The United States is moving forward with plans to let teenagers drive big rigs to help address the global supply chain issues.

Launched as an apprenticeship programme, the move will allow teenagers between 18 and 20 years old to drive big rigs state to state. Currently, truckers who cross state lines must be at least 21 years old.

The pilot programme will screen the teens, barring any with driving-while-impaired violations or traffic tickets for causing a crash.

According to the Associated Press, safety advocates have said the programme runs counter to data showing that younger drivers get in more crashes, saying it’s unwise to let teenage drivers be responsible for rigs that can weigh 36,000kg and cause catastrophic damage when they hit lighter vehicles.

The American Trucking Association supports the measure as a way to help with a shortage of drivers. The group estimates that the nation is running more than 80,000 drivers short of the number it needs.

Drivers will be able 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 programme have to have an electronic braking crash mitigation system, a forward-facing video camera, and their speeds must be limited to 104kph.

After probation, they can drive on their own, but companies have to monitor their performance until they are 21. No more than 3000 apprentices can take part in the training at any given time.

The programme will run for up to three years.

“This programme creates a rigorous safety training programme, requiring an additional 400 hours of advanced safety training, in which participants are evaluated against specific performance benchmarks,” said Nick Geale, vice president of workforce safety for the trucking associations.

“The programme will ensure that the industry has enough drivers to meet growing freight demands.”