Question:
Howdy,
After 25 years with same electronics firm I find myself unemployed. I am 56 yr.old. I received a decent severance etc. Always liked trucks since young, uncle was a driver when seats were optional equipment. Drove a bit in the Army stateside and Vietnam. 1994 I went to a CDL school after work for about 6 Months, it is now NTI in ME., .
Got a local job driving a cab-over after my regular job and usually got home about 2 AM. It was picking up mainframe computers at Digitial Equipment companies and bring the load to North American terminal at Westborough,MA. Once and a while to Logan Airport in Boston to drop at the airlines. I did this for about a year until we lost the account. Nothing to do with service just someone was less expensive. The only OTR I have is on two wheels, from MA have been AZ.,Indiana, Key West,FL. and Fort Kent ,ME. I'd be the nitwitt you would see on two wheels with the rain gear on. My plan is "A" hit the lottery for a million bucks or "B" try to convince someone to let me behind the wheel. Been working on "B" just in case. Went and got the DMV record , the DOT Medical card. I have all the endorsements on my license except for a school bus.Since I have loads of time I went and got fingerprinted for the new haz-mat requirement. I know you guys can be tough with advice but I am asking anyway. Do I have a chance to get into trucking?

Answer:
Hey man, I am no expert..... but there were two guys in my cdl class who started on with CRE when I did who were... (I hate to say it like this) ... even older than you.
If you've got arms, legs, and working eyes and can pee clean CRE will take you.
(In CRE's job requirements when you first start training with you, it does... literally tell you that you must have two working arms and two working legs.)
Answer:

Carriers may require a refresher training course but
as long as your a "breather" you're in.
Answer:

Everything works and intact just makes a little more noise.
Thanks for vote of confidence.
Jerry

Answer:
These days -- due to escalating insurance and liability concerns -- the large carriers won't take you into their on-the-road training program unless you have:
1.
A recent truck school diploma.
or....
2.
Over 6 continous and recent months of commercial OTR experience with similar equipment.
One way to bypass the truck school thing is to find a small operator -- perhaps a single truck or mom and pop operator-- that'll train you to drive and let you accumulate the 6 months experience in their truck. Once you've got that 6 months (apx 6,000 miles) of continous experience, you're considered "experienced" and risk-worthy by most of the industry....if you don't let too much time pass before using it. Otherwise, you need a diploma from one of these so-called truck schools before the carrier's insurance company will let them put you behind the wheel.

Answer:

Thanks man. Physically I am good. I know driving skills are lacking. I need to learn a myriad of other things HOS techniques , how to adjust weight on axles etc.etc. When I drove local never left the 100 Mi. radius,never really had weight, bulked out well under any limits so it was a bit sheltered existence. I been working since 64 doing one thing or another. Even though I get paid my full salary weekly(until March) for doing nothing it drives me nuts. I don't have any issue with starting at step one. I know once I can get started it will be ok. Been reading this site since Sept 12 (last day of work) and have found useful info and links. The first thing I want to do is lease a truck .
Jerry

Answer:

I got the diploma but it says 1994. I got a year but it was 1995. You did give me an idea to call the guy I drove with before . He usually gets busy this time of year.Thanks.

Answer:
He may let you drive on his insurance -- I'd make sure he's being honest with them, to protect your personal liability -- but unfortunatly, at this late date the basic carriers won't touch you without a "refresher" diploma or an "experienced" status of about 6 months recent/consecutive.
This "refresher" is an abbreviated truck school program (varies from school to school and may be open for negotiation) that gives you SOME credit for your previous schooling, cuts the program short and for less money, and sends you out with the same "diploma" everyone else gets. You don't need the CDL prep, state road test, and can probably take the school's paper tests without class time. The emphasis on these refresher diplomas is new time behind the wheel -- usually a minimum number of recent hours the school guarantees that each graduate has achieved at completion.

Answer:

Yes, I remember having a little official looking card that stated I actually had some driving time. It's going to be a learning experience .Thanks.

Answer:
No...in case I didn't state it very well....make sure he's being up-front with his insurance company about your "inexperienced" status. His policy may exclude you from employment -- same as the major carriers -- except smaller operators find it easier to fudge these details. In the event of a major accident and the impending investigation that reveals your placement behind the wheel violates the terms of his policy, you BOTH could be in huge trouble with almost certain civil action from the injured party, the insurance company, or both.
it may not be a problem -- I honestly don't know how a small operator's insurance may vary from a larger carrier -- but if I was in your shoes, I'd discuss it with him and make sure you're not entering into a conspiracy to falsify your qualifications to his insurance carrier.
From one "old" guy to another -- you've lived too long to mess things up this close to the end.

Answer:
Im not sure a lack of experience makes getting hired all that difficult these days. your age shouldnt a be problem either.
Im a few years younger (41) and just started driving about 3 months ago. My background is a little different but still lacking many areas. I drove a yard truck for about a year and shuttled trailers to and from our outside warehouse (14 miles round trip). That was the experience I brought with me when I started looking for driving jobs. I had several companies interested in me. A couple of the big companies wanted more experience but most just wanted a clean driving record and a current physical. When I finally picked a company (mid sized regional company), we discussed what training I would need. Neither I nor the company knew what additional training I would need so we decided to play it by ear. They put me with a trainer until we both felt comfortable with my abilities. It ended up only being 4 days because my driving skills were up to par and I knew my way around a tractor and trailer but, like you, I knew nothing about logs or the Qualcom. There are still some of the simplest things that come up that I have no clue about. Example: the other day I had to weigh a load for the first time. I didnt know how to talk to the scale house. I got on ch.19 at the truckstop and asked. After being called an idiot, moron, dumb@$$ for about 5 minutes, someone finally said ch !. Now I know. Its the simple things that still confound me but everyday I learn something new.

Answer:
Ray H.
Thanks for the info! Maybe a light at tunnel's end afterall.
Jerry

Answer:
With most companies: You have clean lic ? you will be hired. May have to go out with a trainer for a couple of weeks. But there is a position out ther for you Bud..
I am 50+ yrs old and driving over 30 yrs. Can get a job at any co. I wish to. So I dont think age is an issue.
BTW TRUCK NET........ very nice forums you have !! I can see myself spending alot of home time here on comp with your forums. And hope my experience in truck driving can help some of your members. Keep up the awsome work !!!