Starting school @ 53

I'm 42, in Orientation with Interstate right now and went to 5 weeks of school prior to coming here.... If you don't have prior experience driving big rigs, the advantage of a longer training time IMHO is twofold.

One: You get a lot more experience behind the wheel on both the roads and backing. There is no substitute for seat time and a good instructor will help to keep you out of trouble as you learn and offer guidance to keep the frustration level down a bit.

Two: A good trainer will help you to adjust to life on the road. Its a totally different lifestyle and that extra help can make a big difference in your happiness with your new career. From what I have read and been told, more first year drivers quit from problems adjusting to the lifestyle than doing the driving.

 

I believe Watkins/Shepard is 4 weeks,the 10 day training is for drivers who already have their cdl.

 

jrbirdman
58 here and will start training with W/S in November. All the companies you listed seem to be real good ones. I don't think you could go wrong with either . I just chose to go with W/S in November because of the winter snow and mountain training. (Ca boy here ) Good luck with your new career

 

The longer of a training program you can get the better off you will be... and anyone starting now, I feel IMHO is the best time to start cause you get the the winter/mountainous training. (the snow)... I've known a few that had a brief training program and they ended up not actually knowing what to do... If you are going to invest the time & money into something, you should at least follow it thru....

Good luck... Go Longer.. not shorter!!

CA

 

I'm 56 and the wife is 53...and we are in our second week of training. Looks like there's a fair number of us "down the road a little" folks getting into trucking.