Am I Too Old
Topic 29000 | Page 1
Absolutely not! As long as you're able to pass a DOT physical and company agility tests you're good to go. The agility tests vary by company but the most common is climbing into the trailer, and doing a duck walk under it. Flatbed is more thorough to lift heavy tarps from the ground onto the deck.
Welcome to the forum by the way! Take a peak at these links to get a better idea of what you'd be getting in to.
- Truck Driver's Career Guide
- Brett's Book: The Raw Truth About Trucking (free online version)
- High Road CDL Training Program
- CDL Practice Tests
Feel free to ask any other questions you have. Just a heads up you posted this in the diaries portion of our forum. There is much more activity in the General conversations which may yield more advice.
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.
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.
I wanted to specifically point out this part of the Truck Driver's Career Guide relating to age. how will my age affect my career
I started 5 years ago at your age.
And I started only 5 months ago but am 5 years older than you, Clifford. Got CDL , now looking for a right company to start with. Definitely experienced serious ageism in the general job market just before this decision, but in trucking no one seems to have any concern about my age and fitness...least of all me! —E.Z.
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.
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I am 59 years old and I have had a very difficult time finding employment within my career industry. I am seriously considering starting a new career as CDL A driver. The question have is am I too old to this? I would appreciate honest advice from some of the truckers on this forum. Thanks guys!
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles: