Originally published at: Teen Truckers Won't Fix a Problem That Doesn't Exist - FreightWaves
The ATA wants FMCSA to extend a failed pilot program that produced 42 graduates out of a planned 3,000. Meanwhile, we’re handing CDLs to drivers who can’t pass basic safety screenings, and carriers who kill people on our highways are walking away with slaps on the wrist. Lowering the age requirement doesn’t solve a labor problem; it creates a safety catastrophe.
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This was never intended to have any impact on the trucking industry in terms of any significant growth but to keep young kids of the streets and show them that instead of doing anything illegal for few 100$ doing irreparable damage to their futures making the trucking more accessible is all it takes to show some kid that instead of selling drugs for example they could be driving around the country contributing to the society while making shittons of money in the procces, you suggest it’s better to keep it off limits until they are 21 years old and allowing them 3 extra years to get involved with gangs drugs etc and once someone get a criminal record it becomes pretty much impossible to bounce back. Why would someone ■■■■■ so hard against a initiative that’s designed to support the future generation and nothing else.
No, They have to grow up and have an attitude of Responsibility and Safety. They can start out working in the warehouses and loading the trucks and trailers, and meeting the truck drivers, and building in their minds the thought “one day I want to be a truck driver”. We are not going to take them from their video game where they drove a truck, and set them behind a steering wheel and say “Go for it”. Not Going To Happen!! For the safety of their lives and all the others on the road.
And when they do start, they can start driving a city van or box truck, and get 1 or 2 years experience first.
These companies will do anything but raise pay including using 4 illegals living in a truck on the same license, letting children drive, making electric trucks that use as much energy as whole towns to deliver 1 load, bribe congress for more h2bs, and go out of business.
We need unions back and men willing to get dirty to fix this.
So we’re trying to get rid of a market rates significant number of drivers to boost rates, but we need to put young teens on the road with less supervision?
Some states don’t even let them ride with each other because of their poor judgement! Putting them in a truck’ll fix that!
Uh, pnoid, I know a place for a nice slice of pizza and a cold beer—seems like that kind of respite might be helpful this time of day?