April 16, 2024
Under-21 Driver Pilot Program Falls Short as FMCSA Seeks Revisions
It turns out that there isn’t as much interest among teenagers in driving 80,000-pound trucks in interstate commerce as initially anticipated.
A highly-publicized pilot program initiated by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has failed to attract the key demographic it aimed to target—those under 21.
Since its launch in July 2022, only 113 motor carriers have applied for the FMCSA’s under-21 truck driver apprenticeship program. This disappointing turnout falls far short of the government’s expectations, which had anticipated recruiting up to 1,000 carriers and 3,000 drivers.
As of February 2024, FMCSA has rejected 34% of the applications received and fully approved only 30% of the applicants.
The low participation has prompted FMCSA to seek emergency approval from the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to amend the Safe Driver Apprenticeship Program (SDAP). This move aims to ensure compliance with the Bipartisan Infrastructure Act, passed earlier this year, which prohibits certain requirements that were hindering participation in the program.
Despite efforts to address concerns and boost participation, including revising application forms to remove mandatory elements, the program has faced criticism from various trucking groups and safety advocates since its inception. Some argue that the root cause of driver shortages lies in pay and working conditions rather than a lack of drivers.
While the trucking industry continues to grapple with driver shortages, the under-21 pilot program has struggled to gain traction. Only 29 fleets are currently registered to participate, with enrollment capped at 3,000 drivers—yet only about 35 have enrolled thus far.
FMCSA will continue to monitor carriers’ use of inward facing cameras and participation in Registered Apprenticeship programs, providing them with the option to provide relevant information.
The requested changes to FMCSA’s information collection request (ICR) await approval from the OMB, with a deadline for approval having already passed.