How many started truck driving at the age of 50+?

Well Dipschitt, I call bullschitt on that. Whenever I was a youngster I had always wanted to drive a big-rig. However, I decided against the unknown (trucking) and went with the known and a stable job that at the time had excellent benefits and of course a retirement plan. (You should remember that not everybody has the same comfort zones and aren't risk takers.) I worked that job as a NC state employee (Dept. of Public Safety) for almost 29 years and retired January 1st of this year. I'm 51 yrs old and next week I test for my CDL. I have health insurance that's paid for the rest of my life and a small retirement check for the rest of my life and if I pass before my wife, she is entitled to it until she passes. I knew when I retired that I'd have to find something else to do to help finish paying off the house and a few other bills....it was a known. In February I attended an insurance class and THOUGHT i could get a job as an insurance adjuster (I was wrong- apparently those are jobs for the youngins'). Anyway, hopefully all goes well with my test(s) and I'll be able to hit the road and make a few dollars.

 

I'll be getting my CDL back after letting it go a few years ago, thinking I'd never drive OTR again. After deciding it was time for my wife and I to retire I got the bug back and as soon as we sell our house in Texas and get moved in to the new house in Gulfport, Ms the first thing I'm doing is getting down the road again. I'm 66 and can still outwork most of the youngsters at Whole Foods where I now work unloading trucks. You are only as old as you feel and I know2 I've still got plenty left in the tank. Can't wait

 

I think I contributed early in this thread, noting I got back into driving at the age of 57. I'm now fast approaching 60 and just made the transition from OTR dry van to flat bed, delivering to oil rigs. I had some apprehension that the physical side of things might present a tad bit of a challenge at my age, but I've taken to it quite well. Losing 35 lbs and getting back down to a more athletic weight early in my OTR career helped a lot. Now with flat bed work I'm getting a pretty solid workout every day I work, and I'm now contemplating the need to downsize my waist selection on my next pants purchases. My wife DEFINITELY approves of the six pack abs and muscles that haven't been there in decades.

 

LOL!