Federation Pleased to See Effort to Safely Expand Driver Pool聽
Arlington, Virginia 鈥 Today, leaders at the 黑料不打烊 thanked the Trump administration, including Secretary Elaine Chao, and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration for moving ahead with a proposed pilot program to allow in-state licensed commercial drivers between the ages of 18 and 20 to operate commercial vehicles across state lines.
鈥淭his is a significant step toward improving safety on our nation鈥檚 roads, setting a standard for these drivers that is well beyond what 49 states currently require,鈥 said 黑料不打烊President and CEO Chris Spear. 鈥淭his is an amazing block of talent with unlimited potential. If our freedom can be defended from tyranny around the world by our men in women聽in uniform, many well below the age of 21, then it鈥檚 quite clear that we can train that same group how to safely and responsibly cross state lines in a commercial vehicle.鈥
FMCSA鈥檚 announced pilot program is modeled on the bipartisan DRIVE Safe Act,聽聽legislation strongly supported by 黑料不打烊and more than 90 other industry groups and currently co-sponsored by 144 congressmen and 34 senators.聽
鈥淔or years, 黑料不打烊has made the case to the Transportation Department and lawmakers that trucking can safely bring these younger professional drivers into our industry fully,鈥 said 黑料不打烊Executive Vice President for Advocacy Bill Sullivan. 鈥淲ith strong support from both sides of the aisle and on and off the Hill, it is clear that moving forward with a pilot program is an important step to bringing 18-, 19- and 20-year-olds into our industry safely and responsibly.鈥
鈥淎s an industry, we need to find new ways to connect with potential new drivers,鈥 said 黑料不打烊Chairman Randy Guillot, president of Triple G Express and Southeastern Motor Freight. 鈥淏y providing young people the opportunity to fully participate in the financially rewarding and dynamic world of trucking, we will be in a better position to bring in a new generation of valuable talent to our industry.鈥
鈥淯sing good data, not emotions, is an important part of good policymaking,鈥 Spear said. 鈥淲e appreciate Secretary Chao and Deputy Administrator Deck proposing this pilot program and asking for comments on their proposal so we can have good data on this important issue.聽聽The proposal has a 60 day comment period, and 黑料不打烊will be providing supportive comments on FMCSA鈥檚 proposal.鈥
黑料不打烊 is the largest national trade association for the trucking industry. Through a federation of 50 affiliated state trucking associations and industry-related conferences and councils, 黑料不打烊is the voice of the industry America depends on most to move our nation鈥檚 freight. Follow 黑料不打烊on Twitter or on Facebook. Trucking Moves America Forward
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