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Arlington, Virginia — Today, the �Ӱɴ�ý applauded the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration for taking a first step toward a new pilot program to allow non-military commercial drivers under the age of 21 to operate in interstate commerce.

“�Ӱɴ�ý supports FMCSA’s efforts to expand on its current work examining younger commercial drivers,” said �Ӱɴ�ý President and CEO Chris Spear. “Right now, 18-, 19-, and 20-year-old drivers are driving trucks in the United States.  What these pilot programs will do is set out a path for these drivers to fully participate in our industry by allowing them to drive interstate.”

In a Federal Register Notice, FMCSA announced it was seeking comments on what “training, qualifications, driving limitations, and vehicle safety systems that FMCSA should consider in developing options or approaches for a second pilot program for younger drivers.”  

This would become FMCSA’s second younger driver pilot program, following a program announced to allow younger veterans to drive in interstate commerce.

“Allowing younger drivers, who are already moving goods intrastate, to drive interstate is a common sense step that has support not just from the trucking industry, but from a broad coalition,” Spear said. “Between FMCSA’s proposed pilot project and the bipartisan support for the Drive SAFE Act in Congress, we hope we will soon create a path for more young people to fully participate in our industry.”