USA to let teens drive big rigs to help ease supply chain shortage

I agree treating the current drivers better would be a great help, but if these teen drivers have to pass ever test that any other driver takes then I suppose they are just as qualified as anyone else even though they may not have the years under their belt on the road.
 
Oh, my. What more can the country take?
 

Last edited:
Like any internship if they have an experienced driver with them ..

there are programs recruiting young people into becoming truck drivers since we all seem to be ordering things and expecting them to show up on our door the need is greater then ever. often by the time they are older they have messed up their driving record with tickets and DUI issues making them NOT insurable by companies.

There are far more frightening things .. in my state you can have a department of licensing employee READ you the questions for the written part of a commercial license.....
for those with low reading skills or english is a second language.............
BUT signs do not have this help for NON readers ............... like "bridge out" or 'accident ahead " ....... i wonder whose bright idea that program is....
 
My son is a trucker and he also trains new drivers from time to time. He has gotten safe driving awards and certificates for 6 straight years in a row. He occasionally posts on Facebook about what a time (not a good one) he's having trying to train some of the drivers. There are procedures that one has to follow to get their CDL licenses. If these teens are not properly trained, this is literally accidents waiting to happen.

I wonder how many trucking companies will go for this! J.B. Hunt is very proactive about keeping their drivers and those around them safe. I'm going to share the article with my son and see what he thinks of this idea. Right now I'm thinking, it's kind of crazy. Of course, some might just be good drivers and able to handle themselves. My son's latest commendation (name edited out by me for privacy reasons). @Pecos

20220124_214310 2.jpg
 
Teens can do it. In the past they have gone to war for us. As long as they are trained, start out with an experienced driver they can learn to keep these big rigs on the road. He learns to keep airplanes in the air, refuel them. Teenagers learn to defend our nation. With proper training teens can fill this gap.
 
OneEyedDiva said:
My son is a trucker and he also trains new drivers from time to time. He has gotten safe driving awards and certificates for 6 straight years in a row. He occasionally posts on Facebook about what a time (not a good one) he's having trying to train some of the drivers. There are procedures that one has to follow to get their CDL licenses. If these teens are not properly trained, this is literally accidents waiting to happen.

I wonder how many trucking companies will go for this! J.B. Hunt is very proactive about keeping their drivers and those around them safe. I'm going to share the article with my son and see what he thinks of this idea. Right now I'm thinking, it's kind of crazy. Of course, some might just be good drivers and able to handle themselves. My son's latest commendation (name edited out by me for privacy reasons). @Pecos

View attachment 205262
Click to expand...
It would be very interesting to hear your son's take on this.
 
drifter said:
Teens can do it. In the past they have gone to war for us. As long as they are trained, start out with an experienced driver they can learn to keep these big rigs on the road. He learns to keep airplanes in the air, refuel them. Teenagers learn to defend our nation. With proper training teens can fill this gap.
Click to expand...
Maybe being needed by their country will do everyone some good.
 
Are people nuts? A teenager driving a big rig with one hand on the wheel and the other texting his girlfriend on his "smart" phone and maybe taking selfies. I think I will stay off the highways for a while. Kiddy truck drivers scare me! Some might need a booster seat so they can see over the steering wheel.
 
Eighteen year olds can already get CDLs in a lot of states, but couldn't previously cross state lines until 21. In my part of the world they can now drive from New Orleans to Memphis, Jackson to Little Rock instead of stopping for state lines within Mississippi. Doesn't seem like a big deal when 18 year olds currently drive the length of California and the length and breadth of Texas ...much longer distances and oftentimes more hazardous, urban driving conditions than in many states.

And as a lot of people have stated, they're old enough to sign up to die for us.

We've culturally extended adolescence into the 20s in some cases. It's irritating when college sports staff, articles refer to athletes as 'kids' when they're almost all 18 or older. A whole lot of their peers are already out in the working world or fighting for our country.
 
Last edited:
AnnieA said:
Eighteen year olds can already get CDLs in a lot of states, but couldn't previously cross state lines until 21. In my part of the world they can now drive from New Orleans to Memphis, Jackson to Little Rock instead of stopping for state lines within Mississippi. Doesn't seem like a big deal when 18 year olds currently drive the length of California and the breadth of Texas ...much longer distances and oftentimes more hazardous, urban driving conditions than many states.

And as a lot of people have stated, they're old enough to sign up to die for us.

We've culturally extended adolescence into the 20s in some cases. It's irritating when college sports staff, articles refer to athletes as 'kids' when they're almost all 18 or older. A whole lot of their peers are already out in the working world.
Click to expand...
you make a good point
we seem to be extending or contracting our tune on age all the time ....... depending on our narrative or agenda.
college aged athletes are adults and should not be coddled like children.

there are those who think a 16 year old should vote ....
but if they commit a serious crime or something ......some ( often the same group as above) march out studies on maturity and brain development into the mid 20s to excuse their lack of judgement or knowing right form wrong in committing crimes etc.
 
drifter said:
Teens can do it. In the past they have gone to war for us. As long as they are trained, start out with an experienced driver they can learn to keep these big rigs on the road. He learns to keep airplanes in the air, refuel them. Teenagers learn to defend our nation. With proper training teens can fill this gap.
Click to expand...


My dad was in his teens (possibly 16 or younger) when he started out as a merchant marine. And he wasn't the only one who started out at that age.

You know, one has to wonder --- what is it about age 18 in this society? Is 18 a magic number? Who the heck determined that you have to hide behind mommy's skirt until that age? In the past young men like my dad matured and accomplished a great many things before they reached age 18. Over the years I have read accounts of 15 year olds awarded medals for bravery in combat whether on land or at sea. I have read of 16 year old girls who raised their orphaned siblings - they worked outside of home, cooked, sewed, washed their younger siblings and never saw the inside of a school. Yet, the orphans survived some of whom went on to live productive and rewarding lives.

18 is NOT a magic number. And certainly 21 isn't one either. For too long we in this society have insisted that young people stay in school (often against their will or their best interests) rather than to go out into the world where they are allowed to shape their own destiny. As I wrote before, an 18 year old can enlist in the military, become a police officer or security guard, enter the medical profession, even start their own church. Therefore, they are fully capable of handling large rigs and transporting commodities. There is not now nor has there ever been nor will there ever be any such thing as "labor shortage". That is just garbage propaganda contrived by wealthy elites to heighten demands for commodities and to "justify" higher costs and to increase their profits. Just plain GARBAGE.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top