Trucking news and briefs for Friday, Oct. 10, 2025:
House bill looks to simplify under-21 trucker apprenticeship program
A new bill that recently emerged in the U.S. House is looking to simplify a federal pilot program that allows 18-20-year-old CDL holders to operate in interstate commerce.
The Developing Responsible Individuals for a Vibrant Economy (DRIVE) Safe Act was introduced by Rep. Rick Crawford (R-Arkansas) and has the support of seven co-sponsors as of Oct. 9.
The Safe Driver Apprenticeship Pilot Program, which was established by the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) and began in 2022, officially concludes on Nov. 7, 2025. When it began, motor carriers were required to have a Registered Apprenticeship program through the U.S. Department of Labor, and driver-facing cameras were required in trucks operated by the under-21 drivers. Both of those provisions were later removed, however.
According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, the program through the first half of 2025 has only had 211 motor carriers apply to participate, with just 62 of those approved by FMCSA. Additionally, only 80 drivers applied to participate, with 42 of those completing both probationary periods.
Rep. Crawford’s DRIVE Safe Act, like the SDAP pilot, would require a 120-hour probationary period in which 80 hours must be spent driving, and the apprentice would be required to meet certain benchmarks. Following that probationary period, a second, 280-hour probationary period would be required, of which 160 hours would be required behind the wheel. During the 280-hour period, the apprentice must become competent in certain areas, including backing and maneuvering in close quarters, pre-trip inspections and more.
During each probationary period under Crawford’s bill, the trucks driven by the apprentices must feature automated manual or automatic transmissions, active braking collision mitigation systems, and forward-facing cameras. The apprentice drivers must also be accompanied by an “experienced driver,” which the bill defines as a driver who is at least 26 years old with at least two years of interstate commercial driving experience, and with no preventable accidents or pointed moving violations within the last year.
“Today, an 18-year-old truck driver can legally transport goods from West Memphis to Texarkana -- a 270-mile route -- so long as the trip remains within Arkansas,” Crawford said. “However, the same driver is prohibited by federal law from driving just 7 miles across the state line into Memphis, Tennessee. Allowing qualified 18-to-20-year-olds to operate a commercial vehicle across state lines, just as they already do within their home states, is a commonsense step toward addressing workforce shortages and improving supply chain efficiency.”
The bill has been referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
[Related: Spending bill retools under-21 pilot rules]
FTR hosting chemicals, petroleum-focused State of Freight Symposium
FTR has announced that its annual State of Freight Chemicals & Petroleum Symposium forecasting event will be held Nov. 4 in Houston, Texas.
The symposium is tailored for key decision makers with a focus on available capacity and pricing pressure, offering key insights into the freight transportation landscape. Shippers, carriers, and brokers alike will benefit from FTR's forecasts for truck, rail, and intermodal sectors, along with expert analysis from industry leaders, the firm noted.
Featured industry speakers include:
- Dan Ujsco, Associate General Counsel from Cenovus Energy – Keynote Speaker
- Eric Starks, Chairman, FTR
- Jonathan Starks, CEO, FTR
- Joseph Towers, Senior Analyst - Rail, FTR
- Avery Vise, Vice President of Trucking, FTR
Registration is $495, with an expected 25 attendees from various transportation sectors.
Free cybersecurity resources now available through Truckstop.com
The Truckstop.com load board and the National Motor Freight Traffic Association (NMFTA) on Thursday announced the formation of a strategic partnership to expand access to cybersecurity protections and fraud prevention resources across the trucking industry, with a focus on small carriers and owner-operators most vulnerable to cyberattacks and cargo crime.
NMFTA has been at the forefront of safeguarding trucking from bad actors for decades and is spearheaded initiatives in cybersecurity, fraud prevention, and digital transformation.
This new partnership with Truckstop.com expands NMFTA's impact by reaching small carriers and owner-operators.
"Protecting our industry requires collaboration," said Todd Waldron, vice president of carrier experience at Truckstop.com. "By partnering with NMFTA, we're ensuring that carriers of all sizes have access to the resources they need to defend their businesses and strengthen the entire freight ecosystem."
Through Truckstop.com, NMFTA is extending the reach of its free cybersecurity resources to a broader community of trucking professionals, the companies said. These tools provide actionable guidance on topics including ransomware protection, phishing awareness, multi-factor authentication, cargo crime prevention, and vendor risk management. These include:
- Best Practices Guidebooks for Owner-Operators and Small Fleets
- Best Practices Guidebook for Mid-Sized Fleets
- Cybersecurity Cargo Crime Reduction Framework
- Vendor Risk Assessment Framework
- Owner-Operator Core Controls Checklist
"This partnership brings NMFTA’s fraud-prevention tools and cybersecurity resources directly to the people who need them most -- drivers, carriers, 3PLs, and brokers working hard to keep freight moving,” said Joe Ohr, chief operating officer for NMFTA. “By combining Truckstop.com’s reach with NMFTA’s expertise, we’re making it easier for everyone in the supply chain to protect their operations."
