I am starting school next week at the local community college.
I will get my CDL by end November.
I am 54 years old. Excellent driving record and excellent work history.
My background is in manufacturing management but I'm tired of the rat race.
I'm seeking a career change, but don't want to leave the wife at home alone for more than a day or 2 at a time.
Based upon all this, what type of offers do you think I'll get when I finish school. Is my age an issue at all?
My main goal is steady employment until retirement. I'm not looking to make the big bucks, just enough to live comfortably. We have no mortgage or credit card debt or car payments to make. No kids to raise. So our financial needs are minimal.
Comments?

Len

 

Age shouldn't be a problem as long as you can pass the DOT physical. Getting home every day or two could be a problem. Most companies will put you with a trainer for a few weeks before turning you lose in a truck by yourself. Most keep you out from 2-3 weeks at a time until you gain some experience. You may want to try and find a local driving job. Some are difficult to come by without over the road experience. My advice is to start making phone calls to find a company who best meets your needs. Some of the larger carrier's have listings on this forum under "Company Listings." This by no means all the companies who hire drivers. The major problem facing most who don't have any experience is finding a company who has insurance that will cover an inexperienced driver. Those of us who only have a few trucks find it very difficult to obtain affordable insurance that will cover a driver with less than 2 years experience. If you are pretty rigid in wanting to be home every day or two, I would spend the time to find a potential employer before spending the time and money to go to driving school. Good luck.

 

My brother jumped from owning Burger Kings to driving a truck at 55, he's with CR England has averaged just a little of $1000 per week net and I've a number of friends who have made the jump into driving from various professional careers all well after turning 50. I think you'll find you're not alone.......not by a long shot.

As to spending just a couple of days away from home..........I think you're under estimating that. As a new driver with no experience it's going to be hard to find a company that gets you home every other day........you might get lucky and find a local job that will train you for local work, but, in most cases it's the insurance underwriters that have restrictions that force the companies to hire drivers with at least a year's experience. I think you're going to be hard pressed your first year to get what you want.......most likely you're going to have to go OTR for at least a year..........get your experience and then find something local that will allow you to get home nightly or at least weekends..............

 

As G-man said age is not going to be a factor as long as you can pass the DOT physical.

Unless you live in or near a larger metro area however you are likely going to find it difficult getting a CDL job that is regular and will get you home daily unless you want to run a garbage route or maybe work your butt off delivering soda or bear to stores.

 

Delivering bear must be a ..... bear. Now beer, that's a whole 'nother deal. BOL

 

LOL :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

I am in school right now at age 52, going truckin for a while.
Age vs. job offers?.. Heck I have a dozen pre-hire letters!
Now I am seeking long haul, that may make a difference...

 

I think we need to start the Newbie52Driver club. See you out there!

 

Say whhhhaaaattt? If I owned even one BK....I wouldn't be doing this!! The freakin' things are gold mines!! Just the fanchise cost for the sign is a small fortune!!

Me, I'd find a reliable manager and buy a boat and be in the Caribbean enjoy my life...big time. I darn sure wouldn't be doing this!!! No..no.no!

 

I was 59 when I quit the manufacturing planning and scheduling rat race an entered professional driving. Still kick myself in the butt every day for waiting so long!

The only way you will get home every day or so is to find a local driving job - dump, oil (of some kind), fuel delivery, etc.

The pay is no where near what you can earn OTR or regional, but the home time is great.

If pay is the overriding concern, then go with regional, and get home on weekends (maybe).

PS. If you have a stable work history, and an acceptable driving school certificate, there are many companies out there that will take you on. They want reliable, not outlaw, drivers. (but, watch out for the dispatchers. they'll try to get you to do things you shouldn't).