Leaving The Military And Becoming A Truck Driver
Topic 1732 | Page 1
Welcome aboard Jonathan!
Your age is absolutely no concern at all. In fact, you are almost exactly the median age for truck drivers nationwide. It's somewhere in the mid 40's. But the trucking industry prefers age to youth. As you get older you make wiser, more prudent decisions and take fewer risks. So almost every trucking company has a minimum age you have to be in order to get hired on, but as long as you can pass the physical and do your job there is no maximum age. In fact, Truck Driving Schools across the country normally have people in their 60's and sometimes 70's in classes. So no concern there.
We have a ton of CDL training materials here at TruckingTruth to prepare you for your written exams and life on the road, including our High Road Training Program, our Pre-Trip Study Guide, and our CDL Practice Questions. But two years is a long time. You can get started on it now, but realistically you'll need about a month or two to prepare thoroughly for the start of your training. Most people go into it with no preparation at all but they have it a whole lot tougher than people who come through TruckingTruth and prepare themselves.
In the meantime you can read my book! I have a free online version of it and it's called Becoming A Truck Driver: The Raw Truth About Truck Driving. It has a ton of great insights into the trucking industry and a lot of stories from my years on the road. It's an easy read so check it out.
See Also: Trucking Companies, GI Bill, And Military Veterans
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.
There is a guy in my class that is 77 years old, he keeps up with the 22 year olds just fine.
There is a guy in my class that is 77 years old, he keeps up with the 22 year olds just fine.
Wow! That makes me feel young at 59!!
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hello. I will be retiring from the military in 2 years and look forward to going right into truck driving. when I retire I will be 44 years old, is this to old to start driving? I have all the books and online study guides that I study everyday so I can be proficient and productive. I will take any advice I can get to make this transition as easy as possible. thank you.