I’m facing age discrimination

To the Editor;

I completed the “commercial truck driving course” at Tri County Tech Center in Dexter. I passed the written Class A CDL driver’s license test on the first try. I passed the road test for my Class A CDL on April 30, 2013, also on my first try, and I am fully licensed by the State of Maine, to drive Class A commercial tractor-trailer trucks.

The only restrictions I have on that license is that I cannot drive “interstate” nor receive “Hazmat” or “school bus” endorsements until I reach age 21. That is a matter of both state and federal laws.

I have an absolutely clean driving record, both in my personal car as well as driving commercial trucks. I have two years of experience driving tandem dump trucks hauling sand and gravel, have the same experience with hauling equipment on trailers and have 2 years’ experience operating heavy construction equipment. I have had no infractions, nor any accidents, in my two years of previous experience.

I was out of a job late last fall as my previous employer was downsizing due to some dropoff in his work. So I set out to find a new job this past winter. I have applied to about eight employers, have been interviewed by several of them, and was well considered by most of them for employment … but was turned down for one reason only. I will be 20 years old on April 30 and they all told me that they could not hire me as their insurers will not cover anyone under age 21 often and even under 23 much of the time!

Neither my clean driving record, nor my two years’ previous experience were ever considered. The reason I could not be hired was because the insurers won’t let them hire me. This is “discrimination” against an entire group of American young men and women … simply because of their age!

In the last 50 years, in the United States, many laws have been passed and much public discussion has taken place, to end discrimination everywhere it has been found. It is illegal to discriminate against anyone because of their ethnic background, color of their skin, gender, sexual orientation and a whole lot of other reasons as most Americans know. There have been numerous cases taken to court by those who had lost employment due to being too old, and the plaintiffs prevailed so today it is illegal to discriminate against anyone due to being “too old” though evidently, in the commercial truck driving field it is OK to discriminate against me because I am too young!

Every day now you can read in the news that Maine employers are crying for skilled workers. Trucking companies all over America are crying for good drivers. But, according to my experience lately, it seems that the powers that be would rather that I find a girlfriend, start having children, get subsidized housing, EBT card and food stamps, and live that way, rather than to take on a job that I am 100 percent qualified for, and experienced at. I have a clean driving record, have passed extensive background checks, don’t smoke, drink or do drugs. All I want is the chance to work on a job that I am trained for and licensed by the state to do! Why is that so much to ask for?

I hear a lot about my generation these days, not all of it good by any means. People like to complain that a lot of young folks don’t seem to want to work. Yet when one does want to work, the circumstances make that near impossible, not because of lack of skill, poor work records, or number of driving accidents … but simply because of one’s age and no other reason!

I hope that American people can come to their senses soon and realize that a whole generation of American young adults are being discriminated against, in many different ways, for the same reason I am being discriminated against … just because we are the wrong age! This is as wrong as discrimination against someone for the color of their skin is! I don’t want a handout, just the chance to do an honest day’s job for an honest day’s pay. What is so wrong with that!

Vincent Pitts
Garland