Do you plan to drive... forever?

Gonna be 50 next year coming up on 27 years. If 62 with a part time job is doable than that's the route I'd prefer. Really depends on what healthcare costs would be than. If it's not practical than 65 cause taking some time to enjoy some other things than driving a truck would be nice.

 

You need to consider the average life expectancy of a truck driver is 61. So till the end is not very long. Luckily I made it past 61. I retired 5 years ago at 65.

 

Retired 1 year and 1 month ago. I've thought about doing a little part time stuff, but I've gotten too good at avoiding work. Thinking of the storm coming Friday night, I'm glad I'm out of my linehaul job going across Iowa with icy roads and blowing snow. I want so bad to call one of my buddies from my old job and see how it's going. But they would know I'm just gloating.

 

Yesterday I came to the conclusion that I will most likely retire at the end of next year. The only caveat is if we decide to buy a house on the lake, then I will stay and work longer to deal with the new mortgage. Aside from that I think it is time for me to quit.

I am glad someone opened this thread cause I was going to ask a few weeks back if I should retire, so here is my situation:

I am 42 years old, my house will be paid off next year (it's a nicer 2K sq ft house with twin garage and yard blah blah blah), I don't have any debt and my vehicles are paid off, I also gained a 70% VA rating two months ago (which my agent thinks she can get bumped up to 100%). This means I will get just over $4K a month from the military beating the crap out of me for almost a decade. No bills, a $1,000 a week income, and at 100% I don't pay property taxes again and will have insurance through the VA. Our monthly expenses are also only $2,200 at the most and the only other thing that will change is my wife will be done with her degree next Christmas and go to work again and bring in an additional $40K+. She will also have zero student debt and her income is just fun money or savings for a better house. I have yet to decide what to do with my life, although I am currently taking paramotor lessons on weekends.

So here is what happened. Yesterday I was rolling into town and witnessed a HORRIFIC wreck. Vehicle flipped almost a dozen times and the poor driver was ejected. She literally landed about 15 yards infront of me. Worst part is my dashcam caught it and I ended up sending a copy of it to the SC Highway Patrol anonymously. I haven't seen anyone die since my time in the service and what I saw just got to me. Right before Thanksgiving. Maybe I feel adamant about turning in my CDL because it is fresh on my mind, and maybe it is just the cherry on top of a large cake that's been baking for many years and it really is my time to find something else to do.

 

Man that's crazy. Sounds like you've got things sorted out pretty well. Find something mellow to do.

I've been driving for a living for 35 years I guess, not all in a semi, but I've never seen a bad accident in. Saw one flip and slide in front of me but she was belted in and just in shock. I got out of the way as soon as the authorities showed up.

Where was this in SC?

 

This was yesterday at 1230 in Camden SC on Highway 601. The whole thing was all over the local news. I was at the light pointing straight at it trying to make a left turn. That car just came tumbling down like a beer can. She wasn't even speeding, but at 45 mph that vehicle had an incredible amount of inertia. It was an initial slow roll cause it was rolling diagonal and I thought it would come to a stop at least sideways. But then when it landed the angle was perfectly perpendicular with the roadway and that car was just off on its own. It literally tumbled, went airborne, then did one or two full tumbles about 8 feet in the air. Then it landed and the tumbling actually accelerated. After the 8th spin I saw the occupant eject. It flung her 20 feet into the air like a ragdoll. I honestly thought the vehicle was coming down on that poor lady cause it just kept going. It was surreal. Man... Had there been kids in there I would have been done that day. It really bothered the hell out of me because I didn't know her at all, but she really did nothing wrong to get herself roped into this predicament. Worst part is someone was probably at home waiting on her that night. Not sure why I am having such a hard time with this. I've seen way worse overseas. But maybe it's cause it easily could have been my own friend or family member.

On a positive side, a family friend of the casualty messaged me and thanked me for sending law enforcement the dash cam. I hope they didn't see it, but maybe it brings some closure to show that the victim didn't do anything wrong and that the whole thing was on the one idiot that couldn't wait an extra 15 seconds for traffic to clear. I really hope none of you guys ever have to deal with this. It was horrible.

 

WOW,,,okay, Jeez Louise, you're all over the place, and let's back up BEFORE the crash. You have the luxury of being able to express your concerns here, with qualified opinions(except mine) , we had to tough out situations on our own. Going back on what to do, you are a bit young for retirement, if in your situation, there would be no question I'd hang up driving. There's no shame in P/T Walmart cashier, and a real life at home, that never deals with highway catastrophies. Not being in a position where you HAVE to do this, so many options, and do what you want to do. As you witnessed 1st hand, life is short.
Speaking of that crash, if you are going to drive a truck, you better get used to the fact , you WILL witness something like this, and could even involve yourself. It's a horrible thing to see, and we've all seen our share, but,,,,being ejected in a crash is the #ONE cause of death, and she wasn't properly restrained. The other thing, is more than likely, our old nemesis, distracted driving, I'm sure played a big part in the crash. It, unfortunately, makes you an experienced driver, as you have seen 1st hand what can happen in a blink. Without charging you $380/hour for psychiatric costs, you are on your own getting over that, and the odds of that happening again are slim,but one of the reasons I got out,after 3.5million safe miles,I knew it wasn't if anymore, but when. Good luck, it goes beyond my training as a truck driver, but I think you'll be fine.

 

That’s the whole dilemma right there. You can start collecting Social Security at 62 but not Medicare. Not until you’re 65 so it’s kind of a gamble if you think you’re in good health at 62 and can make it to 65 without any major medical issues, then you should probably go for it. Life is short, but if you anticipate anything significant medically, probably want to stay employed with medical insurance. I’ve had medical insurance most of my entire life, and I’ve never used it for anything. Murphy’s Law tells me if I tried to retire at 62 I’d probably have a stroke or come down with cancer the day after I quit my job. Lol that’s why I plan to work until I’m 65.

 

When I moved to Colorado I was 62, and not eligible for Medicare, but CO. Medicaid stepped up, and covered my aXX until I was 65, even though I had no claims. They still pay my Medicare premiums and prescriptions. Medicaid also pays what Medicare doesn't, most times, and CO. been very good to me, although I worry that could change. Colorado has some of the best programs for seniors in the country, funded in part by the dope industry. Say what you will, but puff away, it's paying my healthcare costs.