A federal program is getting ready to permit teens to operate big rigs in an attempt to ease supply chain issues as well as the nationwide trucker shortage. According to a CBS News report, the pilot program, first proposed by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) in 2020, would allow drivers aged 18 to 20 to operate commercial motor vehicles in interstate commerce after completing probationary hours. This federal proposal comes shortly after a New York state law was announced allowing young adults under the age of 21 to get commercial driving licenses in the state and operate large trucks.
Support and Opposition for New Program
The FMCSA also stated that the teen truck drivers will not be allowed to drive passengers, hazardous materials or special configuration vehicles. Currently, most states allow people 18 years of age or older to become truck drivers, but they cannot drive across state lines until they are 21. The federal program was created under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which was signed into law by President Joe Biden.
The proposal is currently waiting to be approved by the Office of Management and Budget before it can open applications for truck driver positions on its website. While the program has received support from the American Trucking Associations and other industry groups, it has faced opposition from safety advocates including the Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety and Citizens for Reliable and Safe Highways.
These groups say younger drivers exhibit more unsafe behaviors such as distracted driving and are statistically proven to have a higher risk of crashes. They also cite the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which stated that teenagers lack the ability to correctly analyze dangerous situations. Roughly 72% of goods transported in the U.S. are transported by large trucks and the nation is now short by about 80,000 truckers, according to industry groups.
Last month, Governor Hochul signed into law a bill that will allow younger drivers, ages 18 to 20, to get a Class A Commercial Driver’s License and drive big rigs. Before this bill, only those ages 21 and up could get a CDL Class A license in New York.
The Danger of Inexperienced Truck Drivers
A number of factors can lead to inexperienced drivers causing a truck accident including:
• Not paying heed to speed limits
• Engaging in distracted driving behaviors such as texting while driving or using an electronic entertainment device or gadget
• Not following federal Hours-of-Service rules that require truck drivers to get adequate rest before getting on the road
• Failure to properly evaluate weather-related hazards
• Ignoring or not recognizing the importance of truck maintenance
• Not paying heed to cargo loads and federal regulations relating to loads
Overlooking critical safety measures may cause a variety of catastrophic truck accidents including rollovers, jackknifing accidents, rear-end crashes, side-impact collisions, blind spot crashes, etc.
Contacting an Experienced Lawyer
Victims who have been injured in truck accidents may be able to seek compensation for damages including, but not limited to, medical expenses, lost income and benefits, hospitalization, rehabilitation, permanent injuries, disabilities, past and future pain and suffering, etc. Families of deceased accident victims may be able to file a wrongful death lawsuit seeking compensation for damages such as lost future income, funeral costs, medical expenses, pain and suffering, etc.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a truck accident, or if you have lost a loved one in a motor vehicle accident caused by a negligent or careless driver, the experienced New York personal injury attorneys at the Law Offices of Kenneth A. Wilhelm can help you better understand your legal rights and options, and also fight hard to recover just compensation for you.
For 50 years, our skilled accident attorneys have established a proven track record of helping injured victims. Our law firm recently recovered $5,600,000 for a bicyclist who was hit by a van, and $2,550,000 for another victim of a truck accident, and $3,000,000 for a pedestrian who was hit by a car, and the full $1,000,000 insurance policy for a pedestrian who was hit by a truck, and $4,625,000 for a driver who was in a car and was hit by a van, and $2,500,000 for a man who fell through an improperly secured hole. Also, one of our clients obtained a verdict for $43,940,000 and another of our clients got a verdict for $23,500,000, both in medical malpractice cases.
Please contact us TOLL FREE 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-800-WORK-4-YOU (1-800-967-5496). WE CAN EVEN COME TO YOU. There is no attorneys’ fee unless we recover money for you. We can also help with personal injury and/or medical malpractice cases in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, or Florida. If you have been seriously injured in any of the 50 U.S. states, please call us and we will try to help you with your case.
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Source: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/truck-drivers-teens-new-program-supply-chain-crisis-u-s/