Old Age

I’m the same age, got home yesterday, and for no reason threw my back out. I quit the heavy labor 27 yrs ago, still haunted by it. I wish I’d never done so much heavy lifting in my youth.I used to move around very fast, doing local routes. The only problem I had was gaining 20 lbs, the first month I went from LTL to OTR. You’ll have to try to avoid that, if possible. Otherwise, I do about 60% dry grocery, pay the Lumpers, and don’t get anxious about it.And I don’t hurry for anyone. Just go with the flow. Take my time.Its really not that bad, dealing with Morons, it’s worth the little bit extra it pays Me. As far as Respect from other Drivers in the industry. Really? That’s hilarious!! Respect is a personal thing to Me. Getting Old sucks, last week I left my Dads million mile belt/ buckle at a Loves shower, had to backtrack 40 miles to get it back. Then realized I left my license at a fuel stop 200 miles away, I just got it in the mail.I know better than that. Oh well looks like I’m slipping fast!!! Gotta make the best of time left. Slow down and savor it.

 

well, you're young enough to be my grandson.

i am WAY OVER 55 fer sure, and recently retired after 48 years.

best thing i ever did about 2 decades ago (or so) was get onto dedicated accounts trucking companies.

same salary (each week) same routes each night, easier work.

check out places like UPS frieght (they do some auto parts hauling for dealerships), to name one company.

check craigs list (that's where i got the job i retired from), many dedicated jobs can be found there.

and cruise to retirement.....

 

Have you looked at different ways, I found a online/real school, Auxim Academy that can open up much more.

 

Food-grade tanker. Drive a 48 ft trailer so parking is a breeze. No chemical suits or route restrictions

 

I am 55 Did construction handyman work the last 10 on my own. I am a hard fast worker when I am working. Decent shape but never was into athletics or working out.

Eat halfway healthy and good genes.

Got my Cdl with a flatbed mega out of Indiana but never trained or went over the road with them being I slipped on a icey step while home for Christmas .

Cracked 3 ribs and herniated my lower disk and blew out my shoulder. This was all from a 3 foot fall

Bed ridden for 10 weeks

Started my first driving job hauling milk in a tanker. Love it.

Going out on my own in a few months. Was going to go stepdeck but leaning more towards finding food grade tanker work.

Not into going KaBoom.

 

I will be 53 next month. Except for about 10 months in '93-'94 I have been flatbedding for all of my 26 years OTR. Ive been getting so tired of looking for parking, fuel island backups, and all of the other junk in OTR trucking, Ive been thinking of leaving trucking. But its hard to contemplate a career change. Most other decent paying industries arent looking for 50-something newbs! So here I sit. Like you, wondering if I am getting too old to flatbed. Maybe expediting in a Sprinter van.......

 

Brother I know the feeling. I got to bed at night with flexeral, and wake up to Motrin. I got into cryogenic tanker, it’s the least physically demanding job I’ve found in trucking where you’ll still make the money your use to.

 

If your gonna go food grade tanker, you might as well go reefer. You’ll be chasing appointments, and waiting hours on end to get loaded/unloaded. The most frustrating thing that’s ever happened to me was sitting at a shipper waiting to load, and 5 hrs. After my appointment they told me my washout had expired while I was waiting. Had to go get a another washout, come back, and get at the back of the line again. You can have that B.S.

 

Now that would get a guys panties in a wad, I think I will just keep my swamper and stay with an open deck. lol
Actually most of what I haul north is just drop and hook anymore, can be anything from a reefer to a lowboy, I don't know until I get there and get the trailer number. On the open deck loads I frequently have to resecure them, as the hostlers have a hard time doing it right,

 

I got into cryogenic tanker. It’s clean easy work, and pays very well. Never have to chase appointments, don’t need signatures so I can unload even when a customer is closed. The only loads that have any real hazards to speak of is hydrogen, and oxygen, and they aren’t bad as long as you pay attention to what your doing.