Please help me help my father.
#1
12-01-2006, 06:05 PM
Please help me help my father.
At the ripe old age of 63 (and after recently being fired) my dad has decided he wants to be a truck driver. He actually has wanted to do it for years, but installed carpet to support his family instead. His lifestyle seems like a perfect match - kids are all grown and he's not a family guy. He's a very solitary man and likes to just be alone. My mom passed away years ago so it's just him. He's not close to any of his children. I basically just call him to check up every couple of weeks. His only bills are living expenses like rent, food and car insurance.
He attended an orientation with Stevens Trucking, which after reading in this forum, doesn't seem like a great company. However, I'm wondering who will hire him at his age. He does have a great driving record and is in great health. So my questions are - will anyone hire him at his age? Any suggestions on companies that might be a better fit for him? Do you have any thoughts on why this might be a bad fit for him? I obviously have qualms about the danger of the profession, but he's also worked hard his whole life and deserves to pursue this if it's really his dream. Thanks! 
#2
12-01-2006, 06:07 PM
His age isn't a problem and he'll be good to go if he can pass the DOT Physical and his background check is clean. Not sure about the circumstances about him getting fired but that's none of my business. Trucking outfits will ask him about it though.
Best of Luck
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#4
12-01-2006, 08:21 PM
In my estimation, men about that age are regarded very highly as truck drivers whether they are experienced or not. Seems like most every heavy haul or other specialized hauler is of the age of 60-65 to me. I think he should have no trouble getting hired, and into a good local job at that.
Birken
#5
12-01-2006, 09:04 PM
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 Most older adults are more settled, mature, and have a stronger work ethic that develops with age and many companies like that. He should have no trouble at all getting hired. Best of luck to him! 8)
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#6
12-01-2006, 09:36 PM
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Good luck to your Dad. He sounds like type of bloke who will make a good drivers driver :wink:
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#7
12-02-2006, 02:01 AM
Has he tried applying with anyone else? Schneider is usually a good starting company. As you have read here, Stevens really is a terrible company. There all several other companies that will send you to school that he would most likely be better off with. Good luck.
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#8
12-02-2006, 02:04 AM
As long as he is in good health and can pass the DOT physical, he should not have any problems. I once met a driver in his 80's who was doing well. He filled in for drivers who were either out for some reason or on vacation. He told me that he was more busy after he retired. He had been a truck driver for some years.
#9
12-02-2006, 02:34 AM
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Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: In my own little world, that rides right behind the cab.
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Hell, we have a guy that retired from the Air Force after 30 years then was forced to retire as a pilot for FedEx at the FAA time line and is now into 7 years of his next retirment and I won't go load some places with him cuz he can tarp a full lumber load faster than me :sad:
Tell him to go for it !! |
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