Truck Drivers Ages

I'm 45 and just starting out. I think companies will offer you more per mile if you're older and have a good driving record. That was the reason given for what I was offered by Roehl. You're also never to old to get out of the office and tell them corporate pricks to suck it.. ;)

Six

Yup, with BMI , and the physical problems that come with obesity,The days of the "rolling truckers" will come to an end. And its a good thing...Its bad enough that the worst food you can eat is sold at truck stops. Now it isn't bad once in awhile, but a steady diet of it is not going to do you any good. I'd eat MRE's before I'd relegate myself to truckstop food as a steady diet. Steven....I'm glad you have a sense of humor...it will go a long way out there as a trucker on the road...just don't trade it in for a jaded opinion of humans as a whole.

Thank you, Starcar. I've always tried to spice my life (and the lives of others, heh heh) with humor. Trying to see the good side of everything will take you a long way. MREs? I have had many after 23 years in the Army. Some were nasty. Some were really tasty! My wife and I are trying to eat more healthy food here at home and were beginning to wonder how to practice that out on the road. I am sure the refrigerator (if any) in the cab would be too small to carry any healthy food with you. We'll figure out something.

The thread is comforting in knowing that there are some older folk out there driving. Staying calm is easier with time if you don't let all the little things get to you. I am really looking forward to school and getting out on the road. I just have to relocate to the US of A first and that will be a major task!

Steven, forgive me if I sound like an old person who repeats their stories all the time. I've shared this story many times here, but you probably have never heard it.

I started this career after retiring from my first career at the age of 53. That's not all that remarkable, but there was another gentleman in my orientation group who got hired the same week as I did who was 73! He's a fine truck driver and I've run into him several times out here at various truck stops. What's even more remarkable is that just last week I met a man who was 82 and still at it - he was an owner operator , but still chasing that white line as he put it to me.

This reminds me of that Farside cartoon where a father explains to his son the age of a tree he just cut down, saying something like, "and here is where the tree survived a horrific fire."

If you sawed me in half, you would not be able to count the rings. That is how old I am. Also you would see some frost and heat damage.

Dave

@ Old School - That is just remarkable and at the same time encouraging! Well it looks like outside of any unforeseen health issues, I will be able to drive for some years yet. The more I am checking into this career, the more promising it gets. Thank you for that!

@ Dave - Thank you, Dave! Glad you are out there and to know that us "older folk" are not that unusual after all.

Hey Steven, Starcar is right; if you've got a healthy sense of humor, you will be the survivor! I've got a huge sense of humor spiced with sarcastic wit. And a good work ethic. Last August at age 56, I went through a driving school in Oregon and came out with the top scores of the entire class. I wasn't surprised that happened. There were a lot of younger guys there whom, I observed, were already whining and expecting entitlements and they weren't even job hunting yet. I used to drive in my 20's so I knew what lay ahead but I guess these babies had no clue. Once class began to wrap up I started calling leads. Within a week I had a job. We were told whatever job we landed, we should hang in there for at least ONE year; it made total sense. Most outfits expect a year experience to hire you, so to get ANY decent gig right out the gate is a gift. My gift was a local (NW) job as a dry bulk hauler pulling doubles. Score! I totally latched onto it. I've been with then 6 weeks so far. I am so tired after long days that I sometimes fall asleep at home with type 1-2 dry cement in my hair, and/or lime hydrate all over my face. Eww! But I work very hard and try to take notes on everything. I don't whine. I laugh and joke!! The dispatchers say I'm a keeper, and now I hear they're going to try to find me work through the winter season. That's not a normal response to a new driver. There have been younger newbies who've come on board and quit in as short a time as 48 hrs; things like that are keeping me on the bottom rung - meaning there is no one for me to be senior over. But I'm hanging in there wearing all my OSHA & MSHA gear, setting the fall protection, climbing all over the tank trailers, doing the hatches, blowing the product thru hoses at the right psi, etc etc etc; no stopping. It's an 85 ft rig with a GVW of 105,500, doing city delivery to cement companies. To make this long story short; I have my 57th birthday coming up on the 30th. Today the dispatchers gave me a 2005 Peterbilt to run with instead of my little Mack. That is my BDay gift from them. So, good things come to those who WORK. Your age makes no difference. :)

Bebby !!! I was wonderin' how you were doing !!! I'm so glad that you are out there showing them what women with initiative can do !! WTG Sister !!!! Yup,....it ain't the age, its the mind set.

And about eating healthy in the truck......BRETT...could we maybe set up a place for ways to eat better in a truck ??? I know I fixed alot of stuff at home, put it in ziplock bags, and froze them flat. You could get more stuff in the freezer that way !! And I also canned meat ( you can eat it out of the jar, make sandwiches, or cracker spread with it), and canned all different types of soups and stews. Canning is really easy....anyone can do it...honest...You may not have fresh produce, but atleast you have a meal that YOU know whats in it, and how it was prepared.

When I grow up I'd like to be a truck driver (age adjusted for experience level).

I like several others here, am of the older generation.

I started when I was 56 2 years ago.

As it has been pointed out, it is not the age, but the attitude that will get you the most traction/mileage out here.

Ernie

I like several others here, am of the older generation.

I started when I was 56 2 years ago.

As it has been pointed out, it is not the age, but the attitude that will get you the most traction/mileage out here.

Ernie

Thanks, Ernie. The more I read in this forum, the more I want to get started. But I have this huge task of relocation ahead of me. For the last 20 some years, the Army has always moved me. Now, it's going to be my task. A lot of decisions to make and also getting the money together to make the move. But with this 'carrot' hanging in front of me, I have a lot of motivation to get it done quick!