Too Old To Start Driving Career??

I will be 65 in October. I have been semi retired now for about 2 years. I was owner operator of an automotive repair shop for 20 years. Sold it in 2012. Before that I was a manufacturing engineer and machinist for over 20 years. My hobbies have always been cars and trucks. Now retirement is getting boring. Am I to old to start trucking now? I am in excellent health.

You can take on the mantle of Old Fart here, as I'm 64 and have been regaling these guys & girls with stories from my past for nearly a year. They need new stories about telephones wired to the wall and big box black/white only television.

All seriousness aside, you need only deal with:
* The DOT physical (mainly blood pressure and vision issues for older people)
* The CDL permit test (answers and study material here: High Road Training Program)
* And, depending on the company an agility test or two.

That and the other issues discussed in the Truck Driver's Career Guide and in Brett's Book.

The demand for drivers is high, so probably getting hired will be easy. In fact, many companies will either provide Company-Sponsored Training or pick up your tuition fees from Truck Driving Schools.

Check out the resources listed o the links across the top of this web page. Have fun!

Thanks Errol V. I am still considering this.

Paul, I began my driving career after retiring from my business of thirty years - I was fifty three years old at the time. When I started my first driving job the company hired another gentleman the same week as I who was seventy three!

There is little concern about your age in this industry, in fact many of the more successful drivers I have come across are usually in their fifties or sixties. I have met two or three drivers in their eighties. I still remember asking one of them (he was a flat-bedder, and we were each picking up a load of lumber down in Pineland. TX) "How long you gonna keep doing this?" He was an owner operator , and he told me, "well, when this old truck gives out, I think I'm gonna call it quits - I just can't afford a new one!"

Your statement:

I am in excellent health.

Tells me that you can do this!

Feel free to stay in here and discuss the whole process, you will find there are a lot of us more seasoned folks in here and we will be happy to guide you along the way if you need some assistance.

Thanks Old School, looks like Errol V. just gave me new handle " Old Fart". My employees used to call me that in addition to few other ones. I am still considering this. Interesting to find there are others my age starting trucking. My dad was a trucker when I was growing but for health reasons he had to guit and I always wanted to but never got chance to start. I have owned and driven toterhome towing my race car and trailer.

I have owned and driven toterhome towing my race car and trailer.

Paul, there you go! You already have a leg up on this whole thing!

You should have stayed with that "Drinking Career"!!

You should have stayed with that "Drinking Career"!!

Been thinking about that also:)

Paul, I just finished CDL school... in my class of 16 there were 5 of us over 50 and two of them are 61. I heard a story of a 75 year-old that went through the class a while back—he went on to drive part-time.

Your knowledge and love for cars and trucks will help you and probably inspire your class mates. Community Colleges give discounts for folks over 60 and you may be able to get help with a Pell Grant, if finances are a concern.

I won't lie, it was hard work for me, but a rewarding achievement to get that CDL. I'd say go for it.

Paul come join in, I am 61 and start school on Monday.