Older Man Graduating CDL School Soon Need Advice
Topic 9411 | Page 1
Sorry I can't be of any help on the company front but as for your age, you are perfectly capable of doing flatbed work. Heck, last summer I met a young man that was driving a log truck and he was 83. If anyone had driver off road in one of these trucks, you know how tiring that can be on your body. I have met flatbedders that were in their 70's.
It is not always about strength and stamina, sometimes it is just being smarter than that chain you have to get over that pipe.
Hello , My name is Jimmy I've been lurking around this and many other trucking forums for a few years now waiting on the right time to take the plunge and jump into trucking. I'm 57 years old and have been in business for myself all my life except for a brief stint with Fed Ex about a year or so ago to test the waters until I could finalize the sale of my businesses . With that completed now I've decided to venture into trucking . As mentioned I'm 57 could pass for mid 40's except for my hairline , I'm physically fit. Happily married for 33 years , the wife is comfortable with the decision. She is busy with the Grand kids . I'm not afraid of hard work , Don't mind the elements I've backpacked and lived in the woods during the worst weather one could imagine . I love to drive and have a perfect driving record . So with that being said I'm attracted to flatbed trucking because of the physical labor and physics involved in securing loads Dry van drop and hook at this point in my life seems boring , of course that train of thought could change after a year or so Which leads me to my questions ; First will my age disqualify me from flatbed trucking ( the companies only look at a sheet of paper when considering candidates ) Can anyone recommend a Flatbed Co. that hires out of SC that they thing would consider someone my age ? I would like to run regional so that I could get home more frequently, I still love my wife. My top choices are Maverick , TMC , and I have spoken to a Melton recruiter but home time isn't what I'm looking for although other than that I like Melton There are hundreds other questions but I'll just wait for some responses Thanks , this is a great sight I have gained considerable knowledge from it
You sound a lot like me. I still have to wait 3 years for my early retirement from my first career, have recently got the flatbed bug. I will be 51. Good luck and please let us know what company you go with and how it goes for you.
Regional:
Regional Route
Usually refers to a driver hauling freight within one particular region of the country. You might be in the "Southeast Regional Division" or "Midwest Regional". Regional route drivers often get home on the weekends which is one of the main appeals for this type of route.
Dry Van:
A trailer or truck that that requires no special attention, such as refrigeration, that hauls regular palletted, boxed, or floor-loaded freight. The most common type of trailer in trucking.Drop And Hook:
Drop and hook means the driver will drop one trailer and hook to another one.
In order to speed up the pickup and delivery process a driver may be instructed to drop their empty trailer and hook to one that is already loaded, or drop their loaded trailer and hook to one that is already empty. That way the driver will not have to wait for a trailer to be loaded or unloaded.
You're not old. You're not even old-er. Now Old School and Jopa? They're old. Ancient. Even wise at times.
-mountain girl
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Hello , My name is Jimmy I've been lurking around this and many other trucking forums for a few years now waiting on the right time to take the plunge and jump into trucking. I'm 57 years old and have been in business for myself all my life except for a brief stint with Fed Ex about a year or so ago to test the waters until I could finalize the sale of my businesses . With that completed now I've decided to venture into trucking . As mentioned I'm 57 could pass for mid 40's except for my hairline , I'm physically fit. Happily married for 33 years , the wife is comfortable with the decision. She is busy with the Grand kids . I'm not afraid of hard work , Don't mind the elements I've backpacked and lived in the woods during the worst weather one could imagine . I love to drive and have a perfect driving record . So with that being said I'm attracted to flatbed trucking because of the physical labor and physics involved in securing loads Dry van drop and hook at this point in my life seems boring , of course that train of thought could change after a year or so Which leads me to my questions ; First will my age disqualify me from flatbed trucking ( the companies only look at a sheet of paper when considering candidates ) Can anyone recommend a Flatbed Co. that hires out of SC that they thing would consider someone my age ? I would like to run regional so that I could get home more frequently, I still love my wife. My top choices are Maverick , TMC , and I have spoken to a Melton recruiter but home time isn't what I'm looking for although other than that I like Melton There are hundreds other questions but I'll just wait for some responses Thanks , this is a great sight I have gained considerable knowledge from it
Regional:
Regional Route
Usually refers to a driver hauling freight within one particular region of the country. You might be in the "Southeast Regional Division" or "Midwest Regional". Regional route drivers often get home on the weekends which is one of the main appeals for this type of route.
Dry Van:
A trailer or truck that that requires no special attention, such as refrigeration, that hauls regular palletted, boxed, or floor-loaded freight. The most common type of trailer in trucking.Drop And Hook:
Drop and hook means the driver will drop one trailer and hook to another one.
In order to speed up the pickup and delivery process a driver may be instructed to drop their empty trailer and hook to one that is already loaded, or drop their loaded trailer and hook to one that is already empty. That way the driver will not have to wait for a trailer to be loaded or unloaded.