License Younger Drivers to Deepen the Pool

LAS VEGAS — If you are old enough to operate a combat helicopter, you should be old enough to drive a commercial truck across state lines, many trucking executives argue.

In an attempt to broaden the pool of driver candidates, the Truckload Carriers Association plans to seek federal approval of a test program to let highly trained, but younger, drivers operate in interstate commerce.

Members of the Labor and Human Resources Committee and Driver Development Task Force began outlining the scope of the project March 14 at the organization’s annual meeting.

“We are not getting the good, smart, mature people we need. We get people who didn’t make it in the trades, in the factories. They are immature,” said Robert Hansen, president of Robert Hansen Trucking in Delavan, Wis.

While more than 40 states allow 18- to 20-year-olds to drive heavy trucks within their borders, the federal government prohibits drivers under 21 from operating trucks in interstate commerce. That means that over the next four years, the 500,000 high school graduates who do not plan to attend college will remain locked out of careers in interstate trucking.

The situation frustrates truckload recruiters, who must tell young job seekers they can’t get behind the wheel of an interstate-bound truck because of the regulations.

It also hurts trucking, which is experiencing a shortage of qualified drivers. Figures show that companies are expected to hire about 80,000 new drivers a year until 2005 because of growth and attrition.

“We know we are losing people who don’t want to wait until they are 21 to drive a truck,” said TCA President Lana Batts.

TCA’s board voted last week to develop a plan that it will send to the Federal Highway Administration. No timeline was set for submitting the proposal.

For the full story, see the March 22 print edition of Transport Topics. Subscribe today.