Trucking career change at age 52?

I believe you need to spend time with a trainer. You have been gone along time and things are much different now. Now when you turn the wheel to the right, the truck goes to the right. I don't know how it was in your day grandpa but we here like to keep up with the lastest trends. Do you have GPS? That is like a really smart radio that can tell you where to go.

The insurance companies will be the difference as to if you need a trainer or not. I have heard good things about both of the companies you are looking into. Welcome back.

 

Living where you do, I would look in to all the ads needing oil field drivers, be home every night and make decent money to, if your careful who you go to work for.

 

I say go for it with the driving career. Never too late.
Crete is not a bad large carrier, better than most.

 

As long as you have your health and don't foresee anything that will affect getting and keeping a medical card -then you're probably good Togo. Trucking is like any other industry with many people saying it isn't like it use to be. There are some youngsters in the industry that you enjoy being around and there are some that needa kick in the ash. But There are lots of us older guys that are no treat to be with either.With traffic, equipment and DOT I would imagine that you will have a lot of questions that a trainer would answer. I was three weeks from start to finish in obtaining my license and heading out on my own. This included two weeks with a mentor and in hindsight it could have been more. I'm nine months down the road and learn something everyday. I'm lucky because I haul a step and well, flat bedders are a pretty good group of people and will answer any questions you have. They also will accept help pulling or folding a tarp or securing a load.
I would read thru this forum from start to finish as it will give your good handle on what this industry is about. I genuinely feel sorry for the new drivers that end up working for peanuts or get stiffed on a lease. The good thing about your age is that you may be an empty nester which makes it easier to go on the road. I'm only out three or four nights a week and twice have done two week trips. I know that I couldnt be Otr for weeks at a time as I have hobbies,a cottage etc that i need to get home to.
Anyways, good luck in your persuit.

 

Kind of off topic but...
My father is 58 and retired about 4 years ago.
Came from the newspaper industry.
He's doing essentially what you are.
He's realized that there is just too much "work" left in him and is now getting into school and in turn a new career! lol
Your not insane by any means!
Interesting fact real quick.....what drew me to post a reply was your username.
We moved up to Michigan from Houston Texas 27 years ago. At that time my mom drove a delta88....lol
Thought that was funny. (seeing how it fits your profile)
You'll do great!
Consider Con-way Truckload. I'm just getting started. I leave out with my finisher probably today.
They are a top notch organization!

 

Went to CDL school at 55. Found out I was probably going to get to 56 so the question was, 56 with or without a CDL. You can do anything you want to do.

 

then who ever you talked with at Crete lied to you. the first 4 weeks of being with your trainer is called phase I. that is the student doing all the driving. after phase I is phase II, where the trainer and the student run super solo if needed. that is not teaming per say, but the truck can roll as much as 18 hours a day if needed. sometimes it happens, most of the time it wont. but when i did my OTR training with shaffer, that is how it was done.

but that is if you get a good trainer like i had. if you get a sorry one who is in it for the money, then you will be running your rear end off at the end of your training, miles = money. remember that money is like manure. it is no good unless you spread it around.

have a great night lol