DRIVE-Safe Act would pave the way for truck drivers younger than 21 to legally cross state lines.
Legislation was introduced in the Senate Thursday to lower the age for operating a commercial motor vehicle across state lines from 21 to 18.
The Developing Responsible Individuals for a Vibrant Economy (DRIVE-Safe) Act, S. 3352 is sponsored by Sen. Todd Young, R-Ind., and co-sponsored by Sens. Jerry Moran, R-Kan., and Jim Inhofe, R-Okla.
Lowering the minimum age to acquire a federal commercial driver’s license has been a controversial topic across the trucking industry, with opponents claiming that doing so would create a safety hazard, while supporters have been arguing that it would cut down on the driver shortage. Additionally, many states already allow individuals to obtain a CDL at 18 years old, but federal law prohibits them from driving across state lines.
American Trucking Associations President and CEO Chris Spear expressed support for the legislation and said the driver shortage across the trucking industry threatens the U.S. economy.
“The Drive-Safe Act would open the door to millions of Americans who are seeking a career and a path to the middle class by training young men and women to safely and reliably move freight across state lines,” Spear said.
However, insurance for younger drivers can be especially expensive. “Those who are particularly old or young are usually the ones who get into driving accidents,” according to TruckDrivingJobs.com. “This makes their insurance rates higher on average. The ideal age for truck drivers is between 30 and 65 years old.”
The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) is an opponent of lowering the driving age. “Concerns about a driver shortage are largely a myth and actually more about high turnover in one sector of the industry,” the association said in May.
OOIDA has argued that instead of trying to hire more cheap labor, efforts should instead focus on improving the industry.
OOIDA was a member of a coalition that sent a letter to the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee in April that said, “CMV drivers under the age of 19 are four times more likely to be involved in fatal crashes, and CMV drivers who are 19-20 years of age are six times more likely to be involved in fatal crashes.”
However, Sen. Young’s office argued this week that DRIVE-Safe would create a training program tfor the legal operation of a commercial motor vehicle in interstate commerce by CDL holders under the age of 21. Drivers under 21 would have to complete at least 400 hours of on-duty time and 240 hours of driving time with an experienced driver in the cab with them. All trucks used for training would have to be equipped with active braking collision mitigation systems, a video event capture system and a speed governor set at 65 miles per hour or below.
The House introduced companion legislation, H.R. 5358, earlier this year, sponsored by Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Calif. H.R. 5358 currently has 71 co-sponsors.
Law would lower minimum age for CDL
