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> Currently, truckers must be at least 21 to haul goods across state lines. Why is that what determines the age limit? The USA has very consistent signs and r

> Currently, truckers must be at least 21 to haul goods across state lines. Why is that what determines the age limit? The USA has very consistent signs and roads between states. It's 21 in the EU [1], but it doesn't matter if you're crossing a border or not. [1] https://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/vehicles/driving-licence/get-driving-licence/index_en.htm https://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/vehicles/driving-licen...

goodcanadian 5y ago
Interstate commerce. Within a state, state laws apply. It probably varies from state to state (I am not an expert). Crossing state borders, federal laws apply.
deleted 5y ago
[deleted]
dvh 5y ago
In EU you can (generally) start driving when you are 18. I assume the intention of the 21 years limit was so that the truck drivers has at least some practice before driving 20t vehicles on public road.
- csunbird 5y ago
  Some places you can get a learners license as early as in 16, I think
  - consp 5y ago
    Learner licenses (in the EU afaik) will not allow you to cross borders or operate commercially. Crossing borders is like driving without a license. They generally are completely valid as soon as you turn 18 though.
Spooky23 5y ago
Commercial trucking and transportation is really complex, with Federal, State and local authorities for various exerting various and sometimes overlapping jurisdictions. It’s a feature of federalism. The federal government runs a pretty impressive safety program by enforcing rules and targeting enforcement based on statistical analysis and national standards. Shady operators basically cannot operate interstate business for long. At the state or local level, it varies. States usually have more lax standards. There’s a cat and mouse game around the regs which evolve over time - Chinatown busses being the most notorious example recently. The regulations shape business. Usually something like a hotel minibus or senior services bus operates with state or local authority. Large limos often operate in a legal grey zone. As a consumer it sucks, as the less regulated carriers are often a nightmare — that hotel minibus may not have operating brakes or a qualified driver.
sk2020 5y ago
Most rental agencies won’t let anyone under 25 rent a vehicle. I can’t imagine trying to insure an 18 year old for a $100,000+ truck and it’s cargo.
- throwaway0a5e 5y ago
  Most of the truck rental places DGAF how old you are as long as you have a valid license. All the B2B ones basically expect that the person doing the rental won't be the one doing the driving and they're gonna slap a min-wage 18yo in the seat regardless.
- gtk40 5y ago
  That's not true. Most just charge a surcharge for under 25. When I was under 25 I bought a AAA membership which waved that surcharge as several major car rental companies.
foxhop 5y ago
Driving big rigs is dangerous for all involved. I think maturity matters but that can be tested for at any age. Driving underload without skill and practice can be very dangerous and loads are variable weight. Pay truckers double or triple pay since our roads in be states are deteriorating. Same with be road crews, give them a bump too.
- dahfizz 5y ago
  Cool, but this has nothing to do with OP's question (why does the age limit only apply when crossing state borders?). The answer is interstate commerce allows the Federal government to regulate it.
- poo-yie 5y ago
  Completely agree. Big rigs with full load can weigh something like 80,000 pounds (40 tons)! They're much more dangerous to begin with due to the size and weight. Add to that dangerous road conditions (fog, rain, ice, snow) and it's much worse. Now put someone who's only had their driver's license a few years. Lack of maturity (generally speaking) and experience really makes it dicey. Heaven help us if the driver is glued to their phone texting their pals.
  - lostapathy 5y ago
    An M1 Abrams tank weighs on the order of 60 tons, and we're happy to send kids off driving those.
    - Ekaros 5y ago
      Hitting something with truck damages the truck and the thing. With tank it only damages the other thing... And when has army cared about collateral damage?
      - lostapathy 5y ago
        I'm gonna guess there's a lot of stuff (expensive enough to make passenger cars seem cheap - including other tanks) to crash a tank into between when you get in on-base and when you arrive in enemy territory where you're supposed to break stuff.
phreeza 5y ago
I wonder if this age limit also applies to military vehicles, since there the age limit is 18?
- throwaway0a5e 5y ago
  It does not.
  - bombcar 5y ago
    It is entirely possible and legal to enlist at 17, and the first day on base be given the keys to some huge ten ton truck and told to drive it across the country.
    - Ekaros 5y ago
      No mandatory training? In Finland before they allow conscripts to do anything they have to spend at least week or two if not month or two on training.
      - bombcar 5y ago
        "Basic training" would happen - but that may or may not cover driving the trucks. The above scenario happened to a person I know when they enlisted (though they were 18 at the time).

goodcanadian 5y ago

Interstate commerce. Within a state, state laws apply. It probably varies from state to state (I am not an expert). Crossing state borders, federal laws apply.

deleted 5y ago

[deleted]

dvh 5y ago

In EU you can (generally) start driving when you are 18. I assume the intention of the 21 years limit was so that the truck drivers has at least some practice before driving 20t vehicles on public road.

csunbird 5y ago
Some places you can get a learners license as early as in 16, I think
- consp 5y ago
  Learner licenses (in the EU afaik) will not allow you to cross borders or operate commercially. Crossing borders is like driving without a license. They generally are completely valid as soon as you turn 18 though.

Spooky23 5y ago

Commercial trucking and transportation is really complex, with Federal, State and local authorities for various exerting various and sometimes overlapping jurisdictions. It’s a feature of federalism. The federal government runs a pretty impressive safety program by enforcing rules and targeting enforcement based on statistical analysis and national standards. Shady operators basically cannot operate interstate business for long. At the state or local level, it varies. States usually have more lax standards. There’s a cat and mouse game around the regs which evolve over time - Chinatown busses being the most notorious example recently. The regulations shape business. Usually something like a hotel minibus or senior services bus operates with state or local authority. Large limos often operate in a legal grey zone. As a consumer it sucks, as the less regulated carriers are often a nightmare — that hotel minibus may not have operating brakes or a qualified driver.

sk2020 5y ago

Most rental agencies won’t let anyone under 25 rent a vehicle. I can’t imagine trying to insure an 18 year old for a $100,000+ truck and it’s cargo.

throwaway0a5e 5y ago
Most of the truck rental places DGAF how old you are as long as you have a valid license. All the B2B ones basically expect that the person doing the rental won't be the one doing the driving and they're gonna slap a min-wage 18yo in the seat regardless.
gtk40 5y ago
That's not true. Most just charge a surcharge for under 25. When I was under 25 I bought a AAA membership which waved that surcharge as several major car rental companies.

foxhop 5y ago

Driving big rigs is dangerous for all involved. I think maturity matters but that can be tested for at any age. Driving underload without skill and practice can be very dangerous and loads are variable weight. Pay truckers double or triple pay since our roads in be states are deteriorating. Same with be road crews, give them a bump too.

dahfizz 5y ago
Cool, but this has nothing to do with OP's question (why does the age limit only apply when crossing state borders?). The answer is interstate commerce allows the Federal government to regulate it.
poo-yie 5y ago
Completely agree. Big rigs with full load can weigh something like 80,000 pounds (40 tons)! They're much more dangerous to begin with due to the size and weight. Add to that dangerous road conditions (fog, rain, ice, snow) and it's much worse. Now put someone who's only had their driver's license a few years. Lack of maturity (generally speaking) and experience really makes it dicey. Heaven help us if the driver is glued to their phone texting their pals.
- lostapathy 5y ago
  An M1 Abrams tank weighs on the order of 60 tons, and we're happy to send kids off driving those.
  - Ekaros 5y ago
    Hitting something with truck damages the truck and the thing. With tank it only damages the other thing... And when has army cared about collateral damage?
    - lostapathy 5y ago
      I'm gonna guess there's a lot of stuff (expensive enough to make passenger cars seem cheap - including other tanks) to crash a tank into between when you get in on-base and when you arrive in enemy territory where you're supposed to break stuff.

phreeza 5y ago

I wonder if this age limit also applies to military vehicles, since there the age limit is 18?

throwaway0a5e 5y ago
It does not.
- bombcar 5y ago
  It is entirely possible and legal to enlist at 17, and the first day on base be given the keys to some huge ten ton truck and told to drive it across the country.
  - Ekaros 5y ago
    No mandatory training? In Finland before they allow conscripts to do anything they have to spend at least week or two if not month or two on training.
    - bombcar 5y ago
      "Basic training" would happen - but that may or may not cover driving the trucks. The above scenario happened to a person I know when they enlisted (though they were 18 at the time).