Video shows young boy driving dad’s big rig on highway

Video of a young boy driving a big-rig semi-truck has surfaced on social media. The man, believed to be a Utah-based truck driver, was recording it all while seated on the passenger side of the truck.

The boy appears to be no older than 12. It’s unclear where and when the video was shot, but it appears to be a flat stretch of country highway, with steady traffic. The one-minute video clip shows several cars passing on the opposite side of the highway and at least one vehicle passing the semi in the left lane.

“I was honestly extremely shocked, seeing a child behind the wheel of a semi,” said Lt. Jeff Nigbur with Utah Highway Patrol. “I’ve been working 15 years along the Wasatch Front and I’ve never ever seen anything like that.”

The video was initially posted on the Facebook page of Mike Gustuson who according to his Facebook profile, lives in Millcreek, Utah and drives for a company called Ship Ex out of Salt Lake City.

A phonecall to Ship Ex only produced a “no comment” response. The video was promptly removed from Facebook after the inquiry.

“It’s a semi, we have no idea what’s in that vehicle,” said Nigbur. “The child does obviously not have a license or a CDL and is not experienced. He could’ve killed somebody.”

Near the end of the clip, the boy is heard asking for the man to “take the wheel” and admits he is scared.

“I kind of understand where he’s coming from as a father, having some good father-son bonding time, but honestly, that’s just not the way to do it,” said Nigbur.

Attempts to reach Gustuson were unsuccessful. Highway patrol admits criminal charges are possible after viewing the video clip, but they have to determine if the boy was driving in Utah.