"Trucking executives say the age limit is making it hard to find enough drivers, with the most severe shortage in long-haul trucking, which typically requires drivers to cross state lines, " says Robbie Whelan. Because of this, companies want to lower the minimum age to 18 instead of 21. This is a humongous problem. Companies should not do this because it is already statistically shown that during the teenage years, one is a higher risk. Just look at insurance companies for example. If you are a teenager buying insurance, the amount you pay is way higher than the amount your parents pay. Why? Because teens are a higher risk. Also, let's take a look at drinking laws. Why did the government decide that 21 years of age was the proper limit? Because by that age, we are "mature" enough to make correct decisions. So why should trucking companies lower the age minimum to 18, when this is clearly a risk?
Companies believed to be experiencing this downfall because of the pay's low reputation, but they were proved otherwise. Aaron Tennant, president of Colona, III.-based Tennant Truck Lines Inc., said his company raised the pay twice in the same year to attract drivers, but it didn't seem to work. The real problem, they believe, is that they need to lower the age minimum so that teens can work.
John Lex is a trucker who has two sons that showed no interest in trucking. He says, "A young kid who is 18, coming out of high school, he gets a job somewhere else, stays three years, decides he likes it." The age minimum keeps being the main factor for the loss of workers in truck driving industries. People don't want to wait three years just to get a job.
http://www.wsj.com/articles/trucking-industry-let-teens-drive-1445508000
I think that 18 should be the minimum. Its a good idea. Any younger would be to reckless in my opinion.
ReplyDeleteI agree, you have to be 18 years old to hold a captains license for boats. That should apply to 18 wheelers as well.
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