Want to return to trucking.

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by Sling-Shot, Jun 23, 2017.

  1. Sling-Shot

    Sling-Shot Bobtail Member

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    Jun 23, 2017
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    I had twelve years OTR experience, then wife said enough it enough. I know you have all heard it.
    I left trucking and went to work working on trucks and heavy equipment, just over thirty years worth.

    I'm 68 years young and in excellent health, don't smoke, drink, eat right, and never done drugs. Have clean DMV. I have hauled refrigerated, both frozen and perishables, hauled cars for five years, pulled doubles in the Northwest in both winter and summer, seen plenty of snow and ice. All can be verified through previous employers. I was also a driver trainer for North Wind Trucking. Also dispatched for them for a while.

    So what is my question. Since I haven't driven professionally for many years, and my age will probably work against me. What is the chance of getting back on the road? Finding a job for me now is a need, not just a desire. I really don't want to run team again, but will if I can't find solo work.

    I have a clean DMV, want to keep it that way so I will only run legal, in the 70s I did plenty of modifications of the log book, won't do that anymore.
     
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  3. Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

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    Your age won't even be a factor in trucking.
    Where is your location?
    You've been working on trucks, so you test drive them, pick them up from customers, deliver them back to customers, right?.....right!

    Paper log books will be history at the end of this year. Electronic logs will be mandatory.
     
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  4. Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

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    Probably the fastest way to get back on the road for someone in your position is job search on Craigslist. Many of those companies don't follow their own hiring criteria. Make lots of phone calls and leave lots of messages.
    Maybe also try May Trucking Company; "Yes, I have a cdl and drive regularly due to my mechanic job. Passing a road test is just another day for me."
     
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  5. almostthere

    almostthere Light Load Member

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    Go after it sir...it's out there for you, you're age should not be a factor. Lot's of companies looking for drivers.
     
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  6. G13Tomcat

    G13Tomcat Road Train Member

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    Isn't THAT the truth.... "many of them don't follow their own hiring criteria." << Post of the year!
     
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  7. G13Tomcat

    G13Tomcat Road Train Member

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    Wishing you the best in your ventures; you'll be back out with us here in little to no'time! ;)
     
  8. Driver0000

    Driver0000 Medium Load Member

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    My small company pays full time drivers $15-16/hour.

    When we need relief, they call the old "retired" drivers and pay them $200 for a 4 hour turn d&h.

    Look for local opportunities. With your experience,you can probably piece together two pt gigs and end up better off than most.
     
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  9. Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

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    Last edited: Jun 23, 2017
  10. Sling-Shot

    Sling-Shot Bobtail Member

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    Thanks for all the encouragement, it is appreciated. Sure I have bob-tailed and road tested trucks for years, that is much different than being a driver as you all know. I think I will try posting on Craigslist.
    What few companies I have talked to said they all want current OTR experience and I can understand that to a point. I do know electronic logs will be mandatory soon and that is fine with me, because I did enough cheating in the 70s and early 80s and those days are done.
    One thing, the trucks today are so much nicer than anything I drove back then, we never had power steering, or automatics, air conditioning sometimes, and most of the old rigs were dogs power wise and road like a tank. The first truck I drove was an old KW with a 220 naturally aspirated 220 Cummings. It had browning boxes (twin stick) and no air conditioning. We have come a long ways.
    Some of the new technology that is coming to the trucking industry is pretty incredible.
     
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