More research into the crash risk of truck drivers under age 21 should be conducted before allowing them to drive between states, according to a recent regulatory comment made by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) requested comments on a possible pilot program to allow 18- to 20-year-old drivers to operate commercial vehicles in interstate commerce. Such drivers can already operate commercial vehicles within state lines.

The agency is currently running a pilot program to allow 18- to 20-year-old drivers with experience driving trucks in the military to operate commercial vehicles in interstate commerce.

In his comment, IIHS Senior Statistician Eric Teoh stated that FMCSA should wait for the results of that pilot before implementing a broader one for drivers without military experience. He also suggested that the agency conduct a study to investigate crash risk by age of truck drivers operating within state lines.