Am I Nuts? Beginning Truck Driving At 57!

Well, things look good. I went online and filled out a job app today and got my first pre-hire letter. So, I stoked to say the least. And I have not even started class yet.

Jim, I just got into truck driving at 52, I am driving a flat bed which is more work than other types of trucking but I am sure if your mind set is right you will do fine in what ever you try.

I am sure you will get plenty of offer's don't jump at the first one's and don't jump into a quick lease program from anyone for a year. I would skip any company not starting you out above .30 per mile. I talked to some that were .25 and so glad I can kept looking around. I started out at .33 and 3 months driving I now get .36, after 6 months it is .42 and I can get a bonus then up to .06 ppm also. I am driving for Maverick but I think everyone should research the companies out they are looking at.

Talking to some at a local truck stop would not hurt just keep in mind what Brett say's you can talk to a bad apple any day of the week.

You will gain a lot of exp in year's time and have many more choices open up as time goes along.

I am still pretty new at this just going solo 8/13/2013. I worked in a factory for 31 years so this is a total change of pace for me also. I did have a 31 yr factory job, but decided to move on to something else.

The worse parts of trucking is heavy traffic (example chicago downtown, dallas, fort worth area ect) most larger cities get congested morning and evening's. Sitting at a shipper or consignee for hours to get loaded or unloaded is a pain in the butt also it happens all the time, I have sat 7 hours but that is not the rule either. E-logs the clock ticks the whole time once you start your day, just have to do the best you can when that sort of stuff happen's it sucks.

who ever you start driving for give them sometime to see how it works out for you. Home time will be important nothing better than spending the night in your own bed now and then.

Wishing you the best, keep researching and there is a lot of information on the sight your already looking at right here.. Randy

Class started this week and I finish my first week, just 7 more weeks to go (2 week break for Christmas) before I finish. I've been watching the Phase 2 students backing and pulling forward, then doing it over and over. Seems boring, but I sure it's a necessary evil for the first week.

Until later....

Randy, thanks for the input, fully understand traffic, I live in Southeast Virginia, well gotta run class calls.

Like many in the good ol USA, I find myself unemployed and looking for employment. Who can miss all the ads for truck driving? It seems to be a wide open field for sure.

My back ground is ministry and military, I have served as a missionary (Eastern NC and Eastern VA), an Associate Pastor and Pastor. With so many young men with Masters degrees looking for churches to serve, and myself only having a BS, it has been difficult to find a place to serve, so I guess, God is sending me in a different direction.

So, I contacted the local Community College and they don't have an opening until March, I chose a Private CDL program to begin on December 2. I had already gotten my CDL B, so I have a headstart anyway.

I headed down to the school, signed the papers, went and got my DOT Medical (didn't need one with my CDL B for school bus), drivers record and paid my deposit, then I came home and went online.

That is when I began to wonder, what am I getting into? My first forum reading was from a husband/wife team with the dispatcher from hell. Boy, did that get me thinking. I was wondering if I better see about a refund from the school. But I kept reading more forums.

Now don't think me naive, I know this will require work, study, family separation, and much more that I have no idea what to antipate yet, but will learn. I also know that people posting will always have different opinions about companies, training, rule and regs, so I will continue to be positive, honest and truthful in how I view training, hiring, company training and every thing else.

I look forward to your replies and thoughts.

Until then...

Jim

Jim,

I made the transition a little over two years ago and I'm 52. Retired Navy, so we have a bit in common I think. First, welcome aboard. Second, (in my opinion) you found the right web site for the information you need. I like seeing others from other walks of life joining the Driving profession. You are smart for going the school route. I did it "old school" and was stuck taking any job I could get to chalk up miles without having to hit the road for months at a time. I can say it was very hard to keep a clean record until I reached the magic two year point! Not that all small outfits are bad, not at all, but if it costs more to insure a driver and a outfit can't attract good drivers with experience due to a poor reputation, they are stuck with guys like me who did not go to school and I'm stuck with them if I want good home time. My first Job still owes me about $1000, but I consider that part of the cost of getting my CDL. Nothing good is free. My second job was so sketchy I joined a drug consortium at my own expense just to cover my butt, befriended yard crew so I could learn when I was going out in time to plan a safe trip, and had to front my employer over $4000 through paying for fuel when the card was maxed out, or when I needed repairs and the boss was unavailable and at his beach house! I was always paid back, but still... Non-the-less, I chose that path and it was not forced on me so I made the best of it and learned a great deal. I'd never recommend that way of becoming a driver. Go to school, put 110% into it, and you should be fine. You will see/experience incredible places and you are in no way to old! The guy that trained me was 70. Be safe, always remember your choices can save or kill people, and never blow off checking your equipment. Not just when you'er required, but even if you just get a gut feeling that you need to look things over! Also, I was parked twice for being 15 min. over on logs. They were actually newbee errors on how to fill my logs out. Since the inspectors were not too busy I asked for more help and training from them and they were great! Always try to make a bad situation good and into something you can use down the road. OK, I need to get off the computer and go be productive. I'm still a newbee at two years in. It's time to go learn more!

Well, I wanted to give an update on my process so far.

I've been in class two weeks and two days, unfortunately, the school is taking two weeks off over Christmas, so, I'll still have five more weeks of class/driving to finish up.

Since I already had a CDL B, all I needed to finishe up with DMV was Combo to get my A permit, but today, I applied for my TWIC Card, went to DMV and took HM, Doubles and Triples and Tank tests, so when I finish, I'll have every endorsement available.

Last two nights, we've been doing logs and maps. I not totally sure I fully understand the 70 hour rule completely, but I'm sure it will click one day. Mapping was easier to grasp.

My class in Phase 1 have been watching the Phase 2 students and joking about all the backing they are doing. Our day is coming...

Well, until next time. Keep the wheels rolling...

My class in Phase 1 have been watching the Phase 2 students and joking about all the backing they are doing. Our day is coming...

Yeah, I wrote a funny article about that called The Backing Range At Trucking Driving School – It’s Like Clown Soup For The Soul - you'll enjoy it!

I not totally sure I fully understand the 70 hour rule completely, but I'm sure it will click one day

Bummer! I see a few weeks ago you had gotten started on the Hazmat Endorsement Lessons in our High Road Training Program but never got to the Logbook Hours Of Service section. But you'll pick it up in school.

The 70 hour rule simply states that you can't be on duty for more than a total of 70 hours in any 8 consecutive days. That's it.

Well, it's been a few days since I posted last, so I thought I would do an update.

I finished Phase 1 training with a very good grade. That made my day.

Now Phase 2 has started. Since I'm in a night class, we have to do 10 hour week end days during Phase 2. My first day was this past Saturday with Pre Tripping and Straight Backing. We have 6 students and two trucks, so we rotate three students in and out of the drivers seat. Back up 3 times, then let the other guy in the seat. Got that without any problems. I'm happy with that.

Then Sunday! curved backing. I just could not seem to get it, and being the perfectionist, I was beating my self up. Two guys in the group have worked for an RV repair service and have great backing skills, one fellow is an Army truck driver, he didn't have too much of a problem. Then the other three of us had a learning curve to over come.

Now, I've backed a utility trailer and knew the concept of turning, but as everyone knows a tractor-trailer is NOT a utility trailer. So as the day progressed, I'm frustrating myself with my inability to get this curved backing. The instructors were giving us hints as we went along, but still it wasn't clicking.

Around lunch, one of the RV guys came up and said, "Jim, when you are there feet away from the cone, it's made, look to the next cone, etc..." It clicked, I got it, for the rest of the afternoon, I made fairly good backs, but needed to work on timing., now, Sunday was a bright sunny day.

Then came Monday night. About haft way through, I was as backing about 60% good and blowing the rest. So back to the advice given. Finished off with three great backs and one perfect one. Now I just need to duplicate that one.

Since our class was progressing rapidly in backing out instructor set up one truck to do dock backing. Ok, that was more challenging for sure.

For all you guys and gals reading this, I'm really enjoying this class, hopefully, when we get out of the training range and onto the road, I'll continue to enjoy it. I'm sure I will.

I'll keep you updated. Until then, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thrusday and half of Saturday to go with this backing thing.

Papa Jim

PS, I'm waiting on number 11 grand baby this week also.

Bummer! I see a few weeks ago you had gotten started on the Hazmat Endorsement Lessons in our High Road Training Program but never got to the Logbook Hours Of Service section. But you'll pick it up in school.

Brett, well it's obvious I don't know how to "quote" your post and reply, so look up above and this is my response to what you said earlier.

Brett,

Yea, I was looking it over for my DMV test, did good there, only missed 2 out of 25.

I'll return and go over the HOS section soon. I fully want to understand it.

Thanks for your website, BTW.

Papa Jim

Starting a new career at 57??? Many drivers have started out right where you are now and they don't have a problem with it. One thing to think about is driving flatbeds. Driving flatbeds will require you to do a lot of physical work tying down freight and folding and unfolding tarps. People pushing 60 have told me it does become more challenging to do that kind of trucking. I'm in my mid fifties and will be starting my career in trucking in a couple of months. You're in good company.