Newbie Old Guy
Topic 10230 | Page 1
Thinking about driving OTR. Early 60's, physically fit, had a bus license, (Class B) before CDL's came into being, but only so I got a free ski lift pass for driving the ski bus. Been on the road in some form or another most of my life, but always cars or smaller straight trucks. Have some $$$ coming in, but need more to get to the total retirement picture.
Opinions about starting a new career, that realistically I may only be able to perform for 7 or 8 years are welcome.
Are drivers staying on the road past 70 years old?
I am a bit of a loner, I have ridden my HD cross country, and driven same, usually by myself.
I joke that I can get my 30 years in with my current employer by the time I'm 84. :)
Driving is a state of mind. Peruse this site and you'll see that you are not as old as you think. .
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
- Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
- Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
OTR:
Over The Road
OTR driving normally means you'll be hauling freight to various customers throughout your company's hauling region. It often entails being gone from home for two to three weeks at a time.
Welcome Ride Slow! Your age is no concern whatsoever. As long as you can pass the physical and background checks you're good to go. Yes, there are indeed people out there in their 70's and there's no shortage of em. You'll have the opportunity to make a living out there as long as you have the ability to do it safely.
Thinking about driving OTR. Early 60's, physically fit, had a bus license, (Class B) before CDL's came into being, but only so I got a free ski lift pass for driving the ski bus. Been on the road in some form or another most of my life, but always cars or smaller straight trucks. Have some $$$ coming in, but need more to get to the total retirement picture.
Opinions about starting a new career, that realistically I may only be able to perform for 7 or 8 years are welcome.
Are drivers staying on the road past 70 years old?
I am a bit of a loner, I have ridden my HD cross country, and driven same, usually by myself.
I joke that I can get my 30 years in with my current employer by the time I'm 84. :)
Driving is a state of mind. Peruse this site and you'll see that you are not as old as you think. .
Appreciate that, the grandkids refer to me as the 'Big Toy'
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
- Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
- Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
OTR:
Over The Road
OTR driving normally means you'll be hauling freight to various customers throughout your company's hauling region. It often entails being gone from home for two to three weeks at a time.
My dad drove OTR and retired the 2nd time at age 73. That was only after he injured his back when a pin got stuck when he was going to slide his tandems.
Had that not happened, I'm sure he would have continued driving several more years.
OTR:
Over The Road
OTR driving normally means you'll be hauling freight to various customers throughout your company's hauling region. It often entails being gone from home for two to three weeks at a time.
Tandems:
Tandem Axles
A set of axles spaced close together, legally defined as more than 40 and less than 96 inches apart by the USDOT. Drivers tend to refer to the tandem axles on their trailer as just "tandems". You might hear a driver say, "I'm 400 pounds overweight on my tandems", referring to his trailer tandems, not his tractor tandems. Tractor tandems are generally just referred to as "drives" which is short for "drive axles".
Tandem:
Tandem Axles
A set of axles spaced close together, legally defined as more than 40 and less than 96 inches apart by the USDOT. Drivers tend to refer to the tandem axles on their trailer as just "tandems". You might hear a driver say, "I'm 400 pounds overweight on my tandems", referring to his trailer tandems, not his tractor tandems. Tractor tandems are generally just referred to as "drives" which is short for "drive axles".
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Thinking about driving OTR. Early 60's, physically fit, had a bus license, (Class B) before CDL's came into being, but only so I got a free ski lift pass for driving the ski bus. Been on the road in some form or another most of my life, but always cars or smaller straight trucks. Have some $$$ coming in, but need more to get to the total retirement picture.
Opinions about starting a new career, that realistically I may only be able to perform for 7 or 8 years are welcome.
Are drivers staying on the road past 70 years old?
I am a bit of a loner, I have ridden my HD cross country, and driven same, usually by myself.
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
OTR:
Over The Road
OTR driving normally means you'll be hauling freight to various customers throughout your company's hauling region. It often entails being gone from home for two to three weeks at a time.