POLICIES

18 to 20-Year Old Drivers

Background

Current Department of Transportation regulations require a driver to be 20 or older in order to operate a Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV) in interstate commerce. The Motor Carrier Act of 1935 (“MCA”) created the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC), which was responsible for regulating the transportation of passengers and property by motor carriers operating in interstate or foreign commerce.

In 1937, the ICC created and implemented safety regulations for commercial drivers, which included a minimum age of 20 years old. Therefore, an 18- to 20-year old who has the skills and maturity to obtain a CDL and begin working as a commercial driver can drive 250 miles from Kansas City, MO to St. Louis, MO. However, that same driver is barred from simply crossing the Missouri river from Kansas City, MO to Kansas City, KS. Moreover, federal law bars drivers under 20 from driving a truck within any state’s borders if the cargo on that truck originated outside of the state or will eventually leave the state by any mode (otherwise classified as “interstate” cargo).

CVTA’s Position

Current limitations on commercial drivers under 20 are impractical. The age restriction is particularly problematic given the growing shortage of drivers in the trucking industry is approximately 50,000 drivers short of what is necessary to fill empty trucks. This shortage is expected to increase rapidly over the next decade because of retirements and industry growth. In fact, this shortage is expected to increase so dramatically that trucking companies will have to recruit an estimated 89,000 new drivers (net) each year over the next decade to meet these growing demands.

CVTA supports lifting restrictions that prevent 18- to 20-year-old drivers from operating in interstate commerce with certain restrictions. Entry-level driver training (ELDT) standards, which are being implemented, will ensure all truck drivers will have a base-level proficiency leading to better trained and safer drivers. With the advent of new technologies such as advanced collision warning systems, lane departure warning systems, automatic braking, speed limiters, on-board video monitoring, stability control, automatic transmissions, electronic logging devices, and telematics, trucks are safer to operate than ever before. As automated technologies in trucks become even more advanced, trucking is positioned to once again be a career of choice for many technologically savvy young adults.

Additionally, career technical opportunities are becoming a more popular option for high school graduates because of the potential to acquire hard skills that are in-demand and lead to secure, well-paying jobs. The increased has given the trucking industry and policymakers an opportunity to mitigate the driver shortage. The post-secondary years are critical for 18-21-year-olds in making career decisions and should not have interstate trucking withheld as an option.

Other Top Policy Issues

ELDT Compliance & Delays

Background Since the passage of the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 (ISTEA), Congress and the Department of Transportation...

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Kyle Hayes

Kyle Hayes is the Director of Government Relations at CVTA. In this role, he leads the implementation of the Association’s legislative and regulatory strategy. He is also the primary point of contact between CVTA Members and federal agencies, Congress, and state governments.

Hayes most recently led research projects that supported federal and state advocacy on healthcare and economic issues at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, a nationally recognized research and policy institute based in Washington D.C. He received a master’s degree in public policy from American University in 2015 and graduated from the University of Georgia in 2012.

Andrew Poliakoff

Andy Poliakoff is the Executive Director for CVTA. In this role, he promotes the mission of the membership organization and implements goals set by the Board of Directors. This includes forming partnerships with external stakeholders, providing guidance and direction to the CVTA staff team, and engaging with state and federal government agencies to advance CVTA’s mission of safety and career opportunities in the truck driver training industry.

In 2021 and 2022, Andy acted as federal affairs lead for Electrify America, interacting at high levels within Congress, the U.S. Department of Transportation, the Department of Energy, and the White House. In that capacity, he played a pivotal role in the optimization of large-scale infrastructure funding at the Federal Highway Administration as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law

From 2019 to 2021 Andy served as Director of Gov't Affairs for CVTA and formed a strong bond with members, engaging on advocacy related to Entry-Level Driver Training, Skills Testing Delays, and Workforce funding. During the pandemic, Andy fought at the state and federal level to treat CDL training and testing as the essential services they are. He is personally invested in the important mission of CVTA's members to deliver safe training and to transform people's lives through truck driving careers.

Andy holds a bachelor's degree from Georgetown University and a law degree from the Columbus School of Law at Catholic University.

Cindy Atwood

Cindy Atwood is the Vice President at CVTA. An experienced association professional, Cindy handles all activities related to membership retention, financial accounting and committee engagement. Cindy artfully produces CVTA’s off-site biannual conferences, Hill Day operations and Board meetings, ensuring that the general membership and leadership’s necessities and wishes are met with the highest response.

An essential fixture in the truck driver training association space, Cindy manages CVTA’s Instructor Certification Program and provides critical counsel to new entrants into the truck driver training industry.

Kyle Hayes

Kyle Hayes is the Director of Government Relations at CVTA. In this role, he leads the implementation of the Association’s legislative and regulatory strategy. He is also the primary point of contact between CVTA Members and federal agencies, Congress, and state governments.

Hayes most recently led research projects that supported federal and state advocacy on healthcare and economic issues at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, a nationally recognized research and policy institute based in Washington D.C. He received a master’s degree in public policy from American University in 2015 and graduated from the University of Georgia in 2012.