hireable at 51 and female?

Yes. You may have to pay your dues with a mega carrier & a lot of people here may have much more elaborate answers, but in a nutshell...... yes you can.

 

Your age isn't as big of a problem as being out of the workforce. How long have you been unemployed?

 

Yes of course it is doable.

Just do yourself (and us) a favor and learn as much as you can before you start your training, for example get a cdl manual from your local DMV and read it a few times, do not be intimidated by any of it, it is easy to learn.

Go learn about the Smith System for driving safety and get the Canadian manual for air brakes. I listed the links for the latter two below.

www.smith-system.com

http://www.smith-system.com/downloads/Drive_Different.pdf <<<=== that explains it.

http://www2.gnb.ca/content/dam/gnb/Departments/ps-sp/pdf/Publications/ab_manual-e.pdf

 

What you should do is marry a truck driver. You will be set up for life and never have to work and you will always be treated like a goddess.

Just kidding.

If you can learn the skills and can deal with the trucking lifestyle, sure, you can make a living out here. But it's not for everybody. I'd venture to say that a higher percentage of women succeed in trucking then men. When I say "succeed" I mean make it through the first 12 months without any incidents and decide to stick with trucking for a time at least.

 

Yes, if this is something you -really- want to do and not just a job you can get hired for at this time. You will also have to pass a DOT physical and the training. This will be like nothing you have done in your life and you will quickly know if you hate it, or love it.

 

51 is far from over the hill so yes you're hireable.

 

Couldn't agree with this statement more. I'm not sure why but the women drivers that stick it out seem to be some of the best drivers. At 51 you still have plenty of time to "pay your dues" at a starter company and still rack up a million miles before you retire. If it's what you want to do I say go for it!

 

The above quote is wrong. The hill is 50 if you live to be 100. I know. I am 57.

The age of 40 is the age where a company cannot refuse to hire you because of your age. They can tell you at 39 that you are too old but not after 40. Also, you are a woman. Companies need women to drive for them to meet certain requirements for government contracts. So the two things you mentioned that might keep you back will actually make the way easier for you.

You will find that truckers welcome anyone who can and will do the work. We are a brotherhood with some sisters.

Remember in this day and age a woman can be anything she wants with the exception of being President of the United States. We ain't ready for that and we won't be for a long time.