Jason Posted July 9, 2021 Share Posted July 9, 2021 Quote The latest Senate transportation bill would make it legal for freight companies to hire teenagers to drive big rigs, among other dangerous new policies that advocates say have no place in federal law. In an open letter delivered to senior officials on the Senate Commerce Committee today, nonprofit Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety called out a slate of troubling policies included in the Surface Transportation Investment Act aimed at loosening restrictions on freight carriers. Among them was a bipartisan amendment from Committee Chair Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and minority member Todd Young (R-IN), which would establish a pilot program to train 3,000 new drivers between the ages of 18 and 20 to pilot the largest trucks that roll through U.S. communities — an age group that the Advocates say is between four and six times more likely to be involved in fatal crashes than older commercial drivers. “Teen drivers just don’t have as much experience as older ones, and they tend to overestimate their driving capabilities,” said Cathy Chase, president of the Advocates. “You put them behind the wheel of an 80,000 pound truck, and that’s a recipe for disaster.” Senate Bill Would Put Teen Drivers in Big Rigs – Streetsblog USA USA.STREETSBLOG.ORG The latest Senate transportation bill would make it legal for freight companies to hire teenagers to drive big rigs, among other dangerous new policies that advocates say have no place in federal l… Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CayceG Posted July 9, 2021 Share Posted July 9, 2021 If they can drive military trucks, they can drive big rigs. Sounds like this needs to be paired with something that, if voted down, triggers an increase in the military age. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cusideabelincoln Posted July 9, 2021 Share Posted July 9, 2021 As a former teen who overestimated their driving abilities, and watched friends do the same, hell fucking no. We don't need anymore bad truck drivers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Commissar SFLUFAN Posted July 9, 2021 Share Posted July 9, 2021 I foresee a real-life version of this: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brick Posted July 9, 2021 Share Posted July 9, 2021 What company would honestly hire a teen that young though? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silentbob Posted July 9, 2021 Share Posted July 9, 2021 I’m sort of mixed because like you said, teens can drive them in the army. My grandfather got his license by backing up a cement truck in front of the DMV and asking to write the test. They asked if he was drove/backed up the truck there, said yup, and handed him a license. Different time back then, but kids can drive big tractors on farms, and my brother was driving a moving truck at 19. I would just be testing these teens a few extra times before releasing them on the roads and limit them on length of travel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
b_m_b_m_b_m Posted July 9, 2021 Share Posted July 9, 2021 Just because they can drive it in the army doesn't mean they should. The business owners just want to rob Peter to pay Paul with regards to the trucking labor pool to try and keep a lid on wages Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason Posted July 9, 2021 Author Share Posted July 9, 2021 28 minutes ago, silentbob said: I’m sort of mixed because like you said, teens can drive them in the army. My grandfather got his license by backing up a cement truck in front of the DMV and asking to write the test. They asked if he was drove/backed up the truck there, said yup, and handed him a license. Different time back then, but kids can drive big tractors on farms, and my brother was driving a moving truck at 19. I would just be testing these teens a few extra times before releasing them on the roads and limit them on length of travel. If they fuck up driving the tractor on the farm then only they get hurt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spawn_of_Apathy Posted July 9, 2021 Share Posted July 9, 2021 1 hour ago, CayceG said: If they can drive military trucks, they can drive big rigs. Sounds like this needs to be paired with something that, if voted down, triggers an increase in the military age. being a danger over seas is not the same as being a danger on domestic highways. Fuck that. You think FedEx’s death count is high now. lol It will be more rare to see a truck right side up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vaxick Posted July 9, 2021 Share Posted July 9, 2021 1 hour ago, Brick said: What company would honestly hire a teen that young though? I'm sure the major trucking companies such as CR England and Swift would hire them. Those companies are revolving doors for truckers, and rush people through training as quickly as they can to get them out on the road to start earning them money. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uaarkson Posted July 9, 2021 Share Posted July 9, 2021 This is complete horseshit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Remarkableriots Posted July 13, 2021 Share Posted July 13, 2021 On 7/9/2021 at 1:55 PM, Brick said: What company would honestly hire a teen that young though? Lots of them would because they've been having huge shortage of drivers recently. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
b_m_b_m_b_m Posted July 13, 2021 Share Posted July 13, 2021 "shortage" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uaarkson Posted July 13, 2021 Share Posted July 13, 2021 I would drive a truck until I was shitting into a diaper if it paid half as much as it did in the 70s Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Remarkableriots Posted July 13, 2021 Share Posted July 13, 2021 Truckers are getting big pay hikes, but there's still a shortage of drivers WWW.CNN.COM America's truck driver shortage is driving pay higher. But it's not solving the scarcity of truckers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 13, 2021 Share Posted July 13, 2021 Is there something inherently beyond the capabilities of properly trained 18-20 year olds that should prevent them from driving such equipment? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CitizenVectron Posted July 13, 2021 Share Posted July 13, 2021 13 minutes ago, sblfilms said: Is there something inherently beyond the capabilities of properly trained 18-20 year olds that should prevent them from driving such equipment? I'm fine with younger people driving big trucks (though maybe only 18+ considering they are traveling on their own), as long as there is extensive and meticulous training (which in reality isn't mandated in most places). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spawn_of_Apathy Posted July 13, 2021 Share Posted July 13, 2021 3 hours ago, Uaarkson said: I would drive a truck until I was shitting into a diaper if it paid half as much as it did in the 70s what did it pay in the 70s? I thought I saw a story some years ago when this driver shortage first seemed to get reported that companies were offering 90-120k starting to try and incentivize people becoming drivers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spawn_of_Apathy Posted July 13, 2021 Share Posted July 13, 2021 32 minutes ago, sblfilms said: Is there something inherently beyond the capabilities of properly trained 18-20 year olds that should prevent them from driving such equipment? their judgement and temperament. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason Posted July 13, 2021 Author Share Posted July 13, 2021 47 minutes ago, sblfilms said: Is there something inherently beyond the capabilities of properly trained 18-20 year olds that should prevent them from driving such equipment? Car rental companies have under 25 fees for a reason. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bloodporne Posted July 13, 2021 Share Posted July 13, 2021 The little fuckers are all on Adderall so that works out. Labor shortage AND crank sales solved boom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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