Starting car hauling at 46 year old?

I started hauling cars at 40, it had benefits starting late. 1st was I knew to protect my body, and not do the young/dumb I'm bulletproof stuff. No jumping, think about how you're pulling on the bar, etc.

That rush mentality you had? That ignorance has completely taken over carhaul. Everything about doing carhaul right is sacrificed to doing it faster. There's still a few guys carhauling, but it's overwhelmingly a bunch of guys who haul cars that think they're carhaulers because they're fast. The knowledge base has evaporated in this industry.

I don't say that to discourage you, just so that you're aware of the environment you're getting into. You can make a good living doing this, you'll stay in shape, and it's still the occasional mental challenge (provided you care to try and do it right.) Be honest with yourself about your physical condition, if you're way out of shape the first month or two will be brutal. You don't need to look like a gymrat, but if you're soft as the average SWH, it'll be tough. I came out of hauling meat and usually did my own lumping on multi-stop loads, so I was in decent shape when I started. Good core strength helps all around.

 

I started hauling cars at 45 leaving an easy well paying job. As you already found out it kind of sucks at first until you get good. Some people never get good and others really take to it. It took me a year or so before I really started liking it and became confident in my skills. Since you already tried it you know what it’s all about, probably need to decide if you can replace your great income if it doesn’t work out this time.

 

The really good company carhaulers that I know are in the $2,400-$3,000 range per week. What part of the country are you in? In my opinion $2,400-$3,000 a week in carhaul, because of our flexible schedule is worth much more than say at UPS (my former employer) because the schedule there sucked. If I were still at UPS 14 years later with 24 years of seniority I would still be working nights and/or weekends. I regretted leaving there my first year hauling cars but haven’t looked back in years.

 

I believe I would see if USAL has anything in your area. Waddle has become one of the better paying outfits in the business, but their experience requirement are fairly high, not sure what their minimum is. United Road can be a great pay check and Virginia is a well paying job but supposedly they stay out for a couple weeks.