I am planning on retiring by the end of the year and am thinking about getting my CDL through a school. I don't want to work full time. I'm just looking for part time work to keep me out of trouble. Are there any companies that will hire drivers to work part time to fill in for vacations or for someone who calls off sick?

Kirsh Carton in Benton Harbor was recently advertising for an on-call part-time retired driver. My job with Southshore Logistics has degenerated into a part-time job due to the downturn in automotive. I make it an on-call job by staying home until the dock foreman calls me. At 65, this suits me fine and I am not giving it up or looking for anything else.

Not a lot of TT driver part time gigs out there. Also because of insurance requirements companies are shy to hire anyone without experience to drive a TT.

Before you go to the expense of CDL training, which can be expensive, think of these part time driving opportunities:

If you can put up with children then consider obtaining a CDL with passenger endorsement and driving a school bus. Most companies will have you on call or part time until a full time opening occurs.

As above obtain a passenger endorsement and look to the retirement homes that have transport vehicles for their residents.

There are "Drive Off" companies who shuttle motor homes and other vehicles around the country. Good way to get out and see the country and get paid for it.

Speak to tour bus companies who have runs to places of interest you like. What a gig huh, drive the people to casinos every day and enjoy a few minutes there yourself. Never know, you may hit it rich!!

Check with armored car companies for fill in work with them. Most of those companies don't even require a CDL (some do for odd reasons). However, their drivers generally are run 10 - 12 hours a day and many times the companies have unscheduled pickups/dropoffs that they will call drivers in for. Also since they run lean on manpower if someone calls out sick they will use relief drivers. It will require firearm certifications and minimal training but may be worth it. As a driver you are fully protected so if a car is jacked you're normally not the one in the line of fire.

Check your local newspapers for courier jobs. Many of these will require you to use your own vehicle and some pay gas allowances. These companies generally use on call drivers.

Not sure where you are but check your local Post Office to see how their mail is picked up and brought to them. In rural areas the USPS generally contracts out to independent carriers that handle several PO's. They generally use 24 Ft. vans or smaller and won't require CDL's. This is part time work or split shift where you and another can split the shifts, one picks up the other drops off.

Look around while you are out driving and watch the various business vehicles out there. Other options are AAA roadside service hires for part time patrols. Wrecker companies who need additional people during peak times of the year. There are many other possibilities out there that would not require a CDL but allow you to get out and about instead of waving your hand and saying "Welcome to Wal-Mart"!

Good luck on the search!!

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Depending on where you live, Hobby Lobby uses part time drivers on the weekends to run drop n hook from Dallas to Oklahoma City and back.

There are smaller companies out there that use part time drivers, but the catch is they generally use experienced drivers.

If I were you, I would look into temp agencies in your area and see if they have a market for what you are wanting to do.