Well after 20 years of Law Enforcement, and hauling grain and cattle on the weekends, I decided I would drive a truck full time. After clanging around two or three companies, and learning the ropes, I worked my way up, and bought 4 trucks (all but the first one new),paid for a home, and some extra land in 7 years. All of this was accomplished in under 12 years. I located a dedicated run, and was home every other night, and EVERY weekend.
Now, after selling a successful trucking business and investing in real estate, and watching the bottom drop out of the housing market, I am once again in a truck (not my own this time). In this truck, I am now paying for a home that I do not need, making my bills, and and once again home about every other night.
It is not near as rough as construction, which I am very familiar with, as I done all of my own remodeling on the houses I bought plus contract remodeling.
As for my age? I am 58. My health? I have had both knees operated on so many times, there is nothing left to do but replace them. My nose has been cut in half (across and between the eyes), and I don't get the air thru it like it should. Both shoulders have had the rotator cuffs torn, my right elbow has been broken twice, my right forearm three times, my right ankle has three floater bones that have been broken so many times they are permanently broken, both sides of my jaw have a pop in the joints and have been broken, and I have arthritis in both knees, my right hip, both hands, oh yeah, I forgot all the fingers on my left hand have been broken at one time or another, but back to the arthritis, which I also have in my back and neck. I don't remember how many ribs have been broken, and can't even guess how many stitches. Before all the bird shot was removed my back made a very interesting x-ray.
Dale you are not going to start at the top in the trucking industry, but you CAN make a damn good living at it, AND have a LIFE also, IF YOU PAY ATTENTION. I have proved it TWICE. The industry is changing to better fit the needs of the driver, and you just have to look. You cannot expect someone to train you for nothing, so YOU must be willing to sacrifice to gain in the end.
Also, my AGE, and my list of PAST INJURIES, and PRESENT CONDITIONS are I believe, comparable to yours. The key is not quiting. If when I was receiving all those injuries during my previous career, I had laid down and quit, I would be DEAD. A tactical officer takes a beating, but I, as a former one, am proof that if you try, you can take a licking and keep on ticking. It's all a state of mind. Good luck.