TruckingIndustry.news

House On Board With Teen Truck Drivers

by Jana Ritter - Published: 11/06/2015

This week House Republicans rejected an amendment to the Highway bill that would prevent teenagers from driving commercial trucks and argued that lowering the minimum for Interstate trips from age 21 to 18 is a necessary and modest effort to address a driver shortage that is affecting cargo movement in the U.S. The proposal to lower the minimum age of truck drivers was originally included in an earlier transportation funding bill approved by the Senate in July. A later amendment proposed to eliminate the language lowering the minimum truck driver age from the road funding legislation, but on Wednesday the Chamber rejected that amendment on a vote of 181-248.

                                                                 

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

Many trucking companies have been pushing for the minimum age of interstate drivers to be lowered, saying that a major reason for the driver shortage is because older workers are retiring at a faster rate than younger replacements are entering the profession. However, advocates of the amendment have been arguing that lowering the minimum Interstate driving age is something that the Department of Transportation should be studying a lot closer. Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.), who wrote the amendment, says that Interstate highways are already dangerous enough and, "Given the higher accidents and fatality rates of younger drivers, it makes no make sense to make this change without looking at all of the data."

But Rep. Sam Graves (R-Mo.) argues that the proposed amendment would also mean eliminating a limited pilot program that is currently authorizing drivers over 19 1/2 to enter into a graduated program obtain a commercial driver's license. "What's interesting about the way present law is written is that a driver that's over the age that's being discussed here can drive all the way across the state of Missouri, for instance, but they can't drive 10 miles in the city of Kansas City because it's across state lines. It doesn't make a whole lot of sense and it actually hampers a whole lot of business out there," Graves said. "What we're trying to do with this amendment is just allow those drivers to cross state lines," he added.

Still, Democrats argued that although many states already allow teenage truck drivers to get behind the wheel of big rigs, it doesn’t change the fact that it’s still a major safety risk to all.  "Ask any parent, they know young drivers do not always listen, even when an experience is in the front seat," said Lewis. 


Ludwig Elstak
Ludwig Elstak
Hope they could handle all those gears, can't stop those trucks like a bicycle!!!!!!!
Josh Drayfahl
Josh Drayfahl
Went to automatic because they can't and won't take the time to properly train a driver. Warm body=truck going up and down the road...
Kyle Hoffeditz
Kyle Hoffeditz
A lot of large companies have gone to automatics
Glen Murphy
Glen Murphy
I went to an automatic after 25 years of shifting gears. They are no more dangerous than any other transmission. The truck is only as safe as the driver behind the wheel
Roy Biedler
Roy Biedler
They can go to a war zone and drive equipment worth millions but come back and be ridiculed that they are too young.
Angel Eduardo Jimenez
Angel Eduardo Jimenez
I just turned 20, I was a teen driving big rig, only locally. Still have 0 accidents and 0 tickets. I don't know how many can say the same. I'm a safe and courteous driver. Although I do agree that driving isn't for everyone...
Michael Gravatte
Michael Gravatte
And I bet you think .21 cpm is great money also !!!
Michael Gravatte
Michael Gravatte
And $10.10 hour
Dusty Duncan
Dusty Duncan
Yeah because all of us younger drivers must be stupid idiots.
Angel Eduardo Jimenez
Angel Eduardo Jimenez
Lol nah I don't think .21 cpm is great money, nor do I think $10.10 is good, I make $22 hourly pay which I think isn't too bad for a 20 year old also my wife drives as well looking forward to joining my dads fleet as an owner op next year teaming when I turn 21 since I will finally be able to cross state lines, I do however appreciate your response Michael Gravatte. Dusty Duncan I think us younger drivers probably think better than a lot of these older drivers tbh I think someone as young as Us Who already have ideas like the ones that we do probably are a little ahead than the rest of the crowd...
Shaine Stephen Bingham
Shaine Stephen Bingham
True, but experience is never given. It's earned.
Aaron Baltosser
Aaron Baltosser
Younger drivers are stupid. They don't have the experience yet that makes them smart enough to be safe.
Ludwig Elstak
Ludwig Elstak
I wouldn't want to be on that Cross Bronx with them on the road trying to switch gears!!!!!!!
Jay Blills
Jay Blills
Lmao...!
Jeff Watt
Jeff Watt
Why not I ran a 5 x 4 transmission at 19 . And most fleets have a auto shift anyway.
Roy Biedler
Roy Biedler
They can go to a war zone and drive equipment worth millions but come back and be ridiculed that they are too young.
Chaz Hutto
Chaz Hutto
"Most fleets" don't have auto shift
Kim Kroll Mccleery
Kim Kroll Mccleery
Teen drivers 6 weeks of school 80000 lbs SMH
PJ Heinz
PJ Heinz
Six weeks?? Try two...
Glen Murphy
Glen Murphy
What's the difference 18 or 80 in two weeks or six weeks you still don't know your head from your ass
Roy Biedler
Roy Biedler
They can go to a war zone and drive equipment worth millions but come back and be ridiculed that they are too young.
Daniel Chapin
Daniel Chapin
The highway is deadly enough with the 6 week truck driving school grads.
Glen Murphy
Glen Murphy
And younger drivers will change that how?
Roy Biedler
Roy Biedler
They can go to a war zone and drive equipment worth millions but come back and be ridiculed that they are too young.
Mark A Fitez
Mark A Fitez
No you dumbass its money we are making less now then we were on the 1986 when I started and if your short drivers why are all these trucks sitting in truck stops looking for a load
Randall Mules
Randall Mules
My dad made 21 cents a mile in 86 i make 47 now .
Mark A Fitez
Mark A Fitez
And
Kyle Gearhead Nugent
Kyle Gearhead Nugent
the higway is dangerous enough as is. the way i see it is that if you have to go to school to learn how to drive a truck you (PROBABLY) dont belong behind the wheel of one. put them in a dump truck. see how they like that. its a different world. to be a true truck driver it has to be in your blood.
Kyle Gearhead Nugent
Kyle Gearhead Nugent
my dad was driving at 16 for the higway dept. my grandpa startep at 18. so yes its in my blood. got mine as soon as i was legal age. 0 school driving this month makes 6yrs. i dont have much exp as you guys do but i aint a school boy driver
Kyle Gearhead Nugent
Kyle Gearhead Nugent
my dad was driving at 16 for the higway dept. my grandpa startep at 18. so yes its in my blood. got mine as soon as i was legal age. 0 school driving this month makes 6yrs. i dont have much exp as you guys do but i aint a school boy driver. will add that ive been around trucks since i was born
Robert Crow
Robert Crow
That's BS! Some of us weren't born into trucking. School provides a useful tool to get drivers started.
Chris Lewis
Chris Lewis
I agree Robert. No truckers in my family either. I went to school for my Class A, drove OTR for 1 1/2 yrs and have been driving tanker ( gas/ethanol ) locally for almost 2 yrs now with 0 accidents and 0 tickets. I do agree that it's not for everyone though. Some of the people in my class scared me as well as some of the drivers I see out there driving for the big companies who will hire ANYONE with a CDL. You don't need it " IN YOUR BLOOD " to be a safe and compatent driver.
Scott Williams
Scott Williams
I just love it when drivers complain about rookie drivers. You all were professional the first time behind the wheel. I have 25 years driving semi. Instead of putting them down, help them whenever possible.
Glen Murphy
Glen Murphy
This has to be the dumbest post I've read all day.
Roy Biedler
Roy Biedler
They can go to a war zone and drive equipment worth millions but come back and be ridiculed that they are too young.
David Theisen
David Theisen
What do all you old guys think is supposed to happen when you're all gone? The industry would shut down if it went your way. Not everyone is born into it. I wasn't but I'm damn good at it and I HAD to go to school because there aren't any companies around that will take someone without a certificate anymore.
Dusty Turner
Dusty Turner
Trucking , need to pay more people wood stay ! 40,000 a year Is a joke
Joe Foley
Joe Foley
Younger drivers under the age of 21 driving semi trucks is NOT a good idea, not mature enough for starters.... Secondly !..... There is enough newer generation drivers out here now as it is making unsafe moves and DO NOT THINK.... plus thinking they know everything there is to know about trucks or trucking within 6 mos to a yrs time......Big companis are even making drivers with minimal 6 mos driving experience trainers, that right the is total BULLSHIT.... I have been driving 25+ yrs and do not know everything. But I will admit I still learn something each and every day
Josh Drayfahl
Josh Drayfahl
What's it matter if they are 25 or 18? Honestly? They still gonna come from a cdl mill right? We're fucked either way! Big company sees warm body= 6 week professional twuk dwiver....
Brian Meadows
Brian Meadows
They can and haul 80000 intrastate. So think about it how many have you been around and not knew it.
Roy Biedler
Roy Biedler
They can go to a war zone and drive equipment worth millions but come back and be ridiculed that they are too young.
Joe Foley
Joe Foley
At least with the military they will get the correct training required to operate equipment worth millions... I know this because I am former military..... rather than some of the chump driving schools that are only in it for the money
Chauncy London
Chauncy London
I honestly don't think a majority of teens from this generation would stick with it. Too impatient and they like their free time. Don't think driver shortage would change much. Bunch of my friends ask about driving a truck all the time and think it'll be interesting. I give them the run down and their attitude changes.
Shane Bridgman
Shane Bridgman
Probably be better than rag heads and Chinese drivers!! And what about curfew law? Kids can't be out past midnight!! Smdh
Travis Heikes
Travis Heikes
I started driving when I was 18 I bought first truck when I was 19 have over 2 million miles no accidents and I can fix my own truck when it breaks down I even built a truck from ground up I'm 36 now. Tell me what can you do super trucker besides get your slow ass in the left lane and cut everybody off in your bad ass 60mph super swift truck. Bitch please cut these kids some slack it all boils down to training. A properly trained teen is better then a poorly trained senior
Dusty Duncan
Dusty Duncan
I bought my Pete the last week of high school and I'm about to tear it down and do a total frame up on it and I'm only 20. Been in this life since I was born, know what it takes and know it's not an easy one but I wouldn't trade it. After 4 generations it's just in my blood. But that's ok, don't let me drive but let the guy who left CRST a week ago drive coast to coast but that's ok because he's 35...logic just amazes me. It has nothing to do with age, just maturity level.
Sue Domenico
Sue Domenico
No it all comes down to brains. These kids today are soft and spoiled. How many of them will put down their cell phone long enough to watch the road. Hell they want to start school later because they can't handle the early hours
Travis Heikes
Travis Heikes
That's because there worthless parents raised then that way
Jordan Fox
Jordan Fox
The dumbest fukn thing they could do. But its close to me retiring from the highway. Too many people already cant handle the truck they drive
Roy Biedler
Roy Biedler
They can go to a war zone and drive equipment worth millions but come back and be ridiculed that they are too young.
Randy Schaad
Randy Schaad
I dont know what you old hags are whining about I started driving when I was 17 and running interstate at 18 .. some of you older drivers are far worse drivers theses days. I been driving trucks 37 years and have seen a rapid decline in respect from older drivers. And if you go in a truck stop and sit down anywhere near the counter its either the biggest bull shit lies or nothing but complaining. Most are just afraid there going to be put out to pasture. Just drive your company trucks till your bosses can your fat out of shape whiney asses..
Sheldon Carmichael
Sheldon Carmichael
I think it's crazy. Big companies have put a lot of people in trucks that shouldn't be there. Either they can't drive or read the road signs. Or both.
Roy Biedler
Roy Biedler
They can go to a war zone and drive equipment worth millions but come back and be ridiculed that they are too young.
Terry Sprague
Terry Sprague
Hell half of the kids today haven't even learned how to drive a car !!! So yeah let's put them in a big truck ! Real smart..
Dusty Duncan
Dusty Duncan
I'm 20, own an 84 Pete with a 13 over and a 90 KW with an 18 and I can drive better than anyone I know who is my age. Now don't get me wrong, I'm not saying I'm the best driver out there but I'm pretty sure I can handle a truck. I've driven 9s, 10s, 13s, 15s, 18s and 5,6+4 and quadraplexes. Tell me again how I can't drive a car?
Roy Biedler
Roy Biedler
They can go to a war zone and drive equipment worth millions but come back and be ridiculed that they are too young.
Bill Dancy
Bill Dancy
This is more than bullshit. There is no shortage of drivers and there is more trucks on the road than ever before. This is government propaganda to push the small business owners, like myself, out. The insurance companies fight us tooth and nail already. But the gonna insure an 18 year old. With 3 months experience? Big business wins again.
Roy Biedler
Roy Biedler
They can go to a war zone and drive equipment worth millions but come back and be ridiculed that they are too young.
Steven Mitchell
Steven Mitchell
A properly trained monkey can drive a truck . The only problem i see with OTR companies hiring 18-20 year olds is most will not be willing to say on the road for long periods of time
Rusty Mooney
Rusty Mooney
You're an idiot if you think a monkey can drive a truck just remember without trucks you have nothing
Steven Mitchell
Steven Mitchell
Keep holding the steering wheel and telling yourself that ...:. Driver
Andrew Drayer
Andrew Drayer
There only doing it for the paycheck they will work for pennies real truckers dont work for crumbs
Tyson Cummings
Tyson Cummings
I'm against it! No way in hell are they ready for driving something that large and heavy when they have only been driving a couple yrs in a car.
Dusty Duncan
Dusty Duncan
I'm 20 and have OWNED trucks since I was 18. Age has nothing to do with it. Maturity level does. Been in the industry since I was born and I'm the 4th generation in my family to do this job. As long as you know your limits and know your truck and have the biggest thing that none of these company Driver's have, COMMON SENSE, then you'll be fine. Age doesn't matter. I've seen a 65 year old man that couldn't drive worth a damn. Some of you people amaze me.
Tyson Cummings
Tyson Cummings
There are exceptions Dusty, and if what you say is true, then situations like yours I'm ok with. You know as well as I do that you are few and far between. The reason why I'm against it is because you know there's gonna be a flood of young rookies gettin behind the wheel of a big truck barreling 60+ MPH down the highway with only a couple yrs of driving a 4 wheeler under their belt. And with the way the "big" companies, England/Schneider/CRST etc., put people behind the wheel with only at best 12 hours of wheel time driving around a big parking lot avoiding cones, and expect them to handle the stress and dangers of the open road, you know the accident and driver fatalities rate is gonna go way up. I think they should leave the age as it is and put more time into training drivers how to drive. Just my opinion though
Roy Biedler
Roy Biedler
They can go to a war zone and drive equipment worth millions but come back and be ridiculed that they are too young.
Brandon Shaffer
Brandon Shaffer
Of course the House is on board for more tax revenues
Michael Knox
Michael Knox
Maybe they should use baby steps.... lift the intrastate restrictions but add a 250 air mile restriction. Intrastate restrictions are HELL on drivers that live on a state line.
Roy Biedler
Roy Biedler
They can go to a war zone and drive equipment worth millions but come back and be ridiculed that they are too young.
Jody Mayo
Jody Mayo
They may be ok.... we do have alot of non driveing drivers out here now..... I don't see a shortage in the industry. ..what I see is greedy trucking companies trying to get cheaper labor. ...
Jeff Yoder
Jeff Yoder
Safety first my ass!! Get ready for more truck fatalities than you can handle
Roy Biedler
Roy Biedler
They can go to a war zone and drive equipment worth millions but come back and be ridiculed that they are too young.
Randall L Stutler
Randall L Stutler
Teens already aloud to drive in state what's everyone complaining
Tyson Cummings
Tyson Cummings
Not every state allows it
Jimmy Mayes
Jimmy Mayes
You sure can you can't leave the state till your 21
Sue Domenico
Sue Domenico
Very bad idea. Most kids now are soft and spoiled. Can they put down the cell phone long enough to watch the road. They want to start school later in the morning because it's to "early" for them. Oh wait schools too stressful for them. Put them in Dallas or Chicago traffic. There maybe a few who are mature enough but for the most part no
Rameko Lael Currie
Rameko Lael Currie
I think it would be better to start training drivers at an earlier age, instead of waiting until older, mainly because when you're older you've adopted a certain way of doing things and you're already set in your way of I'm going to do this my way, catch the mind while it's young and still impressionable, show them the right way to do the job and there would be a driver or driver's that would make us feel safer out on the roads, they don't haven't reached the point of having set bad habits, it's worth a try, at one point in our lives we all wanted a chance to prove ourselves to the older crowd, maybe they could take this Truck driving to the next level
Roy Biedler
Roy Biedler
Everyone that doesn't like the idea should think that some can go to war and drive heavy equipment and trucks in a war setting but come back and then have to wait to drive otr or daycab locally because they ate not old enough. Messed up if you look at it that way, but with that being said people 18-21 should go thru a special mandatory training by a person with 2 or more years experience unless they have a back ground in driving and/or are in or coming from the military.
PJ Heinz
PJ Heinz
I'm trying to be fair here...my gut says it's not a good idea. But I had a full time job driving a tandem dump (Autocars, Macks etc) at 17. Started running interstate in a tractor trailer at 19-20. I think the big difference was that I grew up on a farm and was running large equipment and trucks since I was about 8 years old. So I don't know if many of my friends without that prior experience could have realistically done the same thing. Second, driving is only half of trucking. You have to have the work ethic for the long hard hours and be able to make quick decisions which is where maturity factors in. Not to mention knowledge of the roads and reading a good old fashioned map. Too many new drivers rely on GPS...which I've seen many people get themselves into precarious situations with.
Wild Bill
Wild Bill
I can see both sides of this but you can't get it all in a driving school you have to have hands on and that creates another problem they should be restricted to local driving for a while I'm glad to see them interest in the driving industry we sure need some new blood out there now for the older generation take time to show them the right way don't bitch and complain teach them how to be good
Jeff Watt
Jeff Watt
Thank you for that statement
Ivan Machmueller
Ivan Machmueller
After they wreck a few million bucks in trucks and property insurance companies won't insure them & and only huge self insured companies will hire them
Kirk Righetti
Kirk Righetti
And only those that everyone else rejects.
David Arnold
David Arnold
No no no hell no they need to start out in straight trucks dumps etc.
Roy Biedler
Roy Biedler
They can go to a war zone and drive equipment worth millions but come back and be ridiculed that they are too young.
Keith Balfe
Keith Balfe
Sure.... why not.......anything they do can't effect the image of our industry any worse than the sweatpants & flip flop wearing dips shits we got out there now
Aaron Gump
Aaron Gump
They can drive in their state so wtf is the difference
Terry Brown
Terry Brown
This is going to be a major disaster.
Tommy Hamill
Tommy Hamill
Started driving when I was eighteen. Back in 1978. Always thought it was a good idea if a family member helped train you. We lost the like father like son in the trucking business because you couldn't start training your son to drive till he was 23. By then they had found another job.
Nicholas Swartz
Nicholas Swartz
Yall sit on here and bitch bitch bitch about them wanting to let 18 year Olds driver across state lines and how they should pay us more and there wouldn't be a driver shortage and blah blah blah blah jesus yall are just like everyone else in this country, afraid to join together and make a difference join together to make our industry what we want it to be!!!!!! All u gotta do is ban together and do it like back in the day, back then the government worked for us they were controlled by American citizens, now hell yall just let them walk all over us you want a difference u want to put ur thoughts out there go to Washington and do it it's not hard look at the past when company workers band together and striked look all the way back to the very beginning of America when we fought England to become our own nation band together ull get improvements thay are needed or just keep bitchn and trust me there will be more to bitch about bc no one is doing a damn thing about it, oh and yall b like we'll look at u ur b itching yeah bc I'm tired of seeing this shit in America no one wants to make a difference I'd stand with anyone to go and make a difference for our industry but takes more than just one person! Just think about it
Muriel Elsie Johnson
Muriel Elsie Johnson
I personally don't think its a good idea,their not mature enough mentally for that kind of commitment...they really need to raise the age to 25 years old...but it don't matter,these big carriers are going to get what they want,so I won't be out here for too much longer,too dangerous...
Kevin Richardson
Kevin Richardson
Who in their right mind came up with this idea? Because they're still immature and text while driving etc. Asking for more hazards then where the age stands currently.
Julie Morgan
Julie Morgan
The rude obnoxious disrespectful drivers that do unsafe manoeuvres around me daily are 40+ in age .... if the younger generation are friendly and courteous and safe, by all means welcome!
Jimmie Waites
Jimmie Waites
Come on wtf
Richard Klahn
Richard Klahn
Not a good idea.
Michael Eldred
Michael Eldred
Still don't see a driver shortage, just to high of a turn over ratio because of ill training and (recruiters) misrepresentation of the career..
Randall Mules
Randall Mules
You can become a comercial pilot at 18 . You can be a tank crewmember ay 18 .
Tj Crowe
Tj Crowe
Enough said
Vella Mae Rhinehart
Vella Mae Rhinehart
If they're qualified let them...
Bryan J. Hall
Bryan J. Hall
Stupid
Michael Campbell
Michael Campbell
Hell no....these kids today can't drive a damn car much less a class a truck....yeah if u want more deaths and accidents
Ivan Machmueller
Ivan Machmueller
Congress don't care because there flying in private jets
Milan Cakic
Milan Cakic
It doesn't matter how old you're... You either born with skills or not...
Francisco I. Schiller
Francisco I. Schiller
Good for them, hopefully it passes. I just hope the ones that get into the field, take it seriously. This is not a profession to take lightly. Once you get behind that wheel, you're responsible for not only your life, but everyone who drives around you. Best of luck teens
Wes Rogers
Wes Rogers
NO WAY SHOULD THEY ALLOW THAT
Ray Cunningham
Ray Cunningham
I am ok with this as long as they are not given the same training as most of the new drivers out here. Pair them up with an experienced time tested trainer and not for 6 weeks, give them the time to get into bad weather and get lonely. Give them the time to start missing mama and the Xbox the friends. I'm sure all of us know one or two teens that could probably do this just fine, but the teen is probably our kid or relative that rode and loved it. Maybe 1 out of 100 teens is responsible enough to do this job. But on the other hand I don't see a driver shortage anywhere since I haven't had anything but shit loads to chose from I'd go more with a decent freight shortage.
Khori Carnes
Khori Carnes
If they can fight for our country, they can most certainly drive for our country. That's how I view it
Chaz Hutto
Chaz Hutto
We allow 18 year old to go over seas with high powered rifles. They'll be ok with the right training
Agustin Aldape
Agustin Aldape
My opinion is in the proper training there's not enough for these new drivers as far as age hell difficult to show a old dog new tricks also and a trainer should have some years under their belt.... Hell i would love to be a trainer only 25 years experience i would love to show my sons how to do this butttttttttttt i would have to lie and say there pooper scooppers at the petting zoo embarrassinggggg to tell others at church their truck drivers im a male stripper and pan handler and politician to my community .
Rameko Lael Currie
Rameko Lael Currie
We do have some level headed teens in this generation Some, maybe those are the ones we can count on, every generation is different and misunderstood by the generation before them, hell my generation was looked down on as well, I say let's train them properly and go from there.
Shercarla Pennington
Shercarla Pennington
Speechless
Mike Davis
Mike Davis
Has someone lost there minds sorry teens nothing personal but there r already way to many inexperienced drives out there
Glen Murphy
Glen Murphy
Personally I'm all for it. There is a whole group of individuals between that ages of 18-21 that have two options: college, or mc Donald's. Trucking is a great opportunity for that group and if properly educated could be a benefit to the industry. I would rather have them earning a living behind the wheel of a truck than my tax dollars paying for their incarceration.
Frank Bowers
Frank Bowers
I see it now. Swift recruiters trolling the high schools.
Erick Painter
Erick Painter
Another way to keep wages low.
Kyle Hoffeditz
Kyle Hoffeditz
You know Swift will be all over that.... It's just gonna be s bunch of kids that dont know how to drive
William Ellingwood
William Ellingwood
Sure ! Line um up , young people love gettin fucked !
Chauncy London
Chauncy London
How many times a day do you see a teenager buried in their phone while driving? That should tell you right there where we are headed.
Daniel Kettlewell
Daniel Kettlewell
Honestly, i probably see more 40 year olds on their phones while driving ......yes we see some teens doing it........but more so the 30-50 year old range. Including fellow truck drivers
Mj Lacks
Mj Lacks
Oh hell no! They can barely operate a four wheeler without wrecking
Al Reigert
Al Reigert
They claim driver shortage. They won't address any of the problems that will solve the issues. Just more rules and nonsense
Charlie Ford
Charlie Ford
No no no & 80.000 GVW NO !
Dusty Duncan
Dusty Duncan
I'm 20. I bought my first truck my last week of high school. I'm the 4th generation in my family to drive. I've grown up in a family of O/Os and old school ways and known how to do things and do them the respectful way. I'd love to take my Pete OTR and I bet I can do it better than the company driver who's new to trucking as of six weeks ago but that's ok, he's 35. I can shift any transmission you throw my way including a 5+4 which some of you I bet have never even heard of. I own an 84 EXHD Pete with a mechanical Cat and a 13 speed with a 36" sleeper. Only suspension air bags and the AC doesn't work all that great, I bet you big steering wheel holders are crying right now. Also I do all the service work on my truck that I can. Age has nothing to do with it. Maturity level does.
Dennis Matracia
Dennis Matracia
Training training, 6 weeks is not enough time for training period
Brad Zeigler
Brad Zeigler
This is just a sorry attempt to lower driver wages across the board. This industry needs to get it head out of its ads and come together. Its well past time for a national trucker strike.
Michael Bogard
Michael Bogard
I started hauling cows and ran my ass off when I wuz 18-21 couldn't leave okla but I went from SE okla out to the panhandle 1after another but I'm a 4 the generation also but he'll let them out here they can't be any worse then what's already out here u won't even no there out here blind right in
Kenny McKenzie
Kenny McKenzie
There ain't no shortage of drivers that's a lie there ain't no parking for what's out there now that's the rich man's lies and work ain't very good neither and there will be way more acidents
Joel Jones
Joel Jones
Boy oh boy what a disaster that will be
Mark Lingle
Mark Lingle
Sounds like a way to lower wages at the risk of the public
Eric Sides
Eric Sides
When will this nonsense stop. Gee wizz.
Hasem Jonatan
Hasem Jonatan
This has to be a hoax, right? What I do wonder is how much would change if you took e-logs out the cab!?
EdnaRae Gould
EdnaRae Gould
No way no way
Lee Wade
Lee Wade
Every day seeing so called experienced drivers doing 65 in a 45 work zone or 3 foot off the rear of four wheeler with kids in the back seat I wonder how much more of a risk would a 18 year would be.
Dustin Mangum
Dustin Mangum
Bad idea
Faye Fairneny
Faye Fairneny
No no no no, there's to many steering wheel holders out there now!
William Tharpe
William Tharpe
I think it's ludicrous to do this ! These kids are part of the same group that cut you off , text and drive and most of them have the attention span of a gnat !
Scott Land
Scott Land
18 n up no lower or asking for problems
David Chapa
David Chapa
If under 30 five yrs. Driving experience.no fatals no Drug convictions no DUIs U.S. citizens only. Must pass all safety requirements.and clear homeland security.
Robert Todd DeGraaf
Robert Todd DeGraaf
They should ride along for a month before switching seats
Dale Kudlock
Dale Kudlock
That's the dumbest damn thing I have ever heard. I guess you have to look at the intelligence of Congress. They are a bunch of retards!!!!!!!
David Braunwarth
David Braunwarth
Better pay and respect would help the driver shortage. No one ever addresses the pay issues
Christina Bittle Beggrow
Christina Bittle Beggrow
No way...even most 21 year olds are not mature enough to handle the responsibility that comes with it.
Earl Hopkins
Earl Hopkins
I personally hope they don't lower the age. Most kids can't even drive a 4 wheeler safely. And now you want to put 45000 lbs behind them. You got to be kidding.
Robert Crow
Robert Crow
That's insane
Aaron Baltosser
Aaron Baltosser
Let people wholly unqualified as drivers of something as small as a 50CC scooter or Smart For Two run something as heavy and detail oriented as a big rig? What can possibly go wrong?
Kirk Righetti
Kirk Righetti
Maybe yall need to be more patient for your crap...the freeways are already to dangerous with 25+ older adults that shouldn't be on the road...not to mention there isn't enough parking as it is. Restructuring the industry would be more helpful
James R Maxwell
James R Maxwell
Insane idea!!!
Ryan Bassett
Ryan Bassett
Yaay more steering wheel holders! I I'd get my cell at 18, couldn't leave the state of have any endorsements but with that class B I could start driving Dump Trucks "legally". Now what I see from kids that are 16-18 is that they are more worried about what the Internet has to say that learning from anyone older. I also seem to remember a recent report by a certain federal agency detailing the statistics of age versus accident rate.......do I need to remind anyone how that goes?
Nathan Larry Gyhra
Nathan Larry Gyhra
If we are willing to send them over seas to fight for this country then why not let them drive!
Rick Phelps
Rick Phelps
I say no combination endorsement, no hazmat, no over the road, 10 wheel local driving only.
Frank Stoner
Frank Stoner
If you are a good driver ya most likely were when you were a teenager just remember when there is stupid you're not gunna change it!
Shawn Shanahan
Shawn Shanahan
I my self is only 21 yeah I'm a young gun but I was raised around truckin I started driving a truck at 11 years of age I got my cdl at 18 never went to driving school or any of that. and became part owner of our trucking company. Not goin to lie a lot of people in this generation can't drive to safe there but. I'm not apposing to the drop of age but I'm not agreeing too it either. All I'm saying is being a guy from Colorado driving these mountains everyday wether dry rain snow or solid ice it gets scary real quick these guys need to keep there head together every second there behind the wheel this isn't no game at all. I personally think there needs to be more training and not just flat ground driving I'm also talkin mountain driving in all types of weather if they plan on dropping the age. I know Im just a rookie and I will be for years I'm learning stuff everyday I'm not on here for people to think I'm a hot shot boy cause I'm far from it I just wanted to give my thoughts from a younger driver.
Dale Hunter
Dale Hunter
Hell,half of them shouldn't be riding bicycles let alone driving 80000 pound death machines.
Cleveland Goodwin
Cleveland Goodwin
Raised the pay will not b a driver shortage....
Belinda Schmidt
Belinda Schmidt
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!