The TV is saying that the backup in West coast ports comes from a lack of truck drivers to get the containers out of the port and on their way to make room for another shipload of containers. I think the truck driver shortage could be easily fixed, just reduce the amount of paperwork done for each driver and allow 18 year old high school graduates to earn a truck driver's license.
Driving a truck is not that much different from driving a car, and most high school graduates have already obtained their driver's licenses. Granted, a truck is bigger than a car and requires more attention to clearances and care to avoid sideswiping stuff, and backing a semi trailer rig is tricky. I am thinking that about a week's behind the wheel practice will be enough. If we decide that class room instruction in rules of the road and other stuff is necessary, have the classes taught by real truck drivers, not bureaucrats or ed majors.
Some will object that 18 years is not enough to be a responsible driver. I say that is up to the hiring manager. If he thinks the applicant for a job is trustworthy enough to handle his company's trucks, let him hire the kid. I graduated high school quite some years ago. All my classmates were responsible people, in whom you could entrust an expensive truck, and its valuable cargo. I'd like to think that today's high school graduates are as good as all my classmates were years ago.
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