Too Old To Start?

Topic 5921 | Page 1

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Phil M.'s Comment
member avatar

Many questions I have on becoming a OTR driver. 1). Is 57 years old to old.? 2). My location Alaska has no company's offering driver CDL training. How do I figure out where to move. 3). Interested in working for Knight Transport after a lot of research. I am sure the answer is just make it happen but input is nice sometimes.

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.

OTR:

Over The Road

OTR driving normally means you'll be hauling freight to various customers throughout your company's hauling region. It often entails being gone from home for two to three weeks at a time.

Brian 's Comment
member avatar

Hey Phil, I will turn 55 in December.....I have had nothing but positive results so far just starting in the industry. Lot of learning to do, read all you can on this site about trucking, ask all the questions you need to, someone will always give you real advice or answers.

Daniel B.'s Comment
member avatar

You're not nearly too old. Now, if you were about to hit triple digits like Old School is then you are probably too old. But, if you can pass the DOT physical then you're good to go!

Knight is a great company and they hire from pretty much anywhere. So wherever you move they'll be knocking on your door! What states do you have in mind?

DOT:

Department Of Transportation

A department of the federal executive branch responsible for the national highways and for railroad and airline safety. It also manages Amtrak, the national railroad system, and the Coast Guard.

State and Federal DOT Officers are responsible for commercial vehicle enforcement. "The truck police" you could call them.

Old School's Comment
member avatar

Wow Phil, your location is more of a handicap than your age. I'm 54, and 55 is creeping up on me. I saw a man get hired at Western Express who was 73! You and I are spring chickens compared to that guy. Phil, let me assure you that your age is not an issue. I have met two drivers out here on the road who were in their 80's and still running the highways. I am presently employed with Knight, and they didn't bat an eye at hiring me, in fact I was the oldest in my orientation group of nine people. It was almost comical the way the lady at the Gulfport Terminal who was processing all our paperwork stuff kept popping her head into the room to give us updates on the progress of our getting hired. She kept telling the younger guys of the different problems she was encountering with their applications, and then she would always look at me before she left the room and say "Mr McClure, everything is coming back perfect on you." These trucking companies prefer people who are going to take care of their equipment and realize what a big responsibility it is to be safe - and many times the more mature persons fit that category better.

Terminal:

A facility where trucking companies operate out of, or their "home base" if you will. A lot of major companies have multiple terminals around the country which usually consist of the main office building, a drop lot for trailers, and sometimes a repair shop and wash facilities.

Old School's Comment
member avatar

I don't know how Daniel B. manages to do his trip planning, because he just can't understand numbers very well!

Phil M.'s Comment
member avatar
Western states would be my choice.

You're not nearly too old. Now, if you were about to hit triple digits like Old School is then you are probably too old. But, if you can pass the DOT physical then you're good to go!

Knight is a great company and they hire from pretty much anywhere. So wherever you move they'll be knocking on your door! What states do you have in mind?

DOT:

Department Of Transportation

A department of the federal executive branch responsible for the national highways and for railroad and airline safety. It also manages Amtrak, the national railroad system, and the Coast Guard.

State and Federal DOT Officers are responsible for commercial vehicle enforcement. "The truck police" you could call them.

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