Driving Age And Minimum Requirments

[x635 4,066]

I was curious to see what everybodys' agencies qualifications and minimum age was.

At a recent parade, I saw several Engines and tankers being driven by 18 and 19 year olds. Is it me, or is that age too young?

How do the insurance companies allow those ages as well? In one town I know, the VAC you can't start driving the bus until 23 because of insurance, yet you can drive a fire truck or engine at 18.

I think an appropriate age to start driving is 23, or maybe 21 then with a 2 year driving internship. It's my opinion that driving is a skill gained by time and experience. To let a person that young drive a large truck is risky, not only for the safety of the crew and others, but also what if there were to be an accident and the media were to find out? Also, that 18-23 year old firefighter should be getting experience as a firefighter, not sitting at the control panel.

Minimum requirments for drivers (again, my opinion):

-23 Years of age and mature

-Clean, immaculate driving record

-6 month-1 year "internship"

-Pertinent Courses

-Random drug testing

-Pass both a rigorous departmental written and practical examination

-CDL?

This doesn't really apply too much to most career departments, as the driving is left to the senior man in most cases.

[TRUCK6018 50]

Our minimum requirements are:

To start training:

-21 years of age

-off probation

-clean driving record

-6 hour National Safety Council Defensive Driving

To get qualified on apparatus:

-New York State Apparatus Operator (EVOC) or equivilant

-a set amount of time driving each vehicle (ten hours).

-vehicle checkout by the lieut, capt and chief.

These are just to drive, we require additional for specific vehicles, example:

Engines - Pump Op's

Ladder - Truck Op's

[Remember585 815]

Croton requires....

18 years old minimum

6 months of active service

EVOC Training

Engineer, Captain and Chief Approval

To drive the Ambulances.

19 years old minimum

1 year of active service

EVOC Training

Engineer, Captain and Chief Approval

To drive the Engines, Truck and Rescue.

We URGE our engine operators to have Pump Ops, Truck operators to have Ladder ops and now pump ops as well.

In my Engine Company, we require our officers to be driver/MPOs, based on the thought "what good is our Officers if they can't operate their own rig."

[Guest DADAY]

Croton Falls FD

Age; 21, or CDL 18

Off probation

Our Sop's state that if a driver is in an accident their driving status is suspended untill reviewed, by chiefs and commissoners.