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The trucking industry is one of the most dangerous sectors in the country, not only for drivers, but for everyone on the roadway. Commercial trucks are involved in thousands of fatalities every year, and the risks are magnified by long hours, high turnover, grueling conditions, and the immense size and force of these vehicles. Amid this already hazardous landscape, a new proposal in Congress is raising significant alarm: lowering the minimum age for interstate truck driving from 21 to 18. Supporters claim it will ease supply chain pressures. But for safety advocates, crash victims, and communities across the country, the message is clear; this move could make an already dangerous industry even more deadly.

The DRIVE Safe Act: What the Bill Would Do The House bill known as H.R. 5563, the DRIVE Safe Act, would allow 18- to 20-year-olds to operate commercial trucks across state lines through an apprenticeship program. Proponents argue that younger drivers will fill labor shortages and be trained under enhanced safety standards.

But experience matters, and in trucking, the stakes are extraordinarily high. At any age, inadequate training and limited on-the-road experience can have catastrophic consequences, and lowering the age threshold introduces new risks at a time when the industry has not resolved its existing safety problems.

Why Safety Advocates Are Sounding the Alarm Organizations like the Truck Safety Coalition have been outspoken about the dangers of allowing teen drivers to operate big rigs on interstates. Some of the many concerns include:

· Younger drivers are involved consistently involved in more crashes: Decades of data show that younger drivers, especially those under 21, have significantly higher crash rates. The developing judgment, reaction times, and decision-making skills of teenage drivers simply don’t match the demands of an 80,000-pound vehicle traveling at highway speeds.

· Interstate driving is especially dangerous: Driving long distances on unfamiliar roads, managing fatigue, navigating traffic patterns in multiple states, and handling

unpredictable weather requires experience that young drivers do not yet have. The leap from local routes to multi-state commercial hauling is not a small one.

· Training requirements cannot replace experience: Even the apprenticeship model proposed in the bill cannot replicate the thousands of hours of real-world driving it takes to develop the instincts, judgment, and hazard-awareness necessary for safe trucking. A set number of training hours is not the same as the lived experience of responding to emergencies, avoiding collisions, and managing high-pressure scenarios on the road.

· Industry pressures could make risks worse: Trucking companies face constant pressure to deliver fast and cut costs. Placing teenage drivers in an industry plagued by fatigue, dispatch pressure, and high turnover risks exploiting young workers while putting the public in harm’s way.

A Dangerous Industry Should Not Become More Dangerous The United States already struggles with preventable truck crashes. In 2023 alone, 5,472 people were killed in large-truck collisions, a 62% increase since 2009. Families who lose loved ones to trucking collisions often learn that the cause wasn’t a single mistake, but a systemic failure: inadequate training, rushed scheduling, ignored safety warnings, or corporate incentives putting speed over safety.

Lowering the interstate trucking age doesn’t address any of those systemic issues. Instead, it widens the pool of inexperienced drivers who may be placed in high-risk situations before they are ready.

If Congress wants to improve supply chain stability, it should focus on real solutions: improving working conditions, raising industry standards, enforcing safety regulations, and investing in experienced drivers, not lowering the bar for who can operate a commercial truck across state lines.

How Singleton Schreiber Supports Crash Survivors

At Singleton Schreiber, we represent individuals and families harmed in catastrophic trucking collisions. Our work has shown us firsthand the severe consequences that arise when safety corners are cut, training is inadequate, or inexperienced drivers are put behind the wheel of massive commercial vehicles.

We advocate for accountability, from drivers, companies, and the systems that allow unsafe practices to continue. Our firm remains committed to promoting policies that

prioritize public safety, prevent avoidable tragedies, and ensure that victims’ voices are heard.

If You or a Loved One Has Been Impacted

Truck crashes are devastating, and navigating the aftermath is overwhelming. If you or someone you know has been injured in a trucking collision, our team is here to help. We offer confidential consultations to explain your rights, investigate what went wrong, and hold negligent parties accountable.