Older Guys and Trucking.

This is something I can relate to, Kittyfoot. Not as a long time driver though but as someone that is considering getting a CDL again. However, not to do OTR hauling freight into and out of warehouses....no way, no how.

I come in contact with a LOT of OTR drivers and learned that would not be for me a good while ago. Some of these guys talk about their age and there are many that are late 60's to late 70's...still fighting the road. The age factor had crossed my mind as I am in late 50's. Remains to be seen how it works for me.

Thanks for the post!

 

Happy belated birthday Kittyfoot. I wonder, do lifelong truckers dream about getting an office job and touring the cubicles? Anyway, thanks for the warning but the allure of the open road is too strong and many will just think you're jaded after 38yrs of driving. It's kinda like the curse of being a parent, having to watch your kids make the mistakes you've warned them about over and over.

 

I totally feel you and as a young man in America when I took my first ride, with my father I knew Trucking was what I wanted to do. I wish I could be trained by him where we could have that Father son Trucking fun. He's mid 40's though and is a Jockey Supervisor out of Baltimore MD. He tried so hard for years to steer me away from the lifestyle, but dam I love driving and seeing the country. After reading this post I won't take for granted the career I'm going after. Its some of us young guys out here with Trucking in our blood and I hope to make it as far as you have and be successful at the same time.

 

Mr. Kittyfoot, your post does hit home with me. I am going to be returning to the road after a 4 1/2 year hiatus, funny I got off the road to go to college, and in order to afford college I got in a wrecker and started towing and repoing cars.

The whole time I have missed being on the road, I have missed the whine of that turbo and the feel of the truck when you float the gears, and the oh so pretty sound the exhaust makes.

Funny how as a young man the grass can be so much greener, I thought I was going to get out of the business and get a "real job" and make better money, it turns out the best money I ever made was driving a truck, I find that kind of Ironic.

I am going to be 30 here in October. With that I am going to be starting a new chapter in my life, that is I am going to be getting my authority and starting my own company. I know it is a tough time to be starting a business, expecially on the heels of closing my other 2 companies I was running down. But ultimately trucking is what I want to do.

It is the only job I have truly loved where I was happy about going to work.

That being said, I salute you for your service to our industry, and hopefully I will see you out there some time.

 

Happy belated Bday! Mine's next week. The big 5-0. I'm already aching.

Yep, what everyone percieves of trucking and what it is really like is two different things.

You're a special one kittyfoot! Not many can fit in your shoes.

The industry would be lost without the experienced old timers setting an example. I was taught by someone just like you and have the up most respect.

 

From what I read on this forum there's a good handful are going into trucking for all the wrong reasons. Ive known a few that have said to me many years ago that they would never be a trucker that are trucking now or have already quit because they couldn't handle it. Like going trucking with the attitude that its only going to be a in between job intil things get better. I believe this is one job that you dont go into because you cant find a job anywhere else. Most end up with a rude awakening and miserable. I have always believed that its in your blood or its not. Because of all the hard work thats involved you have to love it to be good at it. There are the few that end up loving it and do very well. But what do I know..It just my 2 cents on the subject.

 

Well said Kittyfoot. Thanks.

 

Kittyfoot....

thank you. Very good and needed reality check.