Can drivers be forced to quit for being too old?

So long as a driver is able to continue passing the DOT physical, and as long as they’re mentally able to perform the job, is there an age at which companies would force drivers to retire, be it an OTR or local company? A physically demanding job such as Food Service would not be ideal for older drivers (though some drivers do retire from those positions). I wonder if hazmat and fuel haulers ever make drivers retire?

I myself don’t plan to retire until I’m 65, and if I feel physically and mentally capable, I may even go longer than that. Of course, I may very well not want to (I’m age 36).

Edit: I accidentally posted this in the wrong forum. I meant to post in the “Questions From New Drivers” board.

 

My grandfather was in his 80's and still driving otr. He was 84 and had a quadruple bypass. Couldn't get his bp stable enough to pass medical. And had to hang it up.

 

Knew a guy, who worked at Penske as a hiker, picking up tractors, and trucks,, and shuttling them between customers, branches, etc. He was 85 when I last saw him.

 

a company cannot "force" anyone to quit, but they can make working there a living hell.

from working that person 40 hours, or 1 hour a week. in effect forcing that worker out economically, and just say they "don't have enough work"

if say for instance a new younger manager just doesn't like older people than himself, he can do pretty much anything mean, to make any person quit, so he can get in his own crew. of younger people he can very easily push around. try pushing around us older people, we push back, in spades many times.

any of the littlest incidents can be reason enough to fire someone these days, just about anywhere. age does not have to be a factor.

the worker would need absolute proof however if he claims he was fired or forced out of work due to his/her age, to take that to court, or the labor dept, etc.

so, why worry..???

gonna happen...or not

 

Whoah!! Nice!!

 

My dad just turned 78 and he still runs circles around most younger drivers. They usually put him on critical routes since you could set a #### clock with him. And he if is late it was either because his relay driver was or extreme weather. Think the last time he was late his 2.4 million mile engine threw a stop engine at him.

 

that's how i got the job i retired from, my older age.

was told by the boss, that we older guys, show up, do the jb, go home.

the younger guys want time off, don't wanna do some routes (i had downtown Boston/Chinatown and Southie) the other younger drivers quit less than a week into the route....lol

they couldn't take the tight streets with a 53 footer i guess, and a stick shift...lol...lol

 

Agreed

 

I came across a guy in PA who was in his rookie year at age 70. He was driving for Stevens Transport. He was retired, but the money wasn't good enough to take care of his wife's medical issues, and he ended up out here. Shoot, some time ago in Illinois I came across a Freymiller driver who was 78, he lives in Oklahoma. I'm 39 and he got around as well as I do now lol. Dude looked great. I wouldn't have guessed he was 78. I don't believe in putting a plan on when one should stop driving. I believe you hang the keys up when you feel you have nothing more you can contribute to the industry, or when you think you know everything about the industry.