What would you do if you can't do CDL job any longer, and you ain't young no more?

Walk up & down the steps to the truck 200-300 times per shift. Trailer doors don't open themself.

 

It depends on the employer. Few yard trucks has A/C. Now it's more common to have A/C.

 

You may be surprised, my son was service manager at a multi brand dealership. His best tech came from John Deere dealership, said he was tired of working laying on his back or hanging off the side of equipment.
He was one of the hardest workers in the shop. Also made really good paycheck.

 

Wow. I didn't even start trucking until I turned 55. That was 11 years ago.

 

I’m actually in this situation right now, more out of desire than need. I’m 61, been driving 22 years. Divorce final in October, and I’ll need health insurance since I’ll lose my wife’s state plan. (I’m an IC at Schneider right now.)

I’d love to get out completely. Settle down in NC somewhere closer to my kids and grandkids. I’ll probably be able to do it by the end of the year due to pending circumstances.

 

More common for them to have AC , few have working AC.

 

I'm hoping in the next three years to be able to part time this. I'd really like to have 2 or 3 more careers in me. Tryin to stay healthy enough that it is possible.

Don't ever want to go back mechanicin, or even service manager. 26 years was enough, and even at 45, the arthritis in my hands can be rough.

4 things i really want to do.

I'd like to spend at least a year on a cattle ranch in the west. I've got all the experience, just not good with a rope.

I'd like to get on a fire crew and work a summer.

Try my hand at commercial fishing.

And i really would like to guide hunters for big game, ducks, or upland.

 

If you're having trouble with arthritis at 45, none of your bucket list career choices sound like a good fit, except maybe for commercial fishing, but it's still a lot of work. I know two guys who commercial fish in Northern California and they're having a great year. The halibut and salmon are thick this year. I've personally caught more halibut in the last 4 months than I've caught over the last 40 years. The things are just everywhere.

 

Sounds like good fishing. Yeah, none of my choices are easy on the body, but i need to stay busy working. My arthritis at this point is easily managed with ibuprofen, and even then only use it once or twice a week. Too many years of running impact wrenches and torquing heads, rods, and mains caused it. And just being an idiot with my hands, using them as a hammer.

Hopefully it won't worsen now that i'm past that career.

 

Diesel mechanic if I wasn’t a trucker. If I was too old or ready to settle I would sell everything I own and buy land in cloudcroft NM and make an RV park. Live there and tend to it.