Comments By Steven W.

Depends on WHAT MEDS you're on - whether those meds are prohibited by FMSCA.

My Dad was on Lithium for BPD for decades - that wouldn't present an issue.

If your meds have a warning label about "cars and machinery" - your meds may come into question.

And in all honestly - psych meds are always a "crap shoot". If you are stable on your current regimen, but those drugs happen to be on the "no-go" list - it could be quite some time and changes in meds, before you find a combination that you are stable on - but are NOT RESTRICTED for driving.

Whatever medications you're on - will have to be approved by whatever company you are applying to's safety department - as well as a "medical opinion letter" from your treating physician. In the case of psych issues - this is going to need to come from a PSYCHIATRIC PHYSICIAN (specialist), not your PRIMARY PHYSICAL, and will have to state: the condition, what meds are being used, is your condition stable with treatment, and does the doctor feel that you could safely operate a Commercial Vehicle.

Rick

Thanks that is a big help. I will go and sit down with my doctor before I do anything. Steve

Good Afternoon Everyone, first I want to thank you all for your assistance. This forum is so much help and has a lot of information from great people.

My question. I am concerned my health will keep me out of school and driving for Prime. I have bipolar disorder. My treatment is through the VA. With my medications it has been under control for several years. Other than that I am good for a 61 year old balding man. Will this stop me or does anyone else have Bipolar? Thanks, Steve

Attitude and realistic expectations are far more important than age (as long as you can pass the physical-which is not difficult for a reasonably healthy person). BTW, I am older than you are, but not saying by how much! lol

Thanks at least I don't feel old. Steve

Hey Steven join the club! I'm 61 and just start school with Roadmaster. I'm doing the training on weekends because I'm still working my 35 years job in IT. So far it has been great! I find myself thinking about driving all the time! Good luck!

Thanks for the encouragement. That's great information. Steve

Charlie C

Best of luck to you Steven.

Pretty much - you can continue to drive, as long as you can pass a physical - vision, hearing, diabetes, BP.

Stay healthy - get a little exercise - watch the bad eating habits that "road food" can create (or exacerbate) - and you can drive, until you no longer can. There's no age limit here, except for 21 & over.

Rick

I have already began a diet and walking on a treadmill. Thanks for knowledge.

Hey Steven, welcome to the forum!

This is by far one of our most often asked questions, and some of the younger folks in here think we have got an "old geezers" club working in here just to keep up with the responses to this question. The truth is that age is a not a factor in this career. Many of the companies actually prefer having more mature folks in their equipment because time has proven them to, in many cases, be a little more careful when taking care of someone else's very expensive stuff. There are other positives too. This career requires being away from home for extended periods of time and that seems to be easier for the older folks to do than the younger ones who have young growing families. Sometimes even just the life experiences of a person who is trying to get a second career started will help them tremendously in this career.

When I started my first truck driving job there was another gentleman who was getting hired the same day as I was and he was 72! Since then I have met several professional drivers who are still at it even though they were in their eighties! I have changed my truck driving job one time, and I can't tell you how well received I was at the orientation, even though I was definitely the oldest one in the group of nine drivers that were there for new positions. I sailed right through while about half of them went back home for one reason or the other.

Prime is a great place to get started and they have some of the highest pay for rookies in the industry. We've a ton of information about their program. If you will use the search bar at the top of the page it will search this site exclusively and provide you with hours of profitable reading about Prime.

Welcome aboard, and put those fears behind you concerning your age. Jump in here and feel free to ask us any questions you have and we will do our best to point you in the right direction.

Thanks for all of the great information. Reading about the drivers older than I gives me a feeling that I will be successful. Anything I do I give it 110%. I always listen and learn and if I am shown a weakness I immediately begin working harder. I had a career in Law Enforcement and the day I started I was 32 years old and everyone called me Granddad. Well after 16 weeks of intense training Granddad finished second (2nd) in the class and missed being first by one half of a point (1/2 point.) There were 35 students that began the school and approximately 28 students finished. Most of the students had college degrees and all were in their early to mid 20's. Yes I had to study and train harder but in the end it was all worth it.

I am looking forward to seeing our great country. Steve

I just turned 61 years old. Am I too old to start a new career? I have zero experience but after studying different trucking schools I would like to begin with Prime. One year after training would be a short time to pay back your loan. I have read a lot about Prime and I like the idea of the extended training.

Good luck with your plans Steven. I'm sure it will be a great adventure!

Thank you

Steve, Check this out (Another forum topic): Iam to old. No you're not. Don't count yourself out just because your birth date is earlier than 1990.

-- from one geezer to another

Super thanks...

Hi Steven.....and welcome.......I've put this answer in other posts.......but I can honestly say I did my training at Swift with a guy that was 82 years old and had never driven a truck in his life. He was fit enough to go OTR (over the road) and as far as I know is still working two years later. I wish you the best of luck sir......and just as a foot note....I'm 57.

Thanks so much. I hope to call Prime within 30-60 days.

I just turned 61 years old. Am I too old to start a new career? I have zero experience but after studying different trucking schools I would like to begin with Prime. One year after training would be a short time to pay back your loan. I have read a lot about Prime and I like the idea of the extended training.