Baltimore Truck Accident Lawyers: Age of Truck Drivers
December 7, 2016The trucking industry in the United States is facing a serious shortage in commercial truck drivers. As a result, many trucking companies are recruiting people who are retired but interested in the opportunity to make some extra money. Currently, drivers over the age of 65 comprise approximately 10 percent of the commercial truck drivers across the country. CBS News recently conducted an investigation into how this percentage of older truck drivers can result in serious truck accidents and personal injuries on highways across the country.
The growing number of senior truck drivers is a reflection of the economy, according to CBS News correspondent Kris Van Cleave. More people are working past the age of 65, which raises important questions about safety and whether older drivers should be working as commercial truck drivers. According to a CBS News analysis of crash data, in the past three years, the number of trucking accidents involving commercial truck drivers who are age 70 or older has increased by close to 20 percent.
Age Discrimination Laws Will Keep Older Drivers on the Road
From an economic perspective, if trucking companies need drivers and senior citizens are interested in supplementing their retirement income, it seems like a win-win. Unfortunately, stamina and reaction time becomes compromised with age. According to a senior executive at the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, the agency considered implementing skills tests that would address some of these limitations. Unfortunately, the issue was put on the back burner largely because of the labor shortage and limited age restrictions. Age discrimination laws were also a factor.
Dusty Cushard is the director of the Pennsylvania location of Roadmaster, a school that recruits retirees. He said that they will continue to recruit older drivers as long as they are physically able to drive the truck. And since there are currently no laws prohibiting the training of older drivers, they are not breaking any laws. In fact, she commented, it is against the law to discriminate against a potential employee based on their age.
Industry officials are studying the trend in order to determine whether there should be changes made to driver rules for older drivers.
Maryland Truck Accident Lawyers at LeViness, Tolzman & Hamilton Fight for Victims Injured in Truck Accidents
If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in a truck accident, you are urged to contact the Maryland truck accident lawyers at LeViness, Tolzman & Hamilton as soon as possible. Our experienced and dedicated team will conduct a thorough investigation into the details of your case in order to determine who is responsible for your injuries. We will pursue the maximum financial compensation you deserve. Protecting your rights is our top priority. For a free consultation, call us today at 800-547-4LAW (4529) or contact us online.
Our offices are located in Baltimore, Columbia, Glen Burnie, and Towson, allowing us to represent victims of truck accidents in Maryland, including those in Anne Arundel County, Carroll County, Harford County, Howard County, Montgomery County, Maryland’s Western Counties, Southern Maryland, and the Eastern Shore, as well as the communities of Catonsville, Essex, Halethorpe, Middle River, Rosedale, Gwynn Oak, Brooklandville, Dundalk, Pikesville, Parkville, Nottingham, Windsor Mill, Lutherville, Timonium, Sparrows Point, Ridgewood, and Elkridge.