Keeping a CDL after retiring

Well, you'll get both sides of the fence. Some would rather "die with their boots on", meaning, die doing something they love, like driving a truck. I took the high road, and figured I drove enough, didn't want to spend my retirement in a truckstop in Nebraska, staring at my floor mat, or the trucker shenanigans, and pulled the plug completely. Not sure where you are, but Colorado has a bunch of programs for retired , low income folks, that can't be beat. I live in a govt. assisted apt. complex for seniors, get Medicaid for my Medicare premiums, prescriptions through SS, and heat assistance, so I still enjoy a fairly normal life. I have a couple bucks in my pocket, and scored a dynamite set of binoculars at the thrift store,,,$20 bucks, like new. Fact is, I literally CAN'T work, unless for cash, as any income has to be reported, and could lose my situation. So why would I work?

 

My CDL here in Texas has expired, but TX has a 2 year ‘grace period’ where you can renew without any problems, just can’t operate a CMV during that ‘grace period’. I am considering getting it renewed with all my previous endorsements, as my former employer has reached out to me about possibly returning part-time.

 

In my state, every state may be different, if I change classification to Excepter Intrastate you would not need a DOT medical card. To suddenly start driving OTR CDL all you would need is a new DOT Medical Card and update the state on your staus and send them a copy of that card.

I'm trying to decide about keeping my HazMat after I retired from trucking. I'm going through the same situation. I'll probably give up the HazMat and TWIC and just keep my Excepted Intrastate CDL, rather than give up the CDL. In my state If you have had a CDL in the last 5 years, IIRC, you can have it restored easily. I think it's also a new DOT card and your are back to CDL.

 

Another person saying keep it..... Murphys Law: get rid of it and you ll wish you didnt. Keep it and you wont need it....
Remember that the future is not what it used to be

 

Don't let it go. Life is unpredictable. You never know what the next day will bring. Just let your card expire then self certify as intrastate excepted.

 

I too am retired. I get a physical every year, and my CDL. May never need it again, then again, there may be some emergency where they need drivers quickly. Natural disaster, or human disaster. It's happened before.

 

It's not as much trouble to keep it as it is to start over from 0 and retake all the tests.
I kept my CDL and haz mat. A couple of weeks ago a friend of mine needed a tanker load of chemicals hauled from the Bay Area to Seattle. Easy run, nice truck, open unload time, just kick it off and and head home empty. 1500 bucks for three day's work. Cash.

 

Not just retake the tests. If you're downgraded you need to do the ELDT class to get your CDL back.

 

That only applies to drivers licensed after 2022.