FACT SHEET

A DEADLY MIX - YOUNG DRIVERS AND LARGE TRUCKS

What Others Are Saying about the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) Proposal to Allow Young Drivers, Ages 18-20, to Qualify for a Commercial Driver License (CDL)

News Articles

Christian Science Monitor, "18-Year-Olds and 18-Wheelers" Editorial 2-27-01: "But the prospect of youngsters at the wheel of these behemoths simply ignores a disturbing fact from the auto-insurance industry: Teenagers, as a group, are the highest-risk drivers. Many of them lack judgment in driving cars, let alone 18-wheelers."

LA Times, "U.S. Studies Plan to Allow Younger Interstate Truckers" 2-23-01: "Research also shows that younger truckers are more likely to get traffic tickets and ignore federal rules requiring rest. Lowering the driving age for truckers to 18 is at odds with the trend in many states to place restrictions on teen driving."

Public Comments to the Docket

20 Year Veteran School Teacher, Carolyn Montgomery, Knoxville, TN: "Young people this age are more and more irresponsible. They take many risks, particularly in cars...There would be carnage all over the road...Put eighteen-year-olds on the road, and you will have trucks going 90 miles per hour. I hear them talking about speed in their cars. They write about it in their journals."

President, Federal Companies and Member of Trucking Industry, Donald Ullman, East Peoria, IL: "Regardless of training and monitoring... the maturity of this group is ill prepared to handle the many situations that arise on the road. Again, I am concerned with safety versus solution."

Owner, Transportation Company, John Grainger, Atlanta, GA: "The idea of allowing 18-year-olds to operate large commercial vehicles is not a sound idea. As difficult as it is presently to find competent drivers, I would never expose my company to the risk of teenagers operating heavy equipment."

Veteran Truck Driver, Lynn Neuschwander, Central Point, OR: "I have been driving trucks for over 30 years and I have three sons that grew up in and around trucks. Under no circumstances would I have wanted them hauling freight at the age of 18, and they had a background in the industry...If you believe an 18-year-old would be better at coping with long hours, lack of sleep, and controlling a rig at 60 mph with the potential to kill other motorists, you are living in a fantasy world."

Veteran Truck Driver, Gordon Stewart, Raleigh, NC: "I have driven an 18-wheeler coast to coast numerous times, and up and down the East Coast. There is no way in this world I could have handled one in a responsible manner when I was 18."

Veteran Truck Driver, Ron Garver: "As a long time commercial truck driver, I strongly advise against lowering the age limit for commercial drivers to 18. Public safety will be jeopardized by such action. If anything, the age limit should be raised not lowered. Lowering the age limit will not have any bearing on driver shortage."

Veteran Truck Driver: "I am a professional truck driver, over 23 years. It has taken me this long to consider myself a professional driver because it takes years of experience to become one. It takes maturity, common sense, courtesy and patience. An 18-year-old coming out of high school does not have what it takes to get behind the wheel of a 40 ton rig."

Veteran Truck Driver: "I drove these trucks from the time I was 21 until I was 30...I cannot in any way believe that an 18-year-old has the maturity, the reflexes, the experience base or any of the requisites to be able to safely handle 30 tons of cargo and steel."

Veteran Truck Driver: "As an over-the-road driver with 31 years of experience, [allowing 18 year old truck drivers] would be certain disaster. 21 is too young to allow these young hotheads behind the wheel of an 80,000 pound vehicle going 70-75 mph, much less 18. The only way this could possibly work is with 24 hour supervision and that is not possible."

22-Year Marine Corps Veteran: "I have spent 22 years in the Marines and I know quite well that 18-21 year-olds have to be constantly monitored so as to conform to rules and regulations."

CDL Holder, Emolee Harper, Redfield, AR: "Operating a commercial truck which can weigh up to 80,000 lbs requires a responsibility and maturity that cannot be taught in 48 weeks, it takes time and age to develop this requirement."

Mr. and Mrs. Champlin, Torrence, CA: "The FMCSA should be taking positive action immediately to get back control of the trucking industry and its existing drivers rather than inducing more potential problems on the highways."

Kevin Loechl, Marietta GA: "I just about dropped my jaw on the floor when I heard that you are considering a proposal to let 18 year olds begin training to drive or driving big rig trucks. We in Georgia are trying to raise the minimum driving age to 17 in metro Atlanta. I cannot imagine the increase in risk posed by such young drivers behind the wheel of big trucks. We want mature, experienced professional drivers driving big rigs. Please don't endanger my family and friends by putting a loaded weapon-a large truck-into the hands of teenage men."

 Veteran Truck Driver, Clayton Beard, Garner, NC: "The biggest problem with drivers during my time were all the inexperienced drivers out on the road - this was caused by the truck driving schools graduating kids in hords. This resulted in a flood of new drivers and dropped the average income for the more experienced drivers to a point where he couldn't even make a living....Just remember, there isn't a shortage of drivers, just a shortage of drivers who will work for free."