CDL training after age 40 - more difficult to get work?

I started at age 43. Now at 46, I have a local job that has me home nightly and earning more that I did running 6 days a week.

The only problems I had at my age was a tendancy to occasionally throw out my back on an overloaded trailer crank (you'll see). Hint: Don't try to be a tough guy. Those cranks have a high and low gear for a reason! After 22 years in the military and 3 years running a repair bussiness, I ket thinking I was indestructable...

Lot's of companys like guys our age. We are still young enough to get it done, but old enough to be smarter about how we do it (caveat above).

 

first, welcome to the site.

now, age doesn't matter. i have had some students in thier late 50's and at least one at the age of 63.

however, and i say this so often, just because an industry tanks, (like your did), doesn't mean trucking does NOT. trucking takes a hit as well. right now, there are literally hundreds if not thousands of experienced drivers out of work, so you WILL BE in competition with them.

trucking is NOT the saving grace so many people think it is, then get out of it when their "regular industry" picks up again. it IS hard work, LONG hours that you will NEVER get paid for. you WILL BE on the road away from home any where's from 2 weeks to 8 weeks, who knows...??

what i DO KNOW is that everyone and his brother want to be "local drivers'.........well there are just so many "local jobs" out there. soon, as possibly next month, another trucking company may "bite the dust, and that is NewPenn......adding yet another few thousand people out of work, you WILL BE competing with.

i wish you well, i really do, but frankly, just because your former industry tanked, isn't any reason to think trucking is going to save your arse.......

 

I was just hired at Swift at age 61, seems like good people!

 

I got hired by Swift at 58. My DM likes people that are older. We seem to have the crazy out of our system.

 

started at Werner in 07 and i was 50 at the time.

 

Lots of people come into trucking as a second carer. Nothing out of the ordinary at all. I was 38 when I started. It's not all pretty roses and puffy clouds, though. Make sure you come into this with your eyes open.