Is 51 too old to be a newbie (and to get hired?)

Nonsense!! I live in SOUTHERN Colorado. Seriously, unless we've just had a massive storm pass thru, roads to my house are clear 99% of the winter months. I live at 7000 feet, but just 5 miles east of me, start the "open plains" (at about 5000 feet, around Pueblo) and it's no more daunting that driving in western kansas.

Course if a blizzard moves thru, all bets are off and NOBODY is going ANYWHERE for a few days.

Still, if dispatch gives me a load that requires chain up, I politely tell them my "back hurts too much". CAN they fire me for that? Sure. WILL they fire me for that? Probably not, if in all other respects I'm a valued driver. (100% ontime, etc)

Boo

 

Heck no... it's not too old.

Age and treachery always trumps youth and enthusiasm! Night dispatch has called me a number of times to go wake-up some kid who has overslept and is now late for an appointment.

 

I go home in the winter all the time, and never chain up. Get plenty of traction at 75 - 80k.

 

NO way. Don't worry about. i would much rather hire a 50 something than a younger person, because you have your priorities straight.

i think you need to look at Joan Rivers especially lately---she's what 77 or something?


i would definitely do her and that's a compliment.

 

Who you callin' OLD??? Haha..not to worry! I started when I was 50,and I got my CDL on 5/5/05. Is that serendipity,or what? I was born to roll,and I don't care that nobody takes me seriously..haha,all the better!

 

Let's face it...the reason most companies don't hire people in their 50's is due to health insurance costs.
To that end, OTR is a good job for old timers simply because the companies can't find enough younger people willing to put up with all the long hours, BS, low pay, irregular shifts, being away from home, etc.
That's why the average age in this biz is around 50....the industry is made up of alot of people who started young and then got stuck in it and can't retire.
Or those who fell into the job because they're too old to start over again, learn a new trade/skill, etc.
So be extremely wary of entering into this profession.
Because it's difficult to get out once you're in.
And you could find yourself stuck behind the wheel.

 

That's a good point---about health insurance.



Well, anyways i would still definitely do Joan Rivers.

 

By the time the youngsters get to be old enough to get a CDL, they're doing other things. They don't tend to last unless they can't manage to do something else - if night dispatch needs someone awakened because they've missed an appointment, I find myself (all almost 54-years of myself) banging on the side of a truck of some kid who can't manage to deal with 4 AM.

And yeah, either you hate it, or the diesel get's in your blood.