Can drivers be forced to quit for being too old?

I’m 64, and after a careful examination of my finances, I’ll be able to retire appropriately five years after I die!

 

You're much more likely to leave a given carrier because their LEVEL OF DYSFUNCTION got to be a bit too old.....

-- L

 

We always had a rule that we wouldn't hire anyone with less than five years with experience in the kind of hauling we do.
Our youngest driver was in his early forties when he was hired.
Our drivers generally stay until retirement. Several of the active drivers are in their sixties and seventies. You can set your watch by the way they run. They're not the fastest but fast isn't really what we're looking for anyway.
They tend not to tear up equipment ,they don't piss off customers unnecessarily, and when they call you with a problem you can be sure they've tried everything they can think of to solve it themselves.
I'd hate to see some government pencil pusher tell me that my senior drivers are too old to drive. Those old guys and one gal, can't forget her, are one of the main reasons this company stayed in business for as long as it has.

 

I'm linehaul at OD and we have multiple drivers in their mid-70's. I've not heard of any drivers here ever being forced out just because of their age.

 

And that's the thing.

I'll be 68 in a month or so, and like some of your drivers I do not run that hard.
But, I am on time and safe and reliable. That goes a long way.
No upper age limit at my company that I know of, just an upper limit on being late or being unsafe in some way.

 

To everyone here in this thread:

Yes, and yes, and yes, and yes, and ...

As so many of you know, our Older Drivers are:

• Typically not the fastest, but they are definitely the steadiest
• Dependable, honorable, safe and willing to move Heaven and earth to complete the job satisfactorily and in a timely manner
• Problem solvers who try everything they know to solve difficult situations
• Intent upon a job well done -- not doing a half-@$$ed job and looking for ways to get around hard work
• Not tearing up equipment
• Not in need of micro-management

You have all expressed respect and admiration for the Olde-Tymers. To each of you I say:
AMEN !!!
THANK YOU !!!
and offer you all a hearty S A L U T E !!!

Love,
Debra -- Wife of 67-year-old 44-year veteran, Brian

 

I'll retire next year at 68.
50 years in.
Not because I can't do the job.
Only because I no longer want to.
Moving to the Black Hills for tax purposes and will keep a valid CDL and physical just in case I find something interesting to drive.

 

I get the 'because I can't do but no longer want to' part.

Then I think about what else would I be doing with my time that would be more satisfying - while I can still do the job.
And nothing comes to mind.

 

We had an 86 year old working here for a while. Super cool old dude. Did a great job too, until the day he forgot to lift the safety rack at one of the places we load at, causing $20k in damage. And then in the same day wiped out a blower, PTO, and transmission because he finished unloading and didn't shut the PTO off before he drove off.
He wasn't fired, nor reprimanded in any way, but his pride was hurt immensely. Heck the boss was more than gracious in the whole situation. But the driver kind of lost his will to go on at that point.

He ended up hanging it up about a week after all that happened. And unfortunately he passed away about 6 months later.

We also had another 80 year old that was useless as the day is long. We have a 21 year old that is a model employee. Actually from what I've seen in the 13 years I've been here, the 55-65 year olds tend to be the worst for whatever reason. They usually are the biggest whiners, are usually the hardest on equipment, and feel they are entitled to something. I don't say that to start an argument, but that's just what I've seen and had the boss say as well.

Age is just a number and shouldn't be a factor in whether someone has a job or not.

 

No - As long as you continue to pass your DOT physical.