What kind of regulatory requirements are there for truck drivers?
To operate in intrastate commerce, (within state of resident and with goods originating, grown, manufactured, built, or other wise created, where driver resides) a driver must be 18 years of age, pass a rigid physical examination every 2 years and submit to testing for drug and alcohol use, including unannounced random testing. Drivers of all trucks with gross-weight ratings of more than 26,000 pounds and drivers of vehicles carrying any quantity of hazardous materials that are required to display warning signs must obtain a “Commercial Driver's License (CDL)” by passing rigorous tests of their knowledge of safety regulations and their ability to drive the large trucks. 
To operate in interstate commerce, a driver must be at least 21 years of age, pass a rigid physical examination every 2 years and submit to testing for drug and alcohol use, including unannounced random testing. Drivers of all trucks with gross-weight ratings of more than 26,000 pounds and drivers of vehicles carrying any quantity of hazardous materials that are required to display warning signs must obtain a “Commercial Driver's License (CDL)” by passing rigorous tests of their knowledge of safety regulations and their ability to drive the large trucks. 

Operators of a motor coach company carrying more than 15 passengers for hire, must be at least 18 year of age, by passing rigorous tests of their knowledge of safety regulations pass a rigid physical examination every 2 years and submit to testing for drug and alcohol use, including unannounced random testing.

What is the outlook for jobs?
In one word - EXCELLENT! The sizzling economy of the past few years has brought the freight moved to a record level this year, about 8 billion tons. The Federal Government estimates a current driver shortage of somewhere around 80,000 drivers. There has never been a better time for novice drivers to enter the industry. The personnel offices of the trucking industry are busy creating new innovative approaches for attracting new drivers. The trucking industry reports that it is likely pay will increase by 40 to 60 percent over current levels within the next 3 years. That would put the average trucker salary in the $50,000 to $55,000 category. For new drivers qualified to enter the industry, they most likely will receive a reimbursement for all tuition and training costs, a retreat from the old long haul trucker itinerary of being away from home for several weeks to the new "relay system" where drivers will be gone from home for probably only a few nights a week. The competitive battle between truck manufacturers will continue for supremacy in the "who can produce the most luxurious truck" battle. Naturally, these new modern trucks will be sold to the trucking industry for the lure of new drivers.