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U.S. to let teens drive big rigs in test program to help ease supply chain shortage
ABC 7 ^ | January 18, 2022 2:01PM

Posted on 01/18/2022 1:19:12 PM PST by conservative98

DETROIT -- The federal government is moving forward with a plan to let teenagers drive big rigs from state to state in a test program.

Currently, truckers who cross state lines must be at least 21 years old, but an apprenticeship program required by Congress to help ease supply chain backlogs would let 18-to-20-year-old truckers drive outside their home states.

The pilot program, detailed Thursday in a proposed regulation from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, would screen the teens, barring any with driving-while-impaired violations or traffic tickets for causing a crash.

But safety advocates say the program runs counter to data showing that younger drivers get in more crashes than older ones. They say it's unwise to let teenage drivers be responsible for rigs that can weigh 80,000 pounds and cause catastrophic damage when they hit lighter vehicles.

The program was required by Congress as part of the infrastructure bill signed into law Nov. 15.

(Excerpt) Read more at abc7.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events; US: District of Columbia
KEYWORDS: infrastructure; joebiden; supplychain; teens
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1 posted on 01/18/2022 1:19:12 PM PST by conservative98
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To: conservative98

Nothing to worry about here


2 posted on 01/18/2022 1:21:17 PM PST by griswold3 (When chaos serves the State, the State will encourage chaos)
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To: conservative98

If they can drive a truck in the Army at 18, then they can drive a truck on the roads. I see no problem with this at all.


3 posted on 01/18/2022 1:21:26 PM PST by LVS1
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To: conservative98

If they’re qualified, fine by me.


4 posted on 01/18/2022 1:22:30 PM PST by Allegra
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To: conservative98

Bad idea. Really bad idea in nearly all cases. Few 18-19 year-olds drive properly in a small car, SUV or truck. Driving a big rig is another matter.


5 posted on 01/18/2022 1:22:35 PM PST by CatOwner (Don't expect anyone, even conservatives, to have your back when the SHTF in 2021 and beyond.)
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To: conservative98

Let’s Go


6 posted on 01/18/2022 1:22:55 PM PST by americas.best.days... ( Donald John Trump has pulled the sword from the stone.)
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To: conservative98

As long as they will allow transgendered illegal immigrant single mothers to drive at 13-1/2, I see no problem with this.


7 posted on 01/18/2022 1:23:14 PM PST by Attention Surplus Disorder (Apoplectic is where we want them)
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To: Allegra

Biden said he drove a big rig. So easy even an idiot can do it


8 posted on 01/18/2022 1:24:14 PM PST by OHPatriot (Si vis pacem, para bellum)
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To: conservative98; griswold3; LVS1; Allegra; CatOwner
The story at the link says it all:

https://www.trucklendersusa.com/commercial-truck-finance-insights/ex-amish-truck-driver-destroys-historic-bridge-by-driving-her-30-ton-traile#.YecvrvhOmUk

9 posted on 01/18/2022 1:24:55 PM PST by T.B. Yoits
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To: conservative98

What a great idea!

It’ll make Elon’s headless trucks look comparatively safe out on the road, I imagine...


10 posted on 01/18/2022 1:25:04 PM PST by 9YearLurker
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To: conservative98

No problem with age-
18 is an adult.

HUGE problem with age for the current crop.
Not many 18 yo’s I would want on a highway me or my family had to drive on.

There are a bunch of young men out there that are ready, like the ones I see and interact with every day.
I just don’t want a bunch of snowflakes in trucks.


11 posted on 01/18/2022 1:25:19 PM PST by Macoozie (Handcuffs and Orange Jumpsuits)
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To: conservative98

99% of ‘em don’t even know what the heck a manual shift is so good luck with that


12 posted on 01/18/2022 1:27:09 PM PST by V_TWIN (America...so great even the people that hate it refuse to leave)
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To: conservative98
truckers who cross state lines must be at least 21 years old

It says that in the Constitution somewhere, right?

13 posted on 01/18/2022 1:27:14 PM PST by Magnum44 (...against all enemies, foreign and domestic...)
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To: CatOwner
Few 18-19 year-olds drive properly in a small car, SUV or truck. Driving a big rig is another matter.

Few 18-19 year olds can hang dry wall properly either. That doesn't mean one with training can't.
14 posted on 01/18/2022 1:27:19 PM PST by Dr. Sivana ("There are only men and women."-- George Gilder, Sexual Suicide, 1973)
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To: LVS1

“If they can drive a truck in the Army at 18, then they can drive a truck on the roads. I see no problem with this at all.”

There is a 18 year old girl on youtube from South America that handles a semi like a pro.
There is a video of her backing a semi into a very difficult spot on a even tighter street with finesse.


15 posted on 01/18/2022 1:27:25 PM PST by setter
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To: conservative98

I’d be cool with this.

But I’d like to add triple speeding fines and automatic license suspension for anyone with less than three years experience


16 posted on 01/18/2022 1:28:06 PM PST by Mr. K (No consequence of repealing obamacare is worse than obamacare itself)
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To: LVS1

What about 60 plus folk?


17 posted on 01/18/2022 1:28:27 PM PST by Osage Orange (1961 VW Two Door Truck)
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To: All

Make sure to block their cell phone reception when driving. They’d be driving their big rig while on Tik Tok.


18 posted on 01/18/2022 1:28:50 PM PST by escapefromboston (Free Chauvin)
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To: griswold3

No chance at all that they’ll drag race down I 95, or play chicken with big rigs laden with double trailers. Nope.


19 posted on 01/18/2022 1:30:47 PM PST by Eleutheria5 (Buck Foe Jiden!)
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To: conservative98

To replace those who won’t get the vaccine. I have been involved in 2 minor accidents with local drivers of panel or cement trucks under 21, and it is a bad idea. You need maturity and driving experience.


20 posted on 01/18/2022 1:31:05 PM PST by xxqqzz
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