I have a problem getting hired

I wonder if Western Express will soon offer drivers training on how defend against police dogs.

 

Does that require a "Yes" or "No" answer?

 

Like so many things, it is Catch-22.

Or Kobayashi Maru.
The no-win scenario.

I guess if one were a Kirk, they could find a short term solution to the problem by a simple cheat.
And if one had the luck and fortitude of Kirk, there would be circumstances that would allow that cheat to stand unchallenged.

Good luck with that, in the real world.

 

Someone, make Chinatown stop,,,he knows I kid, but as usual, putting the cart ahead of the horse. I like "drivingmissdaisys" reply, In a perfect world, you'd think trucking would be a natural for a ( near) retiree, heck, you just sit there, the truck does all the work,,,just not so. Driving a truck today requires a lot of new information, information many older people don't have. I have that anxiety just traveling in a car. At 61, focus should be on REDUCING stress, like fishing with no bait,, and trucking is THE most stressful job I can think of, for the layperson, anyways. Your less than stellar record, and the nature of crimes, stays with you FOREVER, regardless of what they say, and these companies can go back to kindergarten if they want. I say, it's a foolish move, and just because you like to travel and drive, comes up short on what you need to make a living today in trucking. Schools just can't teach everything, and with trucking as a viable alternative for many, aka, the only game left in town,,there's no shortage of applicants.
I say this everytime, 50% of new drivers quit in the 1st 6 months, and 25% of the remaining, don't make it a year. That leaves 25% that actually make it. It's a lonely, boring, repetitious job, with conditions like, parking, clean bathrooms, health concerns for older people on the road, dispatchers that "went home early", repair delays, weather, probably the most stressful, as you sit in a pileup( hopefully not you involved) as your available hours for driving vanish,,no sir, I retired at 62 and 30 seconds. The LAST thing I wanted to do was drive a truck, and cancelled my CDL after 40 years. There's better ways to spend retirement. I adjusted my lifestyle so I didn't have to spend my retirement in a truck, and you can too,, amen to that.

 

@201- @Sunny1724 can work until he's 72 or longer if he wants to as far as Social Security goes. If he lives a frugal livestyle and saves some cash, then when Social Security kicks in he can retire to overseas and be very comfortable. The way he describes his current work history, he'd probably get a paltry amount of Social Security, but he can jack a lot that up with trucking if he hangs in there until he's 70 or 72.
Several truckers on this forum have done that. One of my neighbors, not a trucker, retired to Thailand to some place where many Americans retire. The rent for the condo also covers 3 meals a day. Maid service takes care of the cleaning, much like a hotel does. Wish I'd written the name of that place down, but didn't.
~
Edit: I guess a married guy could just leave a note and disappear; "Dear, I'll give you a call later; maybe."

 

Again, my friend, Cardinal rule of retirement, I found, it's not what you make, it's what you spend. In many cases, people just don't have "it" after retirement age. Maybe it's a mental thing, as you know in the back of your mind while sitting in a Nebraska truckstop over the holidays, if I just make some adjustments, I don't really have to do this, unlike say, an unemployed 40 year old computer programmer with 4 kids and a house, that literally has no choice. I suppose I live a frugal lifestyle, that is, buy the cheap brands and shoes from the thrift store, and drive a 30 year old Jeep, but a full time trucking job( since no P/T exist) is the kiss of death for an older person. I have trouble with hemorroids, due in part to my trucking, and requires constant attention. I couldn't imagine trucking with them. Tip of the iceberg, and to be clear, you CAN work while collecting SS, but in my case, it limits certain programs the state offers, as you then go over the income limits. With SS only, I'm right at the limit for many programs designed for retirees with no other income and for me, just not worth working. For example, if I work ONE day a week, I no longer qualify for rent assist, and my rent doubles,,,so why work?.

 

I feel bad for you guys who think 60 is old. I’m 64 and don’t expect to be relegated to a rocking chair and soft food for at least another month or two!

Seriously, I’m in good health and my mind is sharp, and I don’t have problems with those dadgummed newfangled computers (my company actually has me train new drivers on our ELD and trip planning and clock management).

And Social Security will cover my mortgage payment with enough left over for a few beers IF I wait until full retirement age at 68. It pays considerably less if I take it now. There’s no way it’ll support me, my wife (who’s younger and won’t be getting it for several years), or our currently 7 year old grandson who we’re raising.

But even if I could afford to retire, I’m far from ready to start being “old”.

 

Leave that turd hole alone. They play way to #### many ignorant unprofessional games with people anymore.

 

There are school janitors that retire with a million dollars. MOST people don't spend well and save little believing the lie that when they make more money they will have more to save. The truth is their spending increases at the rate of their income, or more. As they make more, they feel obligated to buy more things or get their version on what they see on TV on what their friends have. An example if you are a kid in a poor family there is one car for everything, if you are lucky. As you make more the mom and dad "need" a car. As they make more the teenagers "need" cars. Lots of people justify over-spending by claiming they have done without luxuries for so long they deserve this one thing. It's like when someone starts exercising they will often eat more junk food because they are burning off calories and deserve a reward.

 

There are a lot of carriers hiring straight from CDL schools in Washington state. I had a job lined up before even graduating with my CDL when I was enrolled at my CDL trucking school. The salaries for entry level drivers is pretty great right now, and it only goes up from there!