New Old Guy

Seems we all have a different story. I’m a retired truck technician, I also drove truck OTR for twelve years. Wife and kids wanted dad home, so I went back to working on trucks, (grew up in a shop). I retired last year with a decent pension, but I always wanted to get back on the road. Wife passed away, kids are all grown up and gone, and I’m bored. I’m 67 years old, but doctors say I’m in excellent health, I run two to three miles a day, work out, and eat right. I have never done drugs, clean DMV and no criminal record, Never had a DUI because I don’t drink.

Most companies I talk to aren’t interested due to age I believe, of course they can’t say that but reality is most don’t want old guys. What I’m looking for is a company that insists on running legal, I would hate paying for tickets. I don’t really care how long I’m out as long as I can get home every couple of months. I will run team but must be with someone that is clean and don’t smoke. Any constructive thoughts or advice will be greatly appreciated.

Go to the top of the Home Page and click on Companies and Job Listings tab. Fill out 1 application that goes to Dozens or Hundreds of Companies. With your experience and background you will get plenty of offers. I'm almost 56........67 AINT OLD.

I’m 67 years old, but doctors say I’m in excellent health, I run two to three miles a day, work out, and eat right. I have never done drugs, clean DMV and no criminal record, Never had a DUI because I don’t drink. I will run team but must be with someone that is clean and don’t smoke. Any constructive thoughts or advice will be greatly appreciated.

Richard- I have sent you a PM. I have the same lifestyle.

Richard has a belief:

Most companies I talk to aren’t interested due to age I believe...

Not the case. I started driving last year, when I was a young 63. The required factors are CDL , DOT physical, able to pilot a truck, and drug free.

You say you have all these down, so choose your company: Trucking Company Reviews

Richard, if you want to run legal one of the big things you want to make sure the company has is electronic logs. You can still run 3,000+ a week with electronic logs but they can't force you to run beyond your hours. All of the major companies are using them already and everyone will have to go to them soon enough but a lot of smaller companies still use paper logs.

You're also going to need some sort of refresher training more than likely. You can get that with the major companies with their own training programs or you can apply for jobs using our Truck Driving Job Listings and find out what type of refresher course you'll need (if any) from the ones who are interested.

I'm surprised that after driving for 12 years and turning wrenches that you say you're having trouble finding work because of your age. I came into the industry in '93 and I've never known age to be a problem when it comes to finding work in this industry. I know that's a common misconception from people new to the industry because it is a fact of life in so many other industries, but in trucking your age won't be a concern.

The one thing they will be concerned about though is if you call them with a list of stipulations. Not wanting to be with a trainer that smokes is common and that's no problem. Wanting to team with someone who is clean is also not a foreign concept but in trucking that's easier said than done. It would greatly enhance your chances of a smooth transition back into driving to be tolerant and patient during the first couple of months. Just lay low, get through training or refresher course, deal patiently with the inevitable knucklehead or two you'll have to deal with along the way, and then you'll be running solo and won't have to worry about it anymore.

If I were in charge of hiring at a trucking company the main concerns I would have with bringing in older guys or more experienced drivers is exactly what I just mentioned - they come in with a long list of stipulations, they are often times hard-headed, and they don't want to go along with the program. They come in with this attitude that they've seen it all, they know it all, and the young pups should just shut up and do things the right way, which of course is their way. No one will be concerned that you can't do the job at 67 years old. That's not the issue. The issue is whether or not you're going to want to turn the miles and whether or not you'll play well with others.