Becoming a trucker at 59 years of age?

Hi iamtrying, welcome aboard. Depends on what career you intend on leaving. Your age is perfect for someone who did a physical job, and can't do it now, or fed up and think, hmm, I can drive a truck, at least I hope you have some background in driving, and not to granny's on Sunday. Remember, you will drive from start of the day, and that may be 7 pm, to the end, day after day. OTR , which most of the jobs are today, is extremely demanding on family, and friends. If you aren't single, you will be, trust me. You'll miss a lot. Local jobs, not so much, but those jobs aren't near as plentiful. Pros: freedom of the open road, pay is about average, you won't get rich, easy job, really, the truck does all the work, no boss over your shoulder, although, with driver cams and cell phones, you may as well have a boss in the truck. Cons: long hours, and not just driving, loading and unloading can be nightmares, traffic, weather, distracted drivers, all will make you wonder why you did it. Others will chime in too, but hope this helps.

 

If you are relatively healthy, and a non smoker I'm sure you will have no problems, as long as you pass the flexibility, and strength testing.

 

Driving a limousine home every night and OTR totally different beast. As far as a relationship unless it is very strong wouldn't start a new one even at that age people want attention. Known several buddies who returned from Iraq, Afghanistan find there g/f or wife cheated and off chance it could be reversed on the flip side just don't know a lot of women personally in service well enough to know of that. You could still drive but recommend maybe local OTR could be a big risk and very hard on a family.

 

Trucking will certainly change that slight chance, to pushing it over the edge. Cooked my marriage, but I had a VERY non-understanding ex wife. After my divorce, I met a woman truck driver, and we got along like peas in a pod for 12 years. I read almost 70% of new truck drivers, quit within the 1st year. That's a pretty staggering statistic, but many of those quit for the reasons I said, it could work for you. Give it a shot, the tech field will always be there if it goes south.

 

OTR is fun, but it all depends on who you go with. Some have strict requirements, some are more laid back. Starting pay for a rookie is a lot better now than what it used to be. You wont get rich, but you won't starve either..

As far as your marriage, unless shes a very understanding female then itll be hard.. I've been married twice and I'm 31, so as you can see trucking is not easy on a family..

I would just set down and think about it before you do it... weigh the options of being away from home for weeks on end and the options if being away from family..

 

Your age means nothing as long as you’re relatively healthy (no on a restricted medication)

I started OTR when I was 52 and haven’t run into any obstacles.. The company I work for now has a driver who is 80 that’s been driving over 50 years and he’s a runner.

 

Lock yourself in a closest with a window to look outside for 6-12 months. If you can do that than OTR will be breeze cause you will be aloud out for couple hours a day.
I have never done OTR so take what I say lightly. I have done regional for 20 years, home every 2 or3 days. I've been married for 25 years but it takes a special one to do that. I tell everyone I'm the special one but we all know the truth.

 

In response to your question about relationships while on the road:
Many truckers, including some on this forum, get a mail-order bride and take her in the truck with them.
Most get them from Philippines or China. This is perfectly legal and the bride enjoys the travel and seeing the USA.