The Daily Dash: FMCSA pilot for young truckers; and hiring begins to rebound

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) wants public comment on a pilot program allowing drivers ages 18-20 to haul interstate commercial freight. (Photo: Shutterstock)

The Daily Dash is a quick look at what is happening in the freight ecosystem. In today’s edition, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is proposing a pilot program to study the safety and effectiveness of allowing interstate commercial truck drivers under the age of 21. Plus, a bankrupt oil company has left carriers facing an uncertain future, and trucking sector employment is starting to rise.

Youth will be served

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) wants public comment on a pilot program allowing drivers ages 18-20 to haul interstate commercial freight.  

John Gallagher has the proposal’s details: FMCSA proposes under-21 driver pilot program

Bankrupt oil and gas company leaves truckers on the ropes

A Texas-based oil and gas company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, and several trucking companies could be in line for huge losses as a result.

Clarissa Hawes has a look at the creditors in Bainbridge Uinta’s bankruptcy filing: Carriers owed hundreds of thousands after oil and gas company bankruptcy filing

Hiring starts to rebound

Freight markets have been strong all summer long, and now hiring in the trucking and logistics sectors is starting to catch up. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported the truck transportation sector employed 1,449,500 people in August.  

John Kingston reports on how much that has improved in the past 30 days: Employment follow: A strong month for the logistics sector

Let’s trade

A surging automotive industry has helped Mexico regain the spot as the U.S.’s top trade partner, supplanting China, which remains embroiled in trade disputes with the Trump administration.

Noi Mahoney has details on how much trade the U.S. conducts with Mexico: Mexico once again No. 1 US trade partner

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Did you miss this?

The U.S. Department of Transportation has unveiled a national freight transportation strategy that focuses on using data and analytic tools to improve multimodal coordination in the nation’s freight networks. 

John Gallagher has more on this first-ever approach to managing freight: DOT rolls out National Freight Strategic Plan

Hammer down, everyone,

Brian Straight

Managing Editor

Click for more FreightWaves articles by Brian Straight.

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One Comment

  1. Stephen Webster

    No truck drivers under 21 should be able drive into a city above 100,000 people. In Ontario Canada over 10,000 truck drivers have left this year and retired or doing other things. Until O T T truck drivers make 27.00 per hour plus medical coverage on payroll with overtime after 10 hours per day we do not need young truck drivers or from lower wage countries.

Comments are closed.

Brian Straight

Brian Straight leads FreightWaves' Modern Shipper brand as Managing Editor. A journalism graduate of the University of Rhode Island, he has covered everything from a presidential election, to professional sports and Little League baseball, and for more than 10 years has covered trucking and logistics. Before joining FreightWaves, he was previously responsible for the editorial quality and production of Fleet Owner magazine and fleetowner.com. Brian lives in Connecticut with his wife and two kids and spends his time coaching his son’s baseball team, golfing with his daughter, and pursuing his never-ending quest to become a professional bowler. You can reach him at bstraight@freightwaves.com.