How secure are trucking jobs and how easy is it for new driver to get job?

My trainer basically refused to deliver on time and would take a 34 at least once a week even though he never actually needed one. His motto was "if you deliver on time too often then they expect it all the time." Not only did he still have a job, he was still a trainer.

 

One morning this guy wanted to stay parked and play videogames. In a moment of desperation because I wanted miles, I said, "if we start now and get 600 miles in, then your .49 per mile would add like 300 bucks to your paycheck."

He didn't say anything, just immediately sat up and started putting on his work boots. Amazingly, he'd apparently never thunk that thought on his own.

 

Definitely not too old to truck.
The worst part will be the training, i.e. riding w a trainer, and then getting your solid year in with no incidents.
After that you can afford to find the place and type of work you want to do till retirement, or till you've tired of the many other aspects of the job.
Good Luck.

 

When do you plan to start?
Classes start every Monday somewhere with all expenses paid.
Are you retired or retiring soon?
Are you physically fit for flatbed trucking?

 

So do you have a link for how you came to that conclusion? Do tell me how us younger drivers forget the basics quick, I would like to know what anecdotal evidence or scientific study you found that came to that conclusion.

As for the OP, you'll always have a job with a CDL. But the thing is is that it might not be a job that you like or that you prefer. But you won't go hungry with a CDL, but again keep in mind you probably won't be able to walk into a great job either.

Good advice that I found on this forum and that is actually good life advice, was to decide where I wanted to be in the industry 5 years from now. Not super long term planning (because you never know what life is going to throw at you), but still middle term and I guess somewhat long term planning. Then base your steps in the trucking world based off your end goal 5 years from now.

If you're 60 then I'm assuming your goals are either:

A. Coast into retirement 5 years from now or

B. Save as much as you can if you're behind on retirement

Therefore, if you want to coast into retirement find a gig where they don't work you to death. If you're wanting to save as much money as possible, I would recommend going the LTL route into linehaul running the extra board and pulling double trailers if you can handle working nights and going to bed in the late morning/12 noon. Those guys are making around 6 figures, I'de say the $90k - $110k gross range depending on how hard you run.

 

Yep that’s trucking .... getting fired from a trucking job ? You really have to work at that. I can tell some stories you would not believe !!!

 

Be Here Now don't get butt hurt. Watch the drivers in the yards and they make the same mistakes and try to fix them the same way over and over. Scientific studies are not for trucker forums. I am an old vet that believes in muscle memory and repetition. Experience comes from mistakes and it takes experience to stop making mistakes. We all have opinions and like yours on retirement not all will agree. I was retired living on a small Hobby Farm enjoying life until medical insurance went up 5 times what I used to pay. That and cancer took all of our fun money so back to holding a steering wheel. No one figured the affordable care act would change this so much. Then again no one would believe the prices on wood and steel today either.

Most every young driver I meet and talk with have forgotten simple rules like 20 feet of trailer movement to move 1 foot to the side. That is an average due to the diameter of the tire and the distance it will travel. So to fix a mistake of one foot you need at least 20 feet of travel. Still drivers are spinning the steering wheel back and forth getting no where quick. I use the parallel parking, lane shuffle backing and trailer tires in the box every day. As I drive I remember where's your corners and the 5-8 second rule for distance. Knowing the wheel only turns 2 complete turns from center to full left or right helps when adjusting. Then again I am just an old fart.

 

Ok, I won't get butt hurt. You're right. We do suck. I'm sorry we suck so bad. We are worthless.

Also, I'm glad you beat cancer and I'm sorry that the medical bills related to it have forced you to work again. That's not right and will hopefully change in the future.