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

I went into it after a career in law enforcement. I was actually still on the job, when I went through trucking school, but I had so much vacation, and comp time built up, that the last six months of my LE job, I only actually worked about two weeks at it. (It made more sense to burn it off that way, than to pay income taxes on what would have been a whopping buy out.)

Anyway, I went into it at fifty. Had some problems in finding my "niche" there. Started out pulling reefers, got throughly screwed by my first company, and moved on. Was really glad for that experience later on though, as it showed me just how BAD some companies can be. (Makes me chuckle to see that they went bankrupt a few years after I left them.)

Worked as casual for another reefer outfit, then switched over to local aggregate, due to some family health problems that made me want to be home at night. BIG MISTAKE. Went back to the reefer outfit. Then went to a temp job running a midwest route for a glass company. Then went to KNIGHT. Stayed with them for a while, but got sick and tired of driving all over the place on my own dime, looking for trailers, and fighting the constant battle with payroll to get the right pay.

Ended up working for an LTL of moderate size, doing mostly local picks and drops. This one I really enjoyed, and would likely still be there except for getting hurt. Several times in my last year there, I had some mishaps, (not crash related,) that put the hurt on me. Finally, after busting my wrist so badly that it still hasn't healed right, I decided it was time to pull the plug. Thank God for pension and Social Security.

I first started driving commercially at about 20 or so. Drove for Denver Tramway, (at that time, the bus line for metropolitan Denver.) Also drove for Grey Line Sight Seeing. Now THAT was kind of a fun job.

When I tell folks they shouldn't "job hop," then look back at my own record I have to think, HUH????????? But I would have been better off if I could have got with a good outfit and stayed with them. Ah well, "too soon old, too late smart," to quote somebody or other. . .

 

I'm 49 1/2 and just finished CDL A school. I did 3 1/2 years driving transit buses a few years back, but tractor-trailors are very different! I'm looking to get into a good company for, above all else, good training. I know I can job hop later, if I keep my CSA scores low, but I know that a good start is crucial. I'm also healthy now and mean to stay that way, so that I can work as long as I want to.

 

Yup. And do you want to become a small business owner outside later on, perhaps? Good. Save your money until you have half a million dollars or so and a perfect credit score.

Or...

Lease a truck without that half a million or perfect credit score, control your costs, keep the left door closed and make a decent living. Maybe even buy your truck and another one or two.

Can't do that outside. At any age.

 

I started at age 89 awhile back.

 

lol i had my cdl at 18 but no one would hire me because insurance so i got a day job and waited til 22

 

Oh, you mean you started with an oxen cart and rectangular wheels?

 

I started at 48. I am 58 now. It so far is the one thing that I have ever done where I am not the very best at. I am getting there but have a way to go. One thing I have found is drivers are very polite.

Not everyone. I guy from SMC transport with a car hauler, backed into me at the Flying Jay in Aurora Colorado Monday Night. Destroyed my oil pan. He did not think to stop and see if I was damaged. He just took off. I have a good picture of the incident on my dash cam. I am going to turn it over to the police Friday. Unless he contacts me.

 

When I got my chauffeurs license back in 75, I borrowed a friends full size station wagon with bull horns on the front. The tester drove around the block with me and chatted because it was cold out. Took about 7 minutes I think.

 

Hi cforestr, listen to this. When I 1st started driving T/T's in the mid-'70's, the boss told me I really should have a chauffeur's license, so I went to the licensing center, took the written test, the examiner said, "Have you had a road test of any kind in the last 2 years"? I said, "well, I took my motorcycle road test last year". He said, "good enough, NEXT". And I've been "grandfathered" in ever since.

 

Most days, yes. But there are days...

I say that having survived the miserable stinking winter we had last year (and so far this year...) without my truck going into the ditch in this part of the country or in Wyoming or causing anyone else's truck to do that.

I stopped counting those who did at about 100.