The Department of Transportation (DOT) is set to introduce a new pilot program that will assist veterans with transitioning into the trucking industry. The program is also intended to address tight trucker capacity.
The goal is to open up the opportunities available to veterans or reservists. The Secretary of U.S Transportation, Elaine L. Chao., states, “This program will help our country’s Veterans and Reservists transition into good-paying jobs while addressing the shortage of truck drivers in our country.”
The DOT will be accepting a limited amount of applications for the pilot program. The minimum requirements to apply are heavy vehicle training, an approved job rating, and carrier sponsorship.
The pilot programs results will be used then to make an argument for lowering the interstate commerce driving age. Safety scores of the 18-20-year-old drivers will be compared to that of 21-24-year-olds. If similar scores are reported the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) will work with the DOT to make a strong case for lowering the interstate commerce driving age.
