FMCSA Proposes Pilot Program to Allow Interstate Drivers Aged 18-20

Last week, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) published a proposal for a pilot program to study allowing 18-, 19- and 20-year old drivers of commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) for interstate travel. Currently, the age threshold for drivers to hold a commercial driver’s license (CDL) and drive across state lines, or rather interstate, is 21 years old. However, the vast majority of states currently allow drivers starting at age 18 to possess a CDL and drive a CMV so long as they remain within state borders they were licensed in (intrastate). The proposed pilot program aims to determine if an expansion of age range is practical and safe, along with what issues exist for insurance, technology and training, among others.

The proposal follows calls from industry, including NRMCA, for the driver age range to be examined. It also follows the ongoing pilot program that studies the same age drivers, but with military experience. NRMCA will be submitting comments in support of the pilot program, as it has done since the inception of this and the military driver pilot program. The docket for submitting comments will remain open through Monday, November 9.

Click here to review the proposal and/or access the docket. For more information, contact Kevin Walgenbach at kwalgenbach@nrmca.org.