In The News
FMCSA to initiate pilot to test 18- 20-year-old vets as CMV interstate drivers
WASHINGTON — The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is presently in the process of planning the implementation the so-called Military Pilot Program that would test the ability of 18- to 20-year-old men and women driving interstate routes on the nation's highways.
Currently, drivers holding a CDL must be 21 years old to drive interstate routes.
The pilot is a provision of the Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act that would allow select U.S. military personnel between 18 and 21 years of age to operate a commercial motor vehicle in interstate commerce.
No date has been set to actually begin the pilot, nor does the FAST Act say how long it must run, only that not later than one year after the date on which the pilot is concluded, the Secretary of Transportation must submit to Congress a report describing the findings of the pilot and the recommendations of a working group that has been monitoring the program.
The act requires the working group to consist of representatives of the armed forces, industry, drivers, safety advocacy organizations and state licensing and enforcement officials.
Participants in the pilot must be between the ages of 18 and 21, be a member or former member of the armed forces or reserve components of the armed forces and qualified in a military occupational specialty to operate a commercial motor vehicle or similar vehicle.
Two major trucking associations backed the pilot, although one thought the scope should be broadened beyond the military.
"With the lack of data out there that surrounds the 18- to 21-year-old driver, any effort to gather that type data we would support entirely. The 18- 21-year-old interstate driver data is obviously an unstudied group," said Dave Heller, director of safety and security at the Truckload Carriers Association.
"It's good news that Congress has created an opportunity for young veterans to transition to the trucking industry and that FMCSA is moving forward with this program," said Sean McNally, vice president of communications at the American Trucking Associations. "However, we are disappointed that qualified, young, non-military CDL holders cannot have the same opportunity.
"In our view, that's illogical since CDL holders as young as 18 years of age currently operate in intrastate commerce in each of the 48 contiguous states. Moreover, limiting the program to veterans under the age of 21 who have military truck driving experience will yield a very small study population. However, we look forward to the results of the study called for by the FAST Act of younger commercial drivers."
The FMCSA last week also launched a new webpage to serve as a one-stop shop on initiatives and resources for military service members transitioning to civilian life, the agency said.
Through this site, those who operated large vehicles while in uniform can identify a clear a path to new careers in transportation and provide the truck and bus industries with skilled, safe drivers.
To visit the new webpage, go to https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/registration/commercial-drivers-license/military.
The Trucker staff can be reached to comment on this article at [email protected].