Truck driving, as a career, is one of the best options you can choose if you have a love for travel, interacting with people, working on your own or with a partner, and getting paid competitively. A job as a truck driver gives you all those things and so much more, including a sense of community with others who are just like yourself.

Why People Are Choosing Truck Driving as a Second Career

Truck driving later in life can be a positive career choice for many people. There are multiple benefits to working in the industry. Some reasons for switching to trucking include:

Career Changes and Fresh Starts

There are several common reasons for switching to truck driving as a new career. Some of them include job dissatisfaction in a current career path, economic changes such as job loss, and retirement from a previous career.

Attractive Benefits of Truck Driving

There are also attractive benefits to becoming a truck driver. Some of them include competitive pay, travel opportunities, independence, and job security. 

With a career in truck driving, you can choose if you want short or long-haul routes. You can also decide if you want to drive solo or with a partner. As far as job security, the field is growing at a rate of five percent, which means 102,000 new jobs are expected between 2023 and 2033. 

Low Barriers to Entry

Another reason to consider truck driving is that it has a low barrier to entry. You don’t need to complete four years of college; you only need to complete your driving and education courses to get your commercial license.

The Advantages of Becoming A Truck Driver Later in Life

Starting a career in truck driving in later life has several advantages. Some of them include:

Family Stability

For those starting a trucking career later in life, family responsibilities often look different with grown children and fewer at-home obligations. Long-haul trucking becomes a more viable option, where the flexibility of this job allows you as a driver to plan home time when it matters most.

Financial Goals

Finally, consider your financial goals. With a stable income and little additional expense for education, there is real potential to save for retirement or achieve financial stability through trucking.

How To Start a Career in Truck Driving Later in Life

If you’ve decided that truck driving is a good career option for you, then you’ll want to follow these steps to become a truck driver.

Assessing Readiness

The first thing you need to do is assess your physical readiness. You may need to make lifestyle changes to be able to successfully drive for many hours; you need to consider your health carefully. Those with certain conditions or disorders may not be qualified to drive, but others may have specific health concerns that can be controlled well enough for driving to be a possibility. You will need to consider how you’re going to maintain a healthy diet and exercise on the road, too, if you want to do your best to prevent an increased risk of health issues such as deep vein thrombosis or weight gain from a sedentary lifestyle. 

Getting Your CDL

You will also need to get your commercial driver’s license (CDL). There are different classes of CDLs you can earn, A, B, or C. Of those, a Class A license gives you the most flexibility and the ability to drive a vehicle with a gross combination weight rating (GVWR) of 26,001 pounds or more. That license will cover tractor-trailer, flatbed, or tanker truck jobs.

You will need to go through coursework and training to get your CDL. Finding a CDL truck driving school can be as easy as typing in a search into Google. However, to be sure your classes are through an appropriate educational institution, contact your state licensing bureau (such as the Department of Motor Vehicles) for more information. You can find a full list of government and DMV websites here.

Choosing the Right Employer

Once you get your license, you will need to look for an employer. There are a few factors to consider when you do so. Think about your route preferences, the benefits you want, and how much time you’d like to have on the road or at home. All of these will influence where you would fit best. 

What Challenges Can You Expect as a Truck Driver?

While the trucking industry does have many benefits for new drivers, it’s also necessary to consider some of the challenges of starting later in life and how you can get past them.

Adapting to a New Lifestyle

Starting a new career of any type does require you to adapt to a new lifestyle, and the trucking industry will be a big change. You’ll put in long hours, have time away from home, and need to get used to sleeping in your truck. You can adjust by bringing items from home to use in your vehicle (such as your favorite bed sheets) or by setting times to call home each night to stay in touch.

Learning Technology

Some people may not be familiar with technology, and that can cause a learning curve when getting a CDL and starting a new role. You will be better able to pick up on modern trucking tools like electronic logging devices (ELDs) if you take a course or work with a mentor to become more tech-savvy.

Physical Demands

Finally, think about the physical demands of driving. You won’t just be behind the wheel driving—you’ll also need to load and unload items when you get to your destination or stay up late to drive overnight. Preparing for these physical demands is straightforward. Have your doctor perform a physical exam, and work on getting healthier. A healthy diet and regular exercise can make all the difference. 

Stories of Success: Inspiration From Late-Starters

The trucking industry values people of all ages. Today, truck drivers are between 45 and 54 on average (26%), but drivers between 55 and 64 make up 21% of all drivers, and those over 65 make up 7%. 

Age is just a number when it comes to professionalism and skill.

Experience Your Next Career In the Trucking Industry with Pride

Truck driving is worthwhile for you at any age. With it, you get to experience a community of support between yourself and other drivers with whom you can find camaraderie on the road. And you’ll feel a sense of accomplishment, too, as you will fulfill a role in an industry critical to this country’s economy.

If you’re interested in finding out more about open positions to reading about life on the road, search our open roles or view the latest news and events at Pride Transport.