House Bill Moves to Let Younger Truckers Cross State Lines
DRIVE Safe Act Would Permit 18- to 20-Year-Olds to Haul Interstate Under Supervision
Key Takeaways:
- Federal law does not allow people between 18 and 20 years old with a CDL to drive Class 8 trucks across state lines.
- The DRIVE Safe Act would mandate a probationary period that would include on-duty as well as drive time in a commercial motor vehicle.
- The apprentice must be accompanied by an experienced driver with at least two years of commercial driving experience.
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Policymakers in the U.S. House of Representatives recently introduced legislation designed to facilitate access for truckers under the age of 21 to drive across state lines.
Sponsored primarily by Rep. Rick Crawford (R-Ark.), the , is meant to promote rigorous safety training for younger commercial drivers. The bill would enhance an apprenticeship program for prospective drivers to complete once they obtain their commercial driver licenses.
Specifically, the measure aims to enhance a federal apprenticeship pilot program for individuals younger than 21. It would mandate a probationary period that would include on-duty as well as drive time in a commercial motor vehicle. The apprentice must be accompanied by an experienced driver with at least two years of commercial driving experience.
The legislation is designed to make it easier for younger workers to enter the industry. Federal law does not allow people between 18 and 20 years old with a commercial driver license to drive Class 8 trucks across state lines.
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“Today, an 18-year-old truck driver can legally transport goods from West Memphis to Texarkana — a 270-mile route — so long as the trip remains within Arkansas,” said Crawford, a senior member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Sept. 26. “However, the same driver is prohibited by federal law from driving just [7] miles across the state line into Memphis, Tenn. Allowing qualified 18- to-20-year-olds to operate a commercial vehicle across state lines, just as they already do within their home states, is a common-sense step toward addressing workforce shortages and improving supply chain efficiency.”
Rep. Jared Golden (D-Maine), a co-lead sponsor, said, “Federal rules should make it easier, not harder, for young people to get a start in the industry. This bill is a simple, pragmatic way to encourage more careers in trucking so families, small businesses and communities can get the goods they need, when they need them.”
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Natural Resources Committee Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.), also a co-lead sponsor, noted, “The current shortage of truck drivers has resulted in higher shipping costs and increased delivery delays — putting a great deal of strain on our economy. The DRIVE Safe Act is a common-sense piece of legislation that creates career paths for our young American workers by aligning federal law with the 49 states that already allow 18- to 21-year-olds to transport goods interstate.”
Other co-sponsors are Reps. Salud Carbajal (D-Calif.), Darin LaHood (R-Ill.) and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-Wash.). A committee of jurisdiction has yet to consider the legislation. Versions of the bill were introduced in previous sessions of Congress.
is among the groups endorsing the bill’s introduction.
The DRIVE Safe Act, which has strong bipartisan support in both the House and Senate, will expand job opportunities in while also enhancing safety training and technology standards. — American Trucking (@TRUCKINGdotORG)
“Building a 21st-century supply chain requires building a workforce to power the trucking industry,” said Henry Hanscom, ATA senior vice president of legislative affairs, in a statement that accompanied the bill’s introduction. “The DRIVE Safe Act meets that challenge by providing career pathways into interstate trucking for qualified 18- to 20-year-olds while promoting enhanced safety and training standards that will benefit all road users.
“This common-sense proposal, which would stand on the firm foundation created by the Safe Driver Apprenticeship Pilot Program, will open additional opportunities for young drivers, giving them access to a well-paying profession without the debt burden associated with other pathways.”
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