AGE QUESTION: Is 56 too old to become a trucker?

No... you are not old.

 

One of my best guys is 72.
It can be psychically demanding depending on what line you go in to.
You will definitely need endurance.
How healthy and fit are you is more important then the numbers of years since you were born.

 

If you are still in good health, then no you are not too old. You can easily drive to say 65 or so if you keep yourself up. I will say you will be exposed to a poor diet and eating good is a challenge. Physical activity also is a challenge as you are sitting in a seat for 10+ hours a day. Mixed with changing sleep habits delivering and driving at all hours, you are tired alot of times. Just like Air Traffic Controllers, lol.
Long story short, if you are in good health, long haul trucking can easily change that.

Don't listen to Smaggs, he's too young, lol.

 

Condo is 100% correct.
The truck driving lifestyle can be mess you up health wise.
When I was a young man driving I felt invincible.
Sleep maybe 5 nights a week for about 5 to 6 hours.
Go day or so with out eating , if I ate I pigged out once a day.
Drank caffeine laced tonics by the gallon.
There just was not time for anting but load drive offload shower.
I grew a beard because shaving took to long.
The job I did did provide exercise so that was not a problem.
Ended up with my metabolism shunting down.
All kinds of ailments from that.
On a number of chronic medicines now.
How clever do I feel now!

If you chose this path.
Act you age!
By that I mean be wise.
Pace you self.
Eat sensibly.
Get some exercise daily if you job does not provide it.

 

You're never to old to learn something new. The question is, do you know what you're getting yourself into?
Take a week and drive to a truck stop or two. Talk to drivers and get a better understanding of what you're contemplating. It's a whole different lifestyle than what you're accustomed to and can drain you in a matter of days.
I'm 55 years old and have been doing this for 34 years. I still get worn out by the end of the week and spend 1 day off out of 2 1/2 - 3, catching up on sleep, with the remaining time off still in a daze, lol.
Good luck and I hope it all works out for you.

 

I have to agree with what everyone else has said. good health, good diet, and exercise are very important, and the job is more demanding than non truckers think it is, both mentally and physically (you use different muscels and will be sore until you get into it and adjust) it may sound strange but driving long periods will fatigue areas such as upper back, lower back, shoulders, neck, etc and your bum LOL

 

We have guys in their 60's and 70's still haulin dirt

 

NO you gotta be 60 to get a cdl. No you got no prob. just pass phsyical. which I sweat all the time. HEARING HUH