Dear editor,

This topic may have passed its shelf life as an item of interest, however, I feel I must write about it since no other response has appeared in Truck News. The letter entitle Aging drivers face discrimination, in the December issue could have been written by me, with the exception that, writer Don Wilson, has many more years of driving experience than I have.

I, too, have passed my 65th birthday (four years ago), and I too, have had to undergo the annual testing to retain my AZ licence. I agree with Mr. Wilson that evidence of a medical examination, an eye examination and a licence abstract should be sufficient to allow drivers to continue driving tractor trailers.

Yet you still have to do a written test and a road test, including proving you haven’t forgotten how to circle check, drop and hook a trailer, check air brakes and maneuver a vehicle on the road.

That’s all well and good, but no mention is made of the cost of this testing. I do not own a truck. I am not currently working for a company whose truck I might borrow. I wouldn’t ask a friend to let me use his truck for the test.

The solution to this problem was not easy to find, but finally, I located a truck-driving school that was willing to help me.

To establish myself as a student of the school and qualify for the use of their equipment, I have spent many hundreds of dollars over the past four years for truck time, instructors and refresher lessons.

For me this is the real downer about having to meet the Ministry of Transportation’s requirements.

Do the powers-that-be read Truck News? If they do, this might be a way of opening their eyes to a problem that doesn’t need to exist.

Dick Jones

Weston, Ontario