Too old to be a newbie?

Don't judge a book by the cover; many of those sleezy looking drivers are actually millionaires that drive just to keep from being bored. Most of those sit at the counter drinking coffee and loaded down with gold jewelry. They don't mind telling you about their life if you just show some interest.

 

Sleazy is sleazy no matter the amount of money in the wallet.

 

Best post I've read in the last 3 months!!!!

 

Age is just a number. I'll be a noob for life!

 

That was a joke! Eventually you'll overhear some claiming to be super rich. I talked to one that said he owns 50 custom built tractors & trailers that haul movie stars & music stars around, but he just drives for a reefer outfit, so he can get out of the office.

 

Too old to drive? The father of a friend of mine was 83 and hauling propane and anhydrous ammonia up in the midwest. I have met 75 yearold drivers. In my home state of NC, an 80 year old trucker made the news a few years ago. Some guy was hogging the left lane , so the old trucker decided to push him a little.

 

I am 58 and in the process of figuring out whether I will go to a Jr College or a school like Sage or Roadmaster to earn my CDL-A and start my new life. Hopefully, it will come to fruition by the end of August. I don't think age is too important in the industry, just the physical ability to get the job done, and to meet the carriers other qualifications. If one has a clean driving record, a solid employment history, no criminal background, and can pass the DOT physical, it appears to me one would have a leg up on many younger applicants. All my tickets I got when I was much younger, and I am much more safety conscious than I used to be. I believe that accounts for much.

I worked as a shift supervisor over the security department for a huge semiconductor manufacturing plant. I made good money, but the job was not challenging enough. After fifteen years, I was so bored I took a voluntary severance package when the company hit a downturn. Then I worked for a few years working tech support in a call center at the turn of the century. All I did was get fatter sitting on my duff taking around 100 calls/day while getting yelled at by hostile people with broken gadgets and computers. Talk about a thankless job. Then I went into retail and worked my way into management. Better, but it still was just not my cup of tea dealing with all the stress put on you by angry customers, angry store managers and DM's that you could never seem to please, and then having to supervise several underpaid and overworked malcontents. That got really old after ten years.

One job I had back in the day was driving a bobtail flatbed on a daily 250 mile route delivering electrical equipment. Sure, there were days when the paperwork or a customers order was messed up, or I was sent to the wrong address, or you broke down or had a flat tire. It payed poorly, and that is why I left, but I was happier doing that than any job I have had. When I was out on the highway, I never looked at it as work. Fortunately, now I am in a situation where I have no commitments to hold me down anywhere. I am somewhat of a loner by nature. I was married for 15 years and I have no plans to marry again. My goal is to just enjoy the lifestyle, and just work and drive. I don't even want an actual home. When taking my 3 or 4 occasional days off, I intend to rent a car and motel room and enjoy that location wherever it might be while I'm there, or I might occasionally stay with friends or relatives. When the time comes, I will retire and may have enough saved up by then to purchase a modest home somewhere with cash, or a least a large down payment. That is my goal anyway.

 

Trucker rule #7... never make eye contact with another trucker at a truck stop... .... you will get the "full treatment"...

... just sayin'