Eighteen wheelers are everywhere.
Every single truck you see could be carrying items that you use on a daily basis.
John Moody was commercial truck driver for 40 years. he says that people underestimate the importance of truck drivers.
He said, “If they don’t move you don’t eat, you don’t drink, you don’t go fishing, you don’t have a car, you don’t have fuel for your car and you don’t have all the stuff that is imported”.
These big machines are more than just trucks, they represent the lifeblood of our nation, but there is a problem.
There is a nationwide shortage of truck drivers.
The shortage is credited to and older workforce reaching retirement age and retention problems with younger drivers.
To avoid a crisis, congress is looking outside of the box for a solution.
The “Developing a Reliable and Innovative Vision for the Economy”, or DRIVE Act, would allow commercial truck drivers as young as 18 years old.
Most states currently allow 18 year olds to become commercial truck drivers, but the can only run routes within the state’s borders.
If the drive act is passed, the federal age limit for truck drivers will be lowered from 21 to 18.
The trucking industry supports the idea, but some individual drivers think lowering the age would be a big mistake.
Moody said, “There are probably some 18 year olds that can handle the responsibility, but there are also a lot of 18 year olds that cant. You’ve got to think way ahead. A lot of times when young people drive, they don’t have that ability yet”.
Eighteen year old currently behind the wheel say there are ready.
This young man out of Nebraska goes by the YouTube handle “Miller Time Trucker”.
He said, “I think i could do it. Really, all they have got to do is to give us a little bit on the leash. Let us try to do it with a trial period or something like that”.
Some think that changing the age to 18 won’t solve the trucker shortage.
Representatives from training schools all over Louisiana say that there are plenty of people coming to the schools, but they just don’t have the money to pay for their training.
If you can’t pay then you don’t play.
Will allowing 18 year olds drive nationwide solve the shortage problem?
Whether the DRIVE Act is passed or not, we could see some big changes down the road.