Too Old To Start This Career??????

Like a lot of folks these days I have just learned that my position with a small city government will be eliminated within the next 60-90 days and I must now begin my search for a new position. I am 53 years old, and since I was in my mid to late 20's, I have wanted to be a semi driver. The traveling bug was planted within me a long time ago as a kid, being fortunate enough to travel our great county by auto through all 48 mainland states and that desire to drive and travel has just NEVER left my soul. Add to that that my grandfather was a bus driver for the old Lake Shore Bus Company in Ohio and to tell you the truth, It's In My Genes.......LOL....

My concern is this, I am now 53, in Really good health, great BMV Report, never been in jail, and only accident ever was a suicidal buck that decided to just walk in the middle of the road. I gave his hind quarters a good thump and off he went....$1800 in damage to my Blazer later....darn deer... anyhow, I am in need of advise from recent newbies to 20yr multi-million mile drivers, as to how is my best way to go about making the change...getting my training and then out on the road I mean.

I have info from several driving schools, all of them offering placement assistance when my training is completed and I have a brand new shiny CDL, but I also know that there are companies that will train you outright and have a position waiting for you once the CDL is in your hands. Is one way better than the other???? I'm the kind of worker who just doesn't jump from job to job in my career, so I think I'd be safe to say that if a company trains me, I'm going to stick around and not just jump at the next thing to come along...not my style...never has been.

What I am asking for is that at 53 I have several years of solid work in front of me and can be very beneficial to a company. My preference would be to drive and not to worry or have to deal much with load/unload, but if I have to do loan/unload, I will. Please provide me with any and all advise as to what training companies are the best and also what companies are the best to go with AFTER getting a CDL through a driving school? My kids are all grown, my wife and I do have a grandchild, she's 9 mo, and our life has slowed down to where she is involved with her life and I am with mine. BUT, we are still that nice older couple you see who doesn't care who's around us, we're smiling, joking, and kissing in public and don't give a crap who see's it...LOL...

Please give me some thoughts as I need to get moving on making a decision as to who and where to go with....so I can Hit The Pavement Running, as I should have done 25+ years ago....

Be Safe and Thanks

 

I like to suggest going to a local Community College to receive your driver training. The programs are put together really well and you won't be tied to a company for any length of time to repay the training costs. When I went to school the cost was roughly $1000 for tuition and books etc. If you're recently unemployed some state employment agencies will help fund your schooling.

After I finished school I chose to drive for Watkins Shepard and went to their 10 orientation out in Missoula, MT. After finishing their orientation I was given a truck and started making money without being with a trainer. This was the best option for me as I am self-motivated and not skittish about a taking on a tough challenge.

Best of luck.

 

Central Ref. has a pretty good school and is a pretty decent company. My wife and I worked for them and had a pretty good experience. You would have to go to Utah for school and then run with a trainer for a month. I think total it's about 7 weeks. They will pay for you to get out there. Nice trucks, nice facilities, decent pay. They expect you to stay out though for long periods of time. Maybe scan through some of the threads on here about the company. Good luck.

 

I would not recommend anyone go out without a trainer first. That is a very dangerous and irresponsible. Just think you never had the chance to learn to drive correctly. Maybe it's cheaper for them just to let their drivers crash and burn and replace them!

 

Go for it, and I will suggest several hours of reading on this site.

Do your homework and research and proceed at your own caution!

(remember I said go for it) You want it, just be informed!

 

I fit your criteria to some degree.
I drove for more than 20 years, during which time I did everything from company driver to lease operator, to O/O.
Then I retired.
Then the economy drove me back to work.
Trouble is, I had been away from the business for more than two years, so everyone treated me like a brand new driver.
I had to go to school for a refresher course. It's the same as any driver course, except I didn't have to test for my CDL at the end. (already had it).
Then I had to locate a company that took on newbies, as they were the only ones that would consider me.
So at age 58, I started over.
You can do it. There are lots of drivers over 50 beginning truck driving careers.
My suggestions include going to either a community college program or a private truck driving school. The advantage of the private school is it will be completed faster. Check your state's unemployment programs. Some states will pay the total cost for you to attend school.
Stay away from the company schools! I can't say that enough.
The biggest horror stories on schools on this board are from people that went to one of these places. They often do a poor job of training, don't help you get all your endorsements and set you into a life of involuntary servitude. You end up owing them thousands of dollars, have to work for them a couple years to satisfy this debt and often the working conditions are so bad, you feel worse than a slave.
Also many of these companies force you out before your commitment is done, and you end up owing them many thousands of dollars. And believe me...they will get their pound of flesh!
A private school/CC course will allow you to choose the company YOU want to work for.
Most companies that train new drivers, emphasize training. Most drivers will move on to other companies after a year or two, where they will make more money, get better hometime or for a myriad of other reasons. Don't be surprised if you do the same.
Few training companies have many long term drivers, unless they became trainers. It's the nature of the beast.
Lastly, read everything you can on this board and start posting questions. Most people here will give you good advice, borne in experience.
Good luck!

 

There was a guy that was 56 in my class. He was one of the best better drivers in our class. Plus in a ten person class half the class was over 45. I would also recommend looking at getting your cdl through a tech school or community college. You never know what could happen and this way you wont be in a contract to work for one company till you pay of there training. But most likely where you go after school you will have to go out with a trainer from the company to show you the ropes. Good luck!

 

I'm 56 years old and just starting out. I finished driving school about a month ago and since then I've been in OTR training....so far about 150 hrs behind the wheel. So far, I haven't found anything that has been a challenge for me because of my age. There have been challenges but they have NOT been age-related. My age has been a benefit in more than a few situations.

If you are in good health and have the financial backing to get through the training and lean times of a student driver....go for it!

 

We started last year and I was 53 and my husband 63. You're not to old. We went with Swift and got their schooling and training. My husband's tuition is paid off and Swift is now repaying him for what he paid. Sooo at the end of month 26 Swift will have paid for all of his schooling. I was schooled and trained by Swift for free.

We're very happy, we work on a great fleet with the best fleet/terminal manager there is. We get good miles and have done very well financially. I enjoyed the school greatly and think extremely highly of those involved with the school in Phoenix.

If driving is something you've wanted to do for 30 years.......then try it! Go for it! Why not have an adventure? I recommend Swift greatly.

 

You sure you're not Virgil and Debbie and you just jumped ship from CRE? This lady always speaks the truth and you should heed her advice. Sometimes in life you have to go down an unfamiliar path to get to where you are going.