring states only the their home state.
Cathy McQuistion
Cathy McQuistion
LOL at all the dumbass comment here. Teenagers are in the fucking military yet you ignorant assholes think they shouldn't drive. Just because you raised your kids to be dumbass losers doesn't mean they all are that stupid.
Al Reigert
Al Reigert
Why not let them do the military first then come out and drive?
Richard Lewis
Richard Lewis
The new Physical rules for CDL holders i s putting a lot of seasoned drivers out
Andy Falenski
Andy Falenski
Simple. Pay more.
Jacob O'Bar
Jacob O'Bar
Funny that's the same pic from another article the other day about a trucker who has been teaching teens about driving around big trucks for safety and has helped that town accident with teens driver's involved go down.
Sulayman Djane
Sulayman Djane
Wright!what drivers shortage?you can't find parking space at nights anymore at truck stops, unless you get there before 8pm
Dani McFarland
Dani McFarland
That's why I drive over night. By the time I get ready to shut down, all the solar powered drivers are out of my way.
Mike Griffin
Mike Griffin
Thats because most drivers dont understand its safer to move freight at night when there is less four wheelers on the road
Mark Wiszowaty
Mark Wiszowaty
Like an 18 year old is going to tolerate sitting in a traffic jam. or even have half a brain how to climb a mountain. or how to prepare for winter driving.
Shane Robinson
Shane Robinson
Hell anybody can drive a automatic truck , but i have a good time watching them back a automatic truck ..... Lol no thankyou ill keep my 13 speed ....
Gregory Greer
Gregory Greer
I'm Surprised Whom Or Which Company Would Insure Such Inexperienced Teenaged Drivers like Most Companies Are Looking For An Age Of 21yrs Old & Plus But Then Here Is The Stupid Questioned Ever Asked Too Drivers By Companies Is This Question Do You Have 5yrs Over The Road Experienced I Realize That A Person Needs Too Start Somewhere But I Really Think This Is A Big Mistake For The Industry & Was The Same Mistake Bringing In Foreign Drivers From Other Countries Too Work For Cheap Their Really Wouldn't Be A Shortage If The Rate Of Pay Was Much Higher Then It Is & I Still See Same Pay Rates From Back In The Late 80's & 90's Out Here Through A lot Of Companies That Is Paying Out In Wages No Wonder Theirs A Shortage In Driver Clientele Rate Of Pay Should Be Much Higher Starting At $0.60 & Plus For What Some Of These Trucking Companies & Dispatchers Put Us Drivers Through Out Here Being Away For Long Periods At A Time & From Family/Friends/ & A Life ... Remember If It Wasn't For Trucks & The Drivers In Them You'd Have A lot Of Nothing...
John Hilburn
John Hilburn
I guess these big companies should stop trying to hog all the action and stop trying to run owner operators out of buisness no one wants to work for those big companies there a joke as is trucking anymore
Brad Henry
Brad Henry
Wouldn't be a shortage if pay was better .
Chris Soergel
Chris Soergel
Hell no that's the worst idea I have ever heard
Ken Scott
Ken Scott
Kody Punches as long as they are good driver's. There are driver's and then there are steering wheel holds
Dakota Punches
Dakota Punches
Yes. Steering wheel holders have no clue what they're driving or how it works real drivers can tell you exactly what they got how it runs what gear to hold pulling hills and don't use the clutch like a sally when they're grabbing gears lol
Nermin Peimanovic
Nermin Peimanovic
There is ni shortage of drivers. The issue is that big trucking companies want to push smaller out of business. So they make this story about driver shortage so that congress can allow them to hire inexperienced young driver with low pay. This way they increase number of trucks on the road and drive freight pay down and force small companies and owner operators who depend on expedited freight out of business.
Elwood Decker
Elwood Decker
Let me get this straight...... You crack down on drivers to raise the standard then lower it for unqualified kids to take the wheel? We all knew that Safety talk was just to get into our pockets and you just proved it. I'm happy where I'm at because my dispatch is straight with me, my pay isn't screwed up and getting home is better than a 50/50 chance. I went through 6 companies to find a Good one. That's the reason for your driver shortage.
John King
John King
When did they raise hours too 82. I thought it was 70 hrs
Bill Rethwisch
Bill Rethwisch
I like this!
Al Reigert
Al Reigert
There is no shortage
John H Burgess
John H Burgess
Another government solution!! I'm sure it will work like every other great idea!! Lol :(
Samuel Lee
Samuel Lee
After teenagers what will it be ? Geriatrics in an old folks home ? Between the shippers receivers cops general public And so-called industry leaders the sooner we have an industry-wide major shortage the better...
Terry Brown
Terry Brown
No way! If they get behind the wheel they will cause havoc to the industry and kill people!
Matt Kitzmiller
Matt Kitzmiller
This is crazy! They will do anything not to pay drivers more money. Even put kids behind a wheel. Fuckin ridiculous......
Susan Swanson Smolen
Susan Swanson Smolen
The ONLY way I think an 18 year old kid should be allowed to drive a truck is if they were in one on a farm or ranch before they were out of diapers.. 18 year olds only want to party, race cars & do the girl thing.. They aren't responsible enough at 18 to have that much responsibility.... Go to school & OWN that trucking company, or go work on them...
Russ Rozell
Russ Rozell
Oh hell no wrecks would go through the roof!
Nancy Merriwether Mirabelli
Nancy Merriwether Mirabelli
This is going to be funny they won't stay
Nancy Merriwether Mirabelli
Nancy Merriwether Mirabelli
Just what we need out here a bunch of mama's boys punks the younger
Thad Nations
Thad Nations
Years ago this would have been ok but not in this day and time !
Michael Campbell
Michael Campbell
I'm glad I'm not out on the road with these idiots!....hell they can't get good quality drivers because the pay sucs
Ryan Miller
Ryan Miller
This is just stupid. Its going to pass so that way the accidents involving big trucks go up and they force more restrictions down our throats because of their fuck up in allowing an 18 year old to drive a big truck!!
Mark Saddle Tramp Haines
Mark Saddle Tramp Haines
Looks like they'll fit right in with the rest of the new breeds!
Bill Murphy
Bill Murphy
Here is an idea have the docks unload you instead of making you wait for 6 fucking hours not making any money
Chris Soergel
Chris Soergel
Don't know about y'all but just imagine an 18 yr old behind you rolling down donners pass or cabbage I'm good on that I know what I did at 18 and its not a good idea
Adolfo Jesurum
Adolfo Jesurum
We don't get enough period!
Dell Baker
Dell Baker
Right great Idea
Mike Webb
Mike Webb
That will be safe not dumb A$$
Jim Eller
Jim Eller
Not a good idea to put 18-year-old kids behind the wheel of a big truck May be one in 100 could handle it
Christopher Roberts
Christopher Roberts
I tell you what they just keep making it easier and easier to just want to give up trucking all together.
Kenneth Aldridge
Kenneth Aldridge
Bad idea these companies need to learn how to treat a driver and get them home and pay them good then people may stay driveing
Danny Baker
Danny Baker
It's taking us over!! We will be out the door before you know it..
Rob Henry
Rob Henry
If companies can afford to insure teenagers to drive. They can damn sure afford a pay raise to real drivers.
Rob-Kris Bowersock
Rob-Kris Bowersock
There ain't no shortage,it's a live
Kyle Gearhead Nugent
Kyle Gearhead Nugent
if so were in trouble.
Eric Totten
Eric Totten
Reduce the age all you want insurance companies won't cover 18 years old
William Hangman
William Hangman
Teens to come out and make it all screwed up even more than it already is. From all of the other want a bee's?
John Campbell
John Campbell
They haven't even figured out their Honda accords yet!! LORD HELP US!!
Ron Goddard
Ron Goddard

Danielle Williams
Danielle Williams
this is crazy..they simply need to increase pay, and home time while getting shippers/ receivers to reduce dock time..this would bring back experienced drivers!
Danielle Williams
Danielle Williams
and relax the bs regulations like letting us sleep when we're tired and not forcing us to run with in an alloted time or lose out
Marion Hopkins
Marion Hopkins
Heck no
Braydon Rice
Braydon Rice
I say yea give a good 18 year old driver a handshake and send him out if he is capable and stop giving these idiots a license who don't have brains enough to be a Walmart greeter expecting them to take control of the shortage We have a shortage simply because morons who think $400 a week is big money for 80 hours but they can't figure out why they get wet pissing into the wind If they can't back up a trailer tell them to look into another career, instead of playing the "fair" game
Mike Epps
Mike Epps
No way, not enough experience. Pay better wages.
Peter Kenworth
Peter Kenworth
As an owner op, I'd like to see the fuel go down some more and the rate get better. And hours shit come to a hault.
Kenneth Chauvin
Kenneth Chauvin
18 yrs old first truck second week lol
George W Casey
George W Casey
Such a BAD IDEA. They lack the Maturity to make good decisions. Period.
James R Nasalroad III
James R Nasalroad III
Oh yeah, and the avg pay for a dispatcher has gone from $30,000 a yr to $50,000...go figure
James R Nasalroad III
James R Nasalroad III
25yrs in the business! I've retired from driving OTR because 25yrs ago I averaged $45,000 a year. I had more home time then and ran 3400-3700mi a week with an average 1700mi run. I Ran coast to coast and was less fatigued. Now the average length haul is 415mi per load and 2200mi per week. The average yearly salary is $42,000 a year. Hmm. Avg pay for today's driver should be no less than $65,000 a year and that's the low end coming straight outta school and after 5yrs of exp should avg no less than $85,000 a yr. These companies can afford this and they know they can. If they cannot, then they have no business being in the business and they can drive their own trucks...don't get me started! Just saying...
Richard Townsend
Richard Townsend
We have enough no driving steering wheel holders out don't need anymore
Adam Davidson
Adam Davidson
I think they should raise the age to 25 and raise the pay
Donald Gough
Donald Gough
Start paying there won't be a shortage. Greedy ass companies need to come off the money. Then you will retain safe dedicated drivers who won't leave. What happens when you treat someone like shit. Think a teen can handle a adult world job. Lmao. Thays funny. Its a lifestyle not a job.
John Pearce
John Pearce
No Money in Trucking ...... Unless you want to work for Peanuts !
Kevin Sherwin
Kevin Sherwin
Big mistake
George Layton
George Layton
Absolutely. Perhaps they could speak English.
Ekim Rhud
Ekim Rhud
The only thing i see coming to the shortage is trucks..cuz they eill be wreckin them..
Peter Kenworth
Peter Kenworth
There u go Troy Guffey Sr., ur company is in the front.
Elbert J Brown
Elbert J Brown
22 years and wow. Teenagers nursing school here I come..
Danny Baker
Danny Baker
Stacy Starnes
John Hilburn
John Hilburn
Jeremy Danner