We have a "supplemental" road board (casual) here in Atlanta. It has about 25 drivers on it and almost all are retired road drivers. Not one has said they needed the money but do it for extra money or because they are bored. They could get on full time or they could have stayed full time employees instead of retiring. Also, it seems to be company policy to contact retired road drivers and ask them to be on the supplemental board.
There's a certain point where you have to admit your ....skills and reflexes aren't as sharp as they once were. This....point.....is magnified if you are in public conveyance, or operating any sort of commercial vehicle.
I don't want to make the newspapers by being behind the wheel of a commercial vehicle involved in an accident.....especially as a "retired" driver. Do you imagine how much hay would be made by the media if there was a fatality,.......no matter who was at fault?
The insurance companies will bend heaven and earth to hang the anchor of responsibility on your neck....."Too old,...not quick enough,.....possible medical condition..."......No, Thank you.........If I go to work because I'm "bored",......or need money,.........I'll do it on private property,..In-House,....where I can only be fired, and not sued to lose my house......
Believe me,...I know what I'm talking about.........I was involved in a property-damaging accident with low wires. I was going 3 mph on a residential street 3 blocks long........We went to court,....the cable company blamed us,...the phone company blamed the cable company,....and my employer blamed both of them........
Not My Problem,........or so I thought.
2 years later,...I went to re-finance my house,....and I found out there was an $8,000 lien on my property,.......imposed by the insurance carrier,...because my employer refused to even talk with them,...citing the national low wire standards alleviated any liability for the company....
Insurance people didn't care,.........Money talks,.....and they sued everyone involved,....and as the person with his hands on the wheel,.....I was Lawsuit #1......
The company didn't even inform me that I was involved in litigation,......and the contract absolutely absolved me of any personal responsibility,...(..as long as I don't commit a felony behind the wheel..).....as I was performing my duties as an agent of the company.
I practically kicked in the TM's door and demanded an immediate resolution....I got it,....and the companies' attorneys called the bank while I was in his office.......
Now,..........Stuff like this goes on in a Union carrier,.........Imagine what goes on at a non-Union carrier, where you have NO contractual language,.......Al this does is prove to me that ....your driving skills do NOT matter,.........What matters to employers is your WILLINGNESS to take all responsibility, once you leave company property........
Drive truck when I'm retired? No thanks..........I'm not laying my head on THAT chopping block...........