60 Year Old Newbie Cross Country Trailer Driving Concerns & Questions

Because of the information you gave, I think the best way to start answering your question is to ask you what is the minimum amount of money that is necessary to fix your situation?

 

From all read in this forum. With no experience, expect around $36,000 annual income for the first couple years driving for someone else. Good Luck.

 

Pro-Your mature enough you won't need a FM babysitting you
Con-Getting used to the hours and the schedule, and living in a bathroom (small one) sized enviroment

I take it you are going to go as a company driver, so you are paid by the mile, I honestly don't know about other companies, but Prime will start you at .42 (I believe) CPM as a company driver

800-1000 per week after training, and once your FM has confidence in you possible more.

Be consistant in deliveries and pickups, develop the trust of your FM, stay on the road and don't take alot of time off. learn to manage your hours.

11 hours max driving, 14 hours on duty, 10 hours sleeper time

 

This answer is correct. But also this pay comes at a price too. Living in a truck 24 hours a day for 25 days out of the month while eating low quality expensive food. Training cost between 2000 and 5000 to get started.

 

Can I get a show of hands how many people here intended to only do this a few years? You're goal seems reasonable, and you can live cheap and pay debts and save.....but sticking it out and leaving after five years? Once you get used to the lifestyle, it truly gets in your blood. Good luck.

 

I don't know what line of work you are doing now or what your health is but they both play a large part in your ability to be a driver. It is nothing like driving a car 5-6 hundred miles a day. I have driven for a lot of years and over 4 million miles and still drive part time for the little bit of extra money. I still enjoy it but at age 68 when a finish a 650 mile day believe me I'm ready for the bunk. I don't worry about taking a 10 hour break, by the time I fuel at night get a bite to eat, get what sleep I want, get up the next morning and get my shower and breakfast, it is now 11-12 hours. I don't have to bust my hump, those years are long gone. Just keep in mind that trucking is nothing like you think it will be, especially at your age. If you decide to go forward with this good luck, I wish you all the best.

 

The way the system is now one year bumps you to a higher pay grade than $36k a year. You can pull $50k if your aggressive in marketing yourself.

I am over 60 and agree we don't drive the way we used to.

 

Hey there. First of all I'll tell you that you are not alone. Getting into trucking at your age and in your circumstances is not unusual. Especially given the economy since 2008. There are any number of companies that will train and hire you assuming you can pass the DOT physical, you have a relatively clean driving record and criminal history. (DUI, reckless driving citiations, drug or theft charges could be show stoppers).

Having said that I will tell you that while I don't necesarily consider driving to be a difficult job, it can be an extremely demanding job. Specifically it will put demands on your time, your lifestyle and your patience. 14 hour days are not unusual. Weeks away from home are expected. Long wait times, traffic and weather delays and delivery schedules will have dramatic control over your life and your income.

I think the best advice anyone can give you is to do your homework before deciding if this is for you. This site is a great start so you're on the right track. You can find a lot of blogs detailing the experiences of others doing exactly what you're thinking about. This can go along way towards answering your questions and helping you to arrive at the decision that is right for you. Good luck!

 

Best of luck to you.