The federal government will let teens drive transports throughout the nation in a move it hopes will alleviate the supply chain crisis - but the initiative is being panned by critics who fear it could lead to disaster.
The new apprenticeship program deviates from current law - which requires truckers crossing state lines to be at least 21 years old - by allowing 18- to 20-year-old drivers to travel beyond their home states.
The push to change the law comes as the industry faces an exodus of 600,000 retiring truckers by 2028, and the Transportation Department estimated last October that 80,000 new hires were needed this year to offset attrition and clear a backed-up supply chain.
The pilot program, detailed last week in a proposed regulation from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, would screen the teens and bar any with driving-while-impaired violations or traffic tickets for causing a crash.
But safety advocates say the program runs counter to data showing that younger drivers get in more crashes than older ones.
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anyone remember a former governor of illinois who allowed anyone to get a cdl [as long as they paid him money] . shortly afterwards there were numerous wrecks caused by inept drivers . that ex governor is now doing time in the pen
Here is one, maybe these idiot libs will let 18year old fly commerical airlines, hopefully they don't.
Driving Commercial Trucks is nowhere near as complex a task as piloting a commercial airliner or cargo aircraft... The average 18yr old would not qualify to apply for a license to fly a commercial aircraft of any size or type. They would not have the requisite hours of flight time (experience) to take the test and check ride... for the license. There are however many 18 yr old men who could and do qualify to be issued a CDL... and with additional experience as TEAM, drivers can be trusted with single operator responsibilities. The skill sets needed for operating a Big Truck are much easier to acquire early in life... were as command pilots in a commercial airliner need many years of experience before they acquire the full set of skills to be entrusted with the lives, cargo, and multi-million dollar aircraft.
That is the dumbest thing ever heard of. Now this is most likely one of the dumb things that Pelosi put in her H1 Bill that passed in the House. The trailers alone are 45 feet long,and going up mountains thay must stop and put on snow tires by the drivers when it snows,then take the snow tires off after the inclime. Where would the safty driving come in with no L.D experence come in? But of course she also wants 16 year old children to vote that's in her drafted Bill. If anyone has seen the draft H1 it would scare a person because it was written by crazy Pelosi, it would end our country if it somehow passes in the Senate.
Don't worry yourself Marlene... many drivers are armed and many are big enough to spit bullets without a firearm...
As for following to close... many private vehicle owners don't understand that big rigs need to maintain constant rates of speed and RPM control too conserve fuel. Wjen they are forced to speed up and slow down their fuel costs dramatically increase. It is reported by CAT that a tea cup of fuel is dumped every time one changes gears in a big rig.
There are many operators out their pulling a little to close for comfort... some for traffic or road conditions, others for fuel management. Whenever a big rig lets off the throatle they soon find another vehicle pulling directly in front of them, also to close for comfort. The driver certainly can't continue to slow down to maintain space, as the traffic volumes of today would find them barely moving to keep the inductries recommended safe following distance... they have schedules to keep. Try speeding up to get the distance you feel comfortable with or slow down and let the trucker pass. Understand that most big rig drivers are safe operators and have to maintain good driving records AND FUEL ECONOMY to keep their jobs.
Trains don't deliver freight... they require loading and offloading which are quite expensive and time-consuming. it has proven to be more efficient to avoid the multiple handling of cargo by putting it in a container and keeping it there until it is distributed by the wholesaler or placed in their warehouse.
Trains martialing yards are often miles from the ultimate destination of their freight... requiring a truck to make the delivery. We need more train martialing yards nationally to maximize the energy efficiency of rail transport. However, that is a very expensive infrastructure investment that the Rail Roads are not willing to undertake. The initial investment and subsequent maintenance of rail transport are very expensive.
Exactly, AMTRAK is not feasable without huge government subsidies... Commercial freight trains are only feasible where long runs and container cargo is moved. There already exists a network of rail martialing yards nationwide...
Adding more rail yards will require hundreds of thousands of miles of new rail spurs to be added to the rail network. The needed expansion of rail spurs requires a huge capital investment, millions of miles of rail spurs need to be laid and MAINTAINED for rail to become the primary system for commercial cargo transport.
The current rail system and its technology are not able to provide the cargo services needed... More efficient and better-engineered rail systems must be developed before rail can provide greater local service; before, rail can significantly reduce the need for over-the-road and local commercial trucks.
I doubt that our industrial and commercial companies are wasting revenues on shipping costs... most have quite complex software programs to manage their warehouses.... ordering and shipping only when necessary and using the most efficient if not least expensive means of delivery. Fuel is a major cost for the transport industry and truckers and fuel consumption is tracked closely by every major carrier... squeezing every nickel until they maximize their profits. I am confident that they are not pouring fuel on the ground.
All of us will be paying for this in insurance premiums and some will pay with their life. Not a good idea at all.
Insurance Premiums Costs are in accordance with experience with Rigs and Types of Loads and Lengths of Trailers. Including Accidents. In order to become an Operator, first is Training, then Testing, the the Physical/Drug Testing. Trucking Companies carry concerns not only for liability for cargo, but for everyone on the roads and property damage. Fools do not suffer long. The New Law would now allow Interstate, where previously 18 year olds could only operate within their own State. No Big Thing!
Lynn Bryant DeSpain
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