Business, Freight News

ATA Welcomes Proposal for New Pilot Program for Non-Military Younger Drivers

[ May 15, 2019   //   Gary G Burrows ]

The American Trucking Associations applauds the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration for taking a first step toward a new pilot program to allow non-military commercial drivers under the age of 21 to operate in interstate commerce.

“ATA supports FMCSA’s efforts to expand on its current work examining younger commercial drivers,” said ATA President and CEO Chris Spear. “Right now, 18-, 19-, and 20-year-old drivers are driving trucks in the United States. What these pilot programs will do is set out a path for these drivers to fully participate in our industry by allowing them to drive interstate.”

In a Federal Register Notice, FMCSA announced it was seeking comments on what “training, qualifications, driving limitations, and vehicle safety systems that FMCSA should consider in developing options or approaches for a second pilot program for younger drivers.”

This would become FMCSA’s second younger driver pilot program, following a program announced last July to allow younger veterans to drive in interstate commerce.

“Allowing younger drivers, who are already moving goods intrastate, to drive interstate is a common sense step that has support not just from the trucking industry, but from a broad coalition,” Spear said. “Between FMCSA’s proposed pilot project and the bipartisan support for the Drive SAFE Act in Congress, we hope we will soon create a path for more young people to fully participate in our industry.”