Originally Posted by Jugomugo

After working through a self-paid driving school, how long does the typical company make you team up with a trainer? Sharing that limited amount of space sounds like a bummer.

Originally Posted by Dumbstruck

These posts touch on some things that have been on my mind over the past few weeks since I started to consider a trucking career. I'm 59 and haven't worked since I was 50 because our financial situation was very rosey. Circumstances have changed for the worse however and now it appears to me that truck driving may be one of the few things that I could learn where there is still a manpower demand with opportunity for a decent icome.

I'm in good health(but need medication for high blood pressure), 20/20 vision, thanks to Lasic surgery, have a solid 30 year employment history, perfectly clean driving record for 43 years and a college degree. Just a few miles away from my home is a community college/technical institute that has an 8 week long PTDI certified course for truck driving and the tuition and fees comes to less than $1000.00 for state residents.

I realize the downsides of the trucking life for me would probably be minimal home time in the beginning, some of the ugly underbelly aspects that come with any job, dealing with the idiots that exist in all walks of life, etc. It appears many new drivers need to endure some crappy times for a year or two before better jobs open up to them.

I guess what I'm fishing for is encouragement but would like honest opinions as to what you think the odds are for having a satisfactory job/life in the trucking world at my age.

Thanks.

VR

Originally Posted by Jugomugo

After working through a self-paid driving school, how long does the typical company make you team up with a trainer? Sharing that limited amount of space sounds like a bummer.

Originally Posted by Dennis in SE PA