61 Year Old Woman Wants To Start Trucking. Crazy?
Topic 22767 | Page 1
Nelly, you're crazy!
You're just as crazy as the 73 year old man who got hired alongside me when I got my first trucking job. You just jump in there like you know they're looking for you. If you get the hang of this and prove to be a Top Tier Driver, any trucking company would be proud to have you on board.
Last year I read an article about a woman in her seventies who was named driver of the year at her company. In an interview they asked her about when she was thinking of retiring. Her response was, "Oh my, that's something I haven't even thought about!"
Yeah, you're crazy, but that actually helps a little in this job.
When I was in securement training for flatbed a couple weeks ago, they pulled a 72 year old flatbedder off the road to cover for one of the trainers. I'm late 40's and he could run circles around me...
Just yesterday I was @ Primes Springfield terminal taking a couple classes. One of the videos played was a woman that had retired from teaching and decided join Primes PSD program and try trucking in her 70s. She was worried that she wouldn't physically be able to handle the job, but found that in the reefer division there wasn't anything that she couldn't handle. She expected to have to prove herself in a male dominated industry, but found that she didn't have to prove anything to anyone. She has been with Prime for several years and has become a trainer. Her main goal in the video was too encourage women of all ages who are seeking a fresh start to give trucking a chance.
Seriously barring any medical condition preventing you from passibg a DoT physical, the only thing that can cause you to fail is that thing between your ears. If you come in with a positive attitude, a willingness to learn, and the drive to keep going forward.... Your golden.
Terminal:
A facility where trucking companies operate out of, or their "home base" if you will. A lot of major companies have multiple terminals around the country which usually consist of the main office building, a drop lot for trailers, and sometimes a repair shop and wash facilities.
DOT:
Department Of Transportation
A department of the federal executive branch responsible for the national highways and for railroad and airline safety. It also manages Amtrak, the national railroad system, and the Coast Guard.
State and Federal DOT Officers are responsible for commercial vehicle enforcement. "The truck police" you could call them.
Reefer:
A refrigerated trailer.
PSD:
Prime Student Driver
Prime Inc has a CDL training program and the first phase is referred to as PSD. You'll get your permit and then 10,000 miles of on the road instruction.
The following is from Prime's website:
Prime’s PSD begins with you obtaining your CDL permit. Then you’ll go on the road with a certified CDL instructor for no less than 75 hours of one-on-one behind the wheel training. After training, you’ll return to Prime’s corporate headquarters in Springfield, Missouri, for final CDL state testing and your CDL license.
Obtain CDL Permit / 4 Days
- Enter program, study and test for Missouri CDL permit.
- Start driving/training at Prime Training Center in Springfield, Missouri.
- Work toward 40,000 training dispatched miles (minimum) with food allowance while without CDL (Food allowance is paid back with future earnings).
On-the-Road Instruction / 10,000 Miles
- Train with experienced certified CDL instructor for 3-4 weeks in a real world environment.
- Get 75 hours of behind-the-wheel time with one-on-one student/instructor ratio.
- Earn 10,000 miles toward total 40,000 miles needed.
Wow that's inspring! Thanks for the input!
67 years old next month. Not crazy. Really! I'll tell anyone I'm not crazy. Been driving now for almost 4 years.
Join the club, Nelly!
Hey, I'm so glad I found this thread. I'm 60, be 61 in February next, and I have applied to Prime to get started in the training. The two things that were bothering me were the physical. My blood pressure was high last time I had it checked so I'll have to go to the doc to get that taken care or. HOWEVER, I'm really determined to get my CDL and I'm committed to do whatever it takes to do so.
I was also worried about that physical thing. I have hope now that I've been reading more about drivers with strength issues. It seems that I had something in my mind and the reality is... I think I can do this. I had to put my training start time due to an issue with my brother's health. He was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer and I only had a couple of weeks with him.
I'm back on track now, and I'm getting back with the recruiter. He already has my application and it's been approved. Now, I'm just going to adjust some of the dates on the application, get a class start date and hope and pray that all else is well.
I'm getting excited at the thought of starting a new career, even though I'm closer to my end than my beginning. What's that line from The Highlander, "It's better to burn out than rust away," Something like that.
Maybe we'll meet out there sometime!
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.
I met a woman driver at one our Joplin terminal one time. She said this is her retirement. She was in her 60's and trying to get her sister to ride with her for a while. She told me with a smile, when she goes home her kids joke that she remember where they live. She goes home two to three times per year. She was loving it out here. Many of us jumped into this in our 50's. Good luck. It's your attitude that's important.
Terminal:
A facility where trucking companies operate out of, or their "home base" if you will. A lot of major companies have multiple terminals around the country which usually consist of the main office building, a drop lot for trailers, and sometimes a repair shop and wash facilities.
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Advice For New Truck Drivers Becoming A Truck Driver Blood Pressure Changing Careers DOT Physical First Truck Driving Job Health Concerns Older truck drivers Truck Driving Lifestyle Truck Driving Stories Women In Trucking
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Hi I am terribly unhappy with my current job and can't find another (age?). Wanted at do trucking a while back but chickened out-is it too late? I have no children at home and my mortgage paid off. My plan is to do paid training and then stay on for a year or so. If I have a chance to make it because of my age. Thanks! Nelly