looking for advice

51 years old is not out of the ordinary for someone to become a driver.

My suggestion is to look at some of the bigger companies who train and will put you in one of their trucks. A lot of drivers will talk smack about these programs, but the bulk of drivers out here started that way.

Some companies who train: Swift, Prime, Schneider, Werner. (Try to avoid Werner if you can...I've heard some interesting stories.)

 

Well I'm 51 also and changed careers so, no, your not to old. Try looking for a Votech school or community college that offers CDL training. There are govt. funds out there that will pay for it. If the only way you can afford to get one is by company paid training.....RESEARCH THIS FORUM CAREFULLY!!!!!!!!!!!
You'll need to realize tho, that your going to end up working for a mega carrier and your 1st couple of years are going to be very lean, with lots of ups and downs. Be prepared for that and hopefully have a nest egg that can support you.

 

I started with Swift's training program when it was in Portland, OR. Swift ended up selling the property to UPS and closing that facility. However, my trainers there were professionals and had high expectations of the students. They would not hesitate to fail someone if the student just couldn't get it. It was no "CDL Mill." Then they sent me out with an experienced driver (15 years at the time) who showed me the ropes and gave me some road experience. It gave me a good basis, but in no way gave me all the answers.

After I got into my own truck, there was still a steep learning curve and I picked up a lot from asking questions and listening to the old timers out here. Generally, if you show you are willing to listen to them, they are happy to share their knowledge with you. I did not have any trouble making a decent living with Swift. In fact, I'm considering returning to them...as long as I can go back to the Driver Manager I had before I made the mistake of leaving for a tiny company that made a bunch of promises and then gave me a lemon truck I couldn't keep on the road.

I think if you go through something like that, you are more apt to have a job at the end of your training rather than go through some outside program and then place yourself on the market cold. There are a lot of CDL holders in that position right now. Have the license, but nobody will hire them because they have no experience.

As Mr. Panhandle suggested, do your homework and read up on the companies you are considering.

 

Before you waste a lot of time, you need a decent background also.....traffic, criminal, etc etc !!!!!!

 

Olddog- my hubby just started- got CDL end of Nov'09 -hired in Feb. he's 51
(btw our choice to hold off applying for jobs until late January d/t prior commitments)

 

Probably won't find many local Class A jobs.Industries been slow for a while and a lot of people with years of experience shifted to local.
Check your local paper.

As for being to old. Not in the least. But understand that though you might be experienced in life you would be a rookie in trucking. As with most industries your going to start on the bottom. It is a very big bottom. I think it is like 20% that survive their first year.

I would agree that getting your own CDL makes sense if you can afford the time before getting any pay. Either way you will spend between 4-8 weeks as a student. Instead of a teacher or professor you will have a driver(sadly with not much more experience than you most likely) and as such will often expect you to be able to carry your half of team loads despite your lack of training.

Training is more than learning how not to screw up. It is also training your mind and body to sit hours on end( I saw your other thread. Horse hockey on the bottle.Stop the truck.Use the restroom) and to remain alert.
Hope that helps.
Good luck

 

panhandle said that you should go to a c/c to get your training. I did & now i drive for a farmer hauling corn & beans. There are local jobs like construction, dump truck, waste ( garbage) trucks. cement mixer trucks ect.