The Oldest Rookie?
Topic 19229 | Page 1
You're not alone, I just turned 57 a couple of weeks ago. I will test out a week from Saturday and be another rookie on the road soon.
Welcome aboard Dying Breed!
Trucking is a career that is often entered into by folks for a second career. I did this at 53 years of age, and been loving it ever since. Your question is one that we see a lot because there are so many of us who start this late in life. Here's a true story that should help relieve any anxiety you are having about your age...
The day that I got hired for my first trucking job I was 53 years old, and one of the other fellows that got hired on that same day was 73!
If you can pass the drug test and physical, and be responsible with their equipment you should be good to go. Many trucking companies prefer more mature drivers, as they seem to be a little bit more sensible under pressure, and take their responsibilities a little more seriously.
Over the years I have had the pleasure of meeting a couple of drivers who are still out here in their eighties!
Thanks for the info fells good to know!
I just started as a 55 birthday toting rookie myself. You can do this. Maturity and wisdom beat rash youth regularly.
I just turned 51 and am considering the possibilities of starting a driving career. Been researching companies and schools almost everyday for the past few months....so it appears you are not alone!! I could get my AARP card and my first driving job about the same time.....
Thanks Bill. Hey Deke, maybe we should ask for a senior discount. hehe
I am 55, soon to be 56. Them younguns have nothing on me
Children! Children! I got my start on forums back when everyone wore togas, and the plural for forum was fora.
Yes, I get all the dinosaur and ox cart digs. Contact me via electronic-mail if you want to take over.
I got my start two years ago when I was only 63. Not retiring yet!
My first truck:
Thank you Mr. Flintstone, enjoy your Bronto-burger.
My start was at 53,... 58 now.
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Hello all
I'll be 60 in July, I want to go to driving school, get my cdl again and drive otr for the next 8 years. My health is great, I like the nomadic lifestyle and I drove a tandem dump years ago and liked it. Are there any old rookies out there like me?
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.
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".