AP Photo/Noah Berger, File
FILE - Trucks line up to enter a Port of Oakland shipping terminal on Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2021, in Oakland, Calif.
DETROIT (AP) — The federal government is moving forward with a plan to let teenagers drive big rigs from state to state in a test program.
Currently, truckers who cross state lines must be at least 21 years old, but an apprenticeship program required by Congress to help ease supply chain backlogs would let 18-to-20-year-old truckers drive outside their home states.
The pilot program, detailed Thursday in a proposed regulation from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, would screen the teens, barring any with driving-while-impaired violations or traffic tickets for causing a crash.
But safety advocates say the program runs counter to data showing that younger drivers get in more crashes than older ones. They say it’s unwise to let teenage drivers be responsible for rigs that can weigh 80,000 pounds and cause catastrophic damage when they hit lighter vehicles.
The apprenticeship pilot program was required by Congress as part of the infrastructure bill signed into law Nov. 15. It requires the FMCSA, which is part of the Transportation Department, to start the program within 60 days.
Keep scrolling for a look at the occupations expected to grow the most over the next decade
The American Trucking Associations, a large industry trade group, supports the measure as a way to help with a shortage of drivers. The group estimates that the nation is running over 80,000 drivers short of the number it needs, as demand to move freight reaches historic highs.
Under the apprenticeship, younger drivers can cross state lines during 120-hour and 280-hour probationary periods, as long as an experienced driver is in the passenger seat. Trucks used in the program have to have an electronic braking crash mitigation system, a forward facing video camera, and their speeds must be limited to 65 mph.
After probation, they can drive on their own, but companies have to monitor their performance until they are 21. No more than 3,000 apprentices can take part in the training at any given time.
The FMCSA must reach out to carriers with excellent safety records to take part in the program, according to the Transportation Department.
The program will run for up to three years, and the motor carrier agency has to turn in a report to Congress analyzing the safety record of the teen drivers and making a recommendation on whether the younger drivers are as safe as those 21 or older. Congress could expand the program with new laws.
The test is part of a broader set of measures from the Biden administration to deal with the trucker shortage and improve working conditions for truck drivers.
In a statement, Nick Geale, vice president of workforce safety for the trucking associations, noted 49 states and Washington, D.C., already allow drivers under 21 to drive semis, but they can’t pick up a load just across a state line.
“This program creates a rigorous safety training program, requiring an additional 400 hours of advanced safety training, in which participants are evaluated against specific performance benchmarks,” Geale said. The program will ensure that the industry has enough drivers to meet growing freight demands, he said.
But Peter Kurdock, general counsel for Advocates for Highway & Auto Safety, said federal data shows that younger drivers have far higher crash rates than older ones. “This is no surprise to any American who drives a vehicle,” he said.
Putting them behind the wheel of trucks that can weigh up to 40 tons when loaded increases the possibility of mass casualty crashes, he said.
Kurdock said the trucking industry has wanted younger drivers for years and used supply chain issues to get it into the infrastructure bill. He fears the industry will use skewed data from the program to push for teenage truckers nationwide.
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CEO fires 900 employees over Zoom
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The COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically reshaped the U.S. labor market in many ways. Many low-wage jobs in fields like retail and hospitality were lost early in the pandemic and have not come back, while throughout the pandemic, there has been strong demand for health workers in response to the pandemic and technology specialists who can support an increasingly virtual economy. The unemployment rate remains elevated, but many industries are facing labor shortages and millions of workers have been leaving their jobs voluntarily in a phenomenon that has come to be known as “The Great Resignation.”
In some cases, the pandemic has been an accelerant of labor trends that were already underway, like increasing automation and digitalization of jobs. In others, post-pandemic shifts in the labor force will have less to do with the effects of the pandemic than with underlying demographic and economic trends. This complicated set of factors is evident in recent projections from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which estimated that total U.S. employment will grow 7.7% between now and 2030—but only by 1.7% when excluding the economy’s recovery from pandemic-related job loss.
One of the demographic trends driving shifts in the workforce is the aging of the population. The Baby Boomers, those Americans born between 1946 and 1964, number more than 75 million and were the largest generation in U.S. history until the Millennials came along. The Boomers have until recently tended to represent the largest sections of the labor force and are working later into life than previous generations. As a result, those aged 55+ are expected to represent around a quarter of the workforce for at least the next decade.
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Photo Credit: Aunging / Shutterstock
The COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically reshaped the U.S. labor market in many ways. Many low-wage jobs in fields like retail and hospitality were lost early in the pandemic and have not come back, while throughout the pandemic, there has been strong demand for health workers in response to the pandemic and technology specialists who can support an increasingly virtual economy. The unemployment rate remains elevated, but many industries are facing labor shortages and millions of workers have been leaving their jobs voluntarily in a phenomenon that has come to be known as “The Great Resignation.”
In some cases, the pandemic has been an accelerant of labor trends that were already underway, like increasing automation and digitalization of jobs. In others, post-pandemic shifts in the labor force will have less to do with the effects of the pandemic than with underlying demographic and economic trends. This complicated set of factors is evident in recent projections from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which estimated that total U.S. employment will grow 7.7% between now and 2030—but only by 1.7% when excluding the economy’s recovery from pandemic-related job loss.
One of the demographic trends driving shifts in the workforce is the aging of the population. The Baby Boomers, those Americans born between 1946 and 1964, number more than 75 million and were the largest generation in U.S. history until the Millennials came along. The Boomers have until recently tended to represent the largest sections of the labor force and are working later into life than previous generations. As a result, those aged 55+ are expected to represent around a quarter of the workforce for at least the next decade.
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CEO fires 900 employees over Zoom
But the aging of the Baby Boomer generation will have more widespread effects on jobs and the economy as well. Eventually, as this generation ages out of the workforce into retirement, more companies will have vacancies and potentially find themselves struggling to fill positions that the Boomers once occupied. This scenario will put pressure on many employers but could also position younger workers for greater job opportunities. A larger population of elderly Americans will also bring greater strains on healthcare, so more of the economy will need to be oriented around supporting older Americans in their later years of life.
The latter trend is one of the primary reasons why health and human service occupations are projected to be among the fastest-growing fields in the years ahead. Healthcare support jobs are the top field for growth, with a total projected growth rate of 23.1% between 2020 and 2030. The related fields of community and social service and healthcare practitioners are also near the top of the list, with growth rates of 12.4% and 10.8%, respectively.
But the aging of the Baby Boomer generation will have more widespread effects on jobs and the economy as well. Eventually, as this generation ages out of the workforce into retirement, more companies will have vacancies and potentially find themselves struggling to fill positions that the Boomers once occupied. This scenario will put pressure on many employers but could also position younger workers for greater job opportunities. A larger population of elderly Americans will also bring greater strains on healthcare, so more of the economy will need to be oriented around supporting older Americans in their later years of life.
The latter trend is one of the primary reasons why health and human service occupations are projected to be among the fastest-growing fields in the years ahead. Healthcare support jobs are the top field for growth, with a total projected growth rate of 23.1% between 2020 and 2030. The related fields of community and social service and healthcare practitioners are also near the top of the list, with growth rates of 12.4% and 10.8%, respectively.
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CEO fires 900 employees over Zoom
One of the other major growth fields is computer and mathematical positions, a category that includes professions like programming, data science, software development, and network and systems administration. As more of society and the economy become dependent on technology, these positions are poised for rapid growth. In addition to good job prospects, computer and mathematical positions also offer some of the best compensation of any occupational group, with a median wage of more than $91,000.
At the individual occupation level, health-related and technology-related professions are unsurprisingly among the fastest-growing. But two of the top three individual occupations for growth are in the lower-growth category of installation, maintenance, and repair occupations: wind turbine service technicians and solar photovoltaic installers. The field of renewable energy has seen significant growth in recent years and is likely to continue as the costs of renewables decline, consumer demand increases, and the transition to lower-carbon energy sources takes on greater urgency. For job-seekers interested in reliable jobs and growth opportunities in the years ahead, a career in wind or solar energy may be one of the best options out there.
The data used in this analysis is from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections program. To identify the fastest growing occupations over the next decade, researchers at Smartest Dollar reported the projected percentage change in employment between 2020 and 2030, excluding occupations with greater-than-average drops in employment due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Here are the occupations expected to grow the most over the next decade.
One of the other major growth fields is computer and mathematical positions, a category that includes professions like programming, data science, software development, and network and systems administration. As more of society and the economy become dependent on technology, these positions are poised for rapid growth. In addition to good job prospects, computer and mathematical positions also offer some of the best compensation of any occupational group, with a median wage of more than $91,000.
At the individual occupation level, health-related and technology-related professions are unsurprisingly among the fastest-growing. But two of the top three individual occupations for growth are in the lower-growth category of installation, maintenance, and repair occupations: wind turbine service technicians and solar photovoltaic installers. The field of renewable energy has seen significant growth in recent years and is likely to continue as the costs of renewables decline, consumer demand increases, and the transition to lower-carbon energy sources takes on greater urgency. For job-seekers interested in reliable jobs and growth opportunities in the years ahead, a career in wind or solar energy may be one of the best options out there.
The data used in this analysis is from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections program. To identify the fastest growing occupations over the next decade, researchers at Smartest Dollar reported the projected percentage change in employment between 2020 and 2030, excluding occupations with greater-than-average drops in employment due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Here are the occupations expected to grow the most over the next decade.
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CEO fires 900 employees over Zoom
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Photo Credit: mojo cp / Shutterstock
- Projected employment change (percent): 27.4%
- Projected employment change (total): 7,400
- Employment (2020): 27,100
- Employment (2030): 34,500
- Median annual wage (2020): $57,740
- Typical education needed for entry: Postsecondary nondegree award
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Photo Credit: mojo cp / Shutterstock
- Projected employment change (percent): 27.4%
- Projected employment change (total): 7,400
- Employment (2020): 27,100
- Employment (2030): 34,500
- Median annual wage (2020): $57,740
- Typical education needed for entry: Postsecondary nondegree award
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CEO fires 900 employees over Zoom
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Photo Credit: mezzotint / Shutterstock
- Projected employment change (percent): 28.5%
- Projected employment change (total): 17,200
- Employment (2020): 60,200
- Employment (2030): 77,400
- Median annual wage (2020): $31,520
- Typical education needed for entry: High school diploma or equivalent
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Photo Credit: mezzotint / Shutterstock
- Projected employment change (percent): 28.5%
- Projected employment change (total): 17,200
- Employment (2020): 60,200
- Employment (2030): 77,400
- Median annual wage (2020): $31,520
- Typical education needed for entry: High school diploma or equivalent
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CEO fires 900 employees over Zoom
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Photo Credit: fizkes / Shutterstock
- Projected employment change (percent): 28.7%
- Projected employment change (total): 45,400
- Employment (2020): 158,100
- Employment (2030): 203,500
- Median annual wage (2020): $80,480
- Typical education needed for entry: Master’s degree
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Photo Credit: fizkes / Shutterstock
- Projected employment change (percent): 28.7%
- Projected employment change (total): 45,400
- Employment (2020): 158,100
- Employment (2030): 203,500
- Median annual wage (2020): $80,480
- Typical education needed for entry: Master’s degree
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CEO fires 900 employees over Zoom
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Photo Credit: Kzenon / Shutterstock
- Projected employment change (percent): 29.5%
- Projected employment change (total): 56,400
- Employment (2020): 191,000
- Employment (2030): 247,300
- Median annual wage (2020): $76,270
- Typical education needed for entry: Bachelor’s degree
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Photo Credit: Kzenon / Shutterstock
- Projected employment change (percent): 29.5%
- Projected employment change (total): 56,400
- Employment (2020): 191,000
- Employment (2030): 247,300
- Median annual wage (2020): $76,270
- Typical education needed for entry: Bachelor’s degree
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CEO fires 900 employees over Zoom
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Photo Credit: anyaivanova / Shutterstock
- Projected employment change (percent): 29.6%
- Projected employment change (total): 2,300
- Employment (2020): 7,800
- Employment (2030): 10,200
- Median annual wage (2020): $74,560
- Typical education needed for entry: Master’s degree
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Photo Credit: anyaivanova / Shutterstock
- Projected employment change (percent): 29.6%
- Projected employment change (total): 2,300
- Employment (2020): 7,800
- Employment (2030): 10,200
- Median annual wage (2020): $74,560
- Typical education needed for entry: Master’s degree
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CEO fires 900 employees over Zoom
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Photo Credit: Stokkete / Shutterstock
- Projected employment change (percent): 31.0%
- Projected employment change (total): 40,100
- Employment (2020): 129,400
- Employment (2030): 169,500
- Median annual wage (2020): $115,390
- Typical education needed for entry: Master’s degree
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Photo Credit: Stokkete / Shutterstock
- Projected employment change (percent): 31.0%
- Projected employment change (total): 40,100
- Employment (2020): 129,400
- Employment (2030): 169,500
- Median annual wage (2020): $115,390
- Typical education needed for entry: Master’s degree
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CEO fires 900 employees over Zoom
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Photo Credit: Andrey_Popov / Shutterstock
- Projected employment change (percent): 31.4%
- Projected employment change (total): 19,800
- Employment (2020): 63,200
- Employment (2030): 83,000
- Median annual wage (2020): $98,230
- Typical education needed for entry: Bachelor’s degree
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Photo Credit: Andrey_Popov / Shutterstock
- Projected employment change (percent): 31.4%
- Projected employment change (total): 19,800
- Employment (2020): 63,200
- Employment (2030): 83,000
- Median annual wage (2020): $98,230
- Typical education needed for entry: Bachelor’s degree
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CEO fires 900 employees over Zoom
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Photo Credit: Monkey Business Images / Shutterstock
- Projected employment change (percent): 32.5%
- Projected employment change (total): 139,600
- Employment (2020): 429,800
- Employment (2030): 569,400
- Median annual wage (2020): $104,280
- Typical education needed for entry: Bachelor’s degree
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Photo Credit: Monkey Business Images / Shutterstock
- Projected employment change (percent): 32.5%
- Projected employment change (total): 139,600
- Employment (2020): 429,800
- Employment (2030): 569,400
- Median annual wage (2020): $104,280
- Typical education needed for entry: Bachelor’s degree
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CEO fires 900 employees over Zoom
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Photo Credit: Dmytro Zinkevych / Shutterstock
- Projected employment change (percent): 32.6%
- Projected employment change (total): 1,129,900
- Employment (2020): 3,470,700
- Employment (2030): 4,600,600
- Median annual wage (2020): $27,080
- Typical education needed for entry: High school diploma or equivalent
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Photo Credit: Dmytro Zinkevych / Shutterstock
- Projected employment change (percent): 32.6%
- Projected employment change (total): 1,129,900
- Employment (2020): 3,470,700
- Employment (2030): 4,600,600
- Median annual wage (2020): $27,080
- Typical education needed for entry: High school diploma or equivalent
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CEO fires 900 employees over Zoom
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Photo Credit: SFIO CRACHO / Shutterstock
- Projected employment change (percent): 33.3%
- Projected employment change (total): 47,100
- Employment (2020): 141,200
- Employment (2030): 188,300
- Median annual wage (2020): $103,590
- Typical education needed for entry: Bachelor’s degree
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Photo Credit: SFIO CRACHO / Shutterstock
- Projected employment change (percent): 33.3%
- Projected employment change (total): 47,100
- Employment (2020): 141,200
- Employment (2030): 188,300
- Median annual wage (2020): $103,590
- Typical education needed for entry: Bachelor’s degree
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CEO fires 900 employees over Zoom
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Photo Credit: MIND AND I / Shutterstock
- Projected employment change (percent): 35.4%
- Projected employment change (total): 14,900
- Employment (2020): 42,000
- Employment (2030): 56,900
- Median annual wage (2020): $92,270
- Typical education needed for entry: Master’s degree
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Photo Credit: MIND AND I / Shutterstock
- Projected employment change (percent): 35.4%
- Projected employment change (total): 14,900
- Employment (2020): 42,000
- Employment (2030): 56,900
- Median annual wage (2020): $92,270
- Typical education needed for entry: Master’s degree
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CEO fires 900 employees over Zoom
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Photo Credit: Photographee.eu / Shutterstock
- Projected employment change (percent): 35.4%
- Projected employment change (total): 33,200
- Employment (2020): 93,800
- Employment (2030): 126,900
- Median annual wage (2020): $59,770
- Typical education needed for entry: Associate’s degree
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Photo Credit: Photographee.eu / Shutterstock
- Projected employment change (percent): 35.4%
- Projected employment change (total): 33,200
- Employment (2020): 93,800
- Employment (2030): 126,900
- Median annual wage (2020): $59,770
- Typical education needed for entry: Associate’s degree
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CEO fires 900 employees over Zoom
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Photo Credit: anatoliy gleb / Shutterstock
- Projected employment change (percent): 52.1%
- Projected employment change (total): 6,100
- Employment (2020): 11,800
- Employment (2030): 17,900
- Median annual wage (2020): $46,470
- Typical education needed for entry: High school diploma or equivalent
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Photo Credit: anatoliy gleb / Shutterstock
- Projected employment change (percent): 52.1%
- Projected employment change (total): 6,100
- Employment (2020): 11,800
- Employment (2030): 17,900
- Median annual wage (2020): $46,470
- Typical education needed for entry: High school diploma or equivalent
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CEO fires 900 employees over Zoom
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Photo Credit: Monkey Business Images / Shutterstock
- Projected employment change (percent): 52.2%
- Projected employment change (total): 114,900
- Employment (2020): 220,300
- Employment (2030): 335,200
- Median annual wage (2020): $111,680
- Typical education needed for entry: Master’s degree
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Photo Credit: Monkey Business Images / Shutterstock
- Projected employment change (percent): 52.2%
- Projected employment change (total): 114,900
- Employment (2020): 220,300
- Employment (2030): 335,200
- Median annual wage (2020): $111,680
- Typical education needed for entry: Master’s degree
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CEO fires 900 employees over Zoom
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Photo Credit: Aunging / Shutterstock
- Projected employment change (percent): 68.2%
- Projected employment change (total): 4,700
- Employment (2020): 6,900
- Employment (2030): 11,700
- Median annual wage (2020): $56,230
- Typical education needed for entry: Postsecondary nondegree award
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Photo Credit: Aunging / Shutterstock
- Projected employment change (percent): 68.2%
- Projected employment change (total): 4,700
- Employment (2020): 6,900
- Employment (2030): 11,700
- Median annual wage (2020): $56,230
- Typical education needed for entry: Postsecondary nondegree award
