Is Truck Driving a good retirement job?

Retirement doesn't have to mean the end of the road. It's important to stay active in retirement, and many seniors have found that truck driving is the perfect way to do just that. Truck drivers enjoy a structure and purpose that many seniors, unfortunately, lack after retirement.

What age do most truck drivers retire?

Currently, the average retirement age for truck drivers is 62 years old. However, according to the OOIDA, most independent drivers plan on retiring at 67 years of age. While the average retirement age for drivers is a good estimate, it does not accurately reflect how individual drivers feel about retirement.

Can you retire as a truck driver?

Most trucking companies offer great truck driving retirement plans. Truck driving is also one of the most lucrative hourly wage jobs out there, meaning that chances are high you'll have enough income to both comfortably support your family and put some money away in retirement savings.

What is the average age of an over the road truck driver?

The average age of an employed Commercial Truck Driver is 48 years old. The most common ethnicity of Commercial Truck Drivers is White (63.0%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (18.1%) and Black or African American (13.0%).

Why are truck drivers retiring?

COVID-19 & the Aging Demographics of Drivers

One of the leading causes of truck drivers getting out of the industry during the pandemic was the pandemic itself. The trucking industry saw a surge in retirements among older drivers who were at-risk of facing serious complications if they happened to contract the virus.

Why Would ANYONE Be a TRUCK DRIVER?! Truck Driving Career EXPOSED

What's it like dating a trucker?

Trust and Communication

Trust is important in any relationship, but it's critical when dating a truck driver. While your driver is away, you have to trust in the relationship you've built. You have to know and understand that they're doing the same. Any relationship without trust will probably not last long.

How many truck drivers are retiring?

The ATA met with White House officials this week to warn them that many drivers would likely leave the industry rather than get vaccinated or take weekly tests. They estimate that about 37% of drivers could leave or retire owing to the mandate.

Do truckers age faster?

How “Truck Driver Face” Develops. As you drive a truck day after day, the right side of your face will be mostly shielded from the sun as the left begins to see frequent, if not constant, sun exposure. This leads to your left side aging more quickly, with signs of thickening skin, thick wrinkles, and premature aging.

Do truck drivers have lower life expectancy?

Being in the truck driving profession contributes to a shorter lifespan for truck drivers - shorter than for others in other occupations. In fact, it has been said a truck driver's life span can have as much as 16 years cut off of a normal life expectancy as compared to others.

How is the life of a truck driver?

Driving Limits: Truck drivers typically work up to 70 hours within an eight-day period. Most aren't allowed to drive more than this. After 70 hours in a truck driver's workweek, drivers must take a mandatory 34 hours off.

Is 55 too old to be a truck driver?

Contrary to popular belief, there is no such thing as being too old to be a truck driver. In fact, many people do not start driving a truck until they are well into their 50s. The key to being a great truck driver at any age is to keep yourself healthy. You must also maintain a good driving record.

Is it worth it being a truck driver?

Truck drivers can earn a good income. How much does a truck driver make? On average drivers earn $50,909, while Over The Road (OTR) drivers who haul freight over long distances earn on average nearly $64,000 per year. Private fleets- those that deliver freight only for one company- often have much higher levels of pay.

Is 60 to old to be a truck driver?

The trucking industry doesn't have an age maximum, but it does have a minimum age of 18 (or 21 to drive interstate), so think of your age as experience.

What is the best trucking company to work for?

How physical is being a truck driver?

Physical Requirements – At least 20/40 vision with glasses or corrective lenses is required for a truck driving career. You must have a vision of 70 degree field in each eye and good hearing ability to work as a truck driver. Must be able to pass the physical required by regulations.

How many hours should a truck driver sleep?

Drivers using a sleeper berth must take at least 8 hours in the sleeper berth, and may split the sleeper berth time into two periods provided neither is less than 2 hours. All sleeper berth pairings MUST add up to at least 8 hours.

What is the average career length of a truck driver?

Ferro referenced the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as the source of the statistic, as did Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood in his Sept. 2 Fast Lane blog: "According to the (CDC), the average life expectancy for a commercial truck driver is 61 years.

Why do truck drivers smoke so much?

Truck drivers have a stressful, challenging job and suffer from many health problems more often than the general population. This makes the link between smoking and truck drivers especially problematic, so helping them to quit should form part of a comprehensive strategy to help improve their health overall.

Do truckers have back problems?

Chronic back pain is often the result of your profession. According to one small study, 59% of truck drivers experience low back pain.

Are truck drivers losing their jobs?

Turnover for truck drivers in fleets with more than $30 million of annual revenue was 92% at the end of 2020, meaning roughly 9 out of every 10 drivers will no longer be working for that company in a year.

Why is there a shortage of truck drivers in 2021?

The shortage has existed for years, but it has been exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic. ATA had estimated that prior to the pandemic the driver shortage was 61,500. Now the industry is competing over the same limited pool of drivers, which has resulted in turnover and numerous companies raising pay.

Are truck drivers in demand 2021?

The American Trucking Associations estimates that in 2021 the truck driver shortage will hit a historic high of just over 80,000 drivers. This figure is the difference between the number of drivers currently in the market and the optimal number of drivers based on freight demand.

Do truck drivers have a high divorce rate?

Trucker Spouse: “Actually the divorce rate for truckers is 19.14% (trust us, you're not the only one who Googled it), well below the national average, so my marriage has a better chance of making it than your does.” MIC DROP.

Is it hard being a truckers wife?

There's no sugarcoating it: The trucker lifestyle is hard. Long days or weeks away takes a toll on even the strongest of relationships, and it takes a lot of patience, determination, and understanding to navigate the bumps in the road. Trucker families, we're here to tell you: you're not alone.

What is the future for truck drivers?

As reported by Redwood Logistics, trucks carry about 70% of all goods shipped in the U.S., and this is expected to grow by 3.4% annually until at least 2023. This heightened demand, coupled with fewer young people choosing truck driving as a career, has caused a shortage of 51,000 truck driving jobs across the country.