FMCSA Eyes Lower Federal Driver Age

The U.S. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is considering a truck driver pilot program from the Truckload Carriers Association that would put 18- to 21-year-olds behind the wheel.

TCA represents the truckoad segment of the industry, including dry van, refrigerated, flatbed, and intermodal carriers.

Current federal rules stipulate that only a qualified driver who is at least 21 years of age be allowed to operate a commercial motor vehicle in interstate commerce.

TCA, of Alexandria, Va., submitted its proposal in January and said industry demand dictates the need to get younger drivers hired sooner. TCA expects the economy will rebound later this year and once again fuel the need for more drivers. The group estimated at its March 1999 annual meeting, when the economy was booming, that carriers would need to hire 80.000 new drivers a year until 2005.

“What we are doing is working on a long-term solution, to tap another human resource to benefit the industry and those who want a steady job,” said Ronnie Dowdy, chairman of TCA’s Driver Recruitment and Retention panel.

“This would be a way of getting support to show that the pilot can produce a younger driver who is mature enough to handle the responsibility,” he said.

TCA floated the idea of a pilot program two years ago, but it was not met with open arms.

Safety groups and even some trucking companies, C.R. England in Salt Lake City for one, cited safety concerns in not allowing younger drivers to expand into interstate commerce (see the 3-27-2000 issue of Transport Topics, p. 38)

While 48 states allow 18-to-20-year-olds to drive heavy trucks within their borders, the federal government prohibits them driving interstate.

FMCSA said it will take comments on the TCA pilot program through May 21. No date was given for when a decision would be made.

TCA expects 1,000 students to sign up for the program that will cost them each between $4,500-$10,000. Ten driver school nationwide will offer the curriculum. The Professional Truck Driver Institute would develop the training standards.

A driver course would last a minimum of 22 weeks, with 14 weeks of classroom instruction and eight weeks of instruction behind the wheel with an experienced TCA member driver. Drivers would then need to share driving duties for another 18 weeks with a TCA driver before graduating.

FMCSA said a driver would not be able to take his or her first solo drive until they were at least 19 years of age and after satisfactorily completing the 40-week program that would be funded by private funds.

“There would be no federal money involved whatsoever,” said David Longo, FMCSA spokesman.

For the full story, look for the Feb. 26 print edition of Transport Topics. Subscribe today.

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