Well I recently renewed my licence, am still driving europe, am still reasonably fit, and am nearly 70, its us old boys who have to renew our licences every year, that you dont have to worry about, our medicals take care of that, but the ones to watch out for are the obese, who havnt seen a doctor in god knows how long, dont know their bmi from their number plate, or what their blood pressure is, we do, cos its included. I have to have a urine test, blood test, blood pressure test, eye sight test, and a treadmill test, thats running fast for 9 minutes to stress the heart…so although theres no guarantee of anything serious happening, i feel at peace with my conditions rather than those who havnt been checked.
So if the government want to pay an immigrant 3 times as much as a pensioner, i will continue to work, all the time i have the strength and a licence…and if the youngsters want my job, they cant have it…go and take one off an immigrant…
If vocational licences were ever to end at retirement age, there’d be a helluva lot of kids walking to school for a start; I’m willing to bet that a fifth of school bus drivers are semi-retired people who basically do it for a bit of pin money, and more to the point, something to get them out of bed in the morning. Wife works as a bus driver and they just had one retire at age 80; not because he wanted to quit but AFAIK the insurance wanted too much to make it worth keeping him on.
It’s all very well saying that retirement at 65 should be compulsory; a generation ago that was pretty much the case and I’m willing to bet that a fair few people who were compelled to retire at that age died of sheer boredom as much as anything else. I had three months off work last year with a leg injury and that was bad enough. I intend to keep on working after official retirement age, provided I’m still fit enough and also provided that I still enjoy it. Next door neighbour had to pack up work early a couple of years ago after a serious heart attack; he keeps busy enough in his garden, walking the dogs etc. but he tells me he really misses going to work because it gave him some sense of value. I can understand that.
raymundo:
And don’t forget the many younger truck drivers who go for a medical with some doctor in a pub cark who has no knowledge of their medical history but appears to be fit enough on the day.
That could easily be remedied if there was a law that your own GP must do the medical at a reasonable max cost - say £50
Ever thought it’s what the government want (drivers to obtain a medical via pub car parks)? This way there’s no comeback on NHS doctors when things go wrong.
Why would anyone want to continue working past retirement age, I think it’s a more of a need to work.
Maybe these people have not equipped themselves financially for retirement?
Oh… and yes, 77 is far too old to be driving the public around.
Quite a few years ago when I was posting, It’s amazing the amount of older men who seemed as fit as a fiddle, but after a weeks leave, they’d passed away.
At least I know now, once you get in your late 60’s and beyond… it can happen anytime.
sweepster:
Why would anyone want to continue working past retirement age, I think it’s a more of a need to work.
Maybe these people have not equipped themselves financially for retirement?
Oh… and yes, 77 is far too old to be driving the public around.
Quite a few years ago when I was posting, It’s amazing the amount of older men who seemed as fit as a fiddle, but after a weeks leave, they’d passed away.
At least I know now, once you get in your late 60’s and beyond… it can happen anytime.
Thanks for cheering me up mate. Really made my day.
sweepster:
Why would anyone want to continue working past retirement age, I think it’s a more of a need to work.
Maybe these people have not equipped themselves financially for retirement?
Oh… and yes, 77 is far too old to be driving the public around.
Quite a few years ago when I was posting, It’s amazing the amount of older men who seemed as fit as a fiddle, but after a weeks leave, they’d passed away.
At least I know now, once you get in your late 60’s and beyond… it can happen anytime.
It can happen anytime at any age. One of my best mates went to work as a sparky 5 years ago collapsed around about 09:30 and never made it home. He had got an hireditary heart problem that he didn’t know about.
If he did know about it he would still be here today as they would’ve fitted a pacemaker that would’ve kickstarted his heart back up. His dad died of the same problem 2 year later. Age is no barrier when death is concerned.
So to those who say we should retire at retirement age and lose our entitlements… and those who say we have to go to work because the pension is ■■■■ poor…i hope and pray you have a really good private pension in place, or as an experiment…try and live on £105 per week…for that is the basic pension. I personally can manage on my pension, i am on £1200 a month, and live reasonably well, but i get the basic + serps + plus a private pension…i work cos i cant sit at home all day watching the tv or playing on the computer…i tried …i had 18 months off, and after decoratng, building, etc etc, i wanted to go back to work…i still enjoy driving, still enjoy europe, and the extra money enables me to have lots of luxuries. Just had the car spruced up ( £2000 ) new garage doors, and a conservatory, and other bits and bobs that are called maintenance…
I would say that many drivers over retirement age do it for 2 reasons…`1. they would probably be dead by now if it wasnt for work. 2. they cannot live on a basic state pension. Dont forget some are widowers, and need to mix with other drivers, to keep in touch, to still be part of a team. When you have driven trucks for over 50 years it becomes the norm, diesel in the veins.and its the routine we miss, we all looked forward to putting our feet up, but some of us just couldnt…i myself have bought and paid for 2 homes, my uk one, and one abroad, but i am one of the fortunate ones…and good news is, i am going to retire again next year, and will spend many months in the sun in my home abroad, and i hope you will all have the strength and the money to do the same.
truckyboy:
So to those who say we should retire at retirement age and lose our entitlements… and those who say we have to go to work because the pension is ■■■■ poor…i hope and pray you have a really good private pension in place, or as an experiment…try and live on £105 per week…for that is the basic pension. I personally can manage on my pension, i am on £1200 a month, and live reasonably well, but i get the basic + serps + plus a private pension…i work cos i cant sit at home all day watching the tv or playing on the computer…i tried …i had 18 months off, and after decoratng, building, etc etc, i wanted to go back to work…i still enjoy driving, still enjoy europe, and the extra money enables me to have lots of luxuries. Just had the car spruced up ( £2000 ) new garage doors, and a conservatory, and other bits and bobs that are called maintenance…
I would say that many drivers over retirement age do it for 2 reasons…`1. they would probably be dead by now if it wasnt for work. 2. they cannot live on a basic state pension. Dont forget some are widowers, and need to mix with other drivers, to keep in touch, to still be part of a team. When you have driven trucks for over 50 years it becomes the norm, diesel in the veins.and its the routine we miss, we all looked forward to putting our feet up, but some of us just couldnt…i myself have bought and paid for 2 homes, my uk one, and one abroad, but i am one of the fortunate ones…and good news is, i am going to retire again next year, and will spend many months in the sun in my home abroad, and i hope you will all have the strength and the money to do the same.
My dad worked till he was 76 yep he had a decent pension ( him & my mam could live on what they had with both of there pensions np ) he just couldn’t give it up ok only did part time most weeks he died at 79
Yes he had a heart compliant had done for many years but my mam sometimes liked him going out so she had "her time " as she said ( ok my mam is now 77 has Alzheimer so wouldn’t trust her with a car never mind anything else )
There are also some drivers I know who are in there 70’s & still hold a licence to drive HGV they are fit & well some the same age are not interested I think it is up to the individual
Juddian:
There’s as many 27 year old HGV licence holders who shouldn’t be allowed within a mile of a lorry as 77 year old lorry drivers that are perfectly fit and able and want to carry on.
They might just know a thing or two about how to drive a lorry properly too.
We joined the communists this week or summat, compulsory retirement so the youngsters, many of whom seem unable to find the good jobs without someone holding their hands and leading them, can have what they haven’t earned and may never do…
Yes, but the 77 year old is more likely to drop dead behind the wheel, than the 27 year old. [emoji16]
That ain’t necessarily so!
One can die of a heart attack/stroke or whatever at ANY age.
Local lad died last week of a heart attack, age? 17!
73 next time around and I’m feelin’ fine.
I thought we were all living longer, so we must be fitter and able to work longer, least that’s what our masters have been saying. pension age going up to 70 so must be true .
truckyboy:
So to those who say we should retire at retirement age and lose our entitlements… and those who say we have to go to work because the pension is ■■■■ poor…i hope and pray you have a really good private pension in place, or as an experiment…try and live on £105 per week…for that is the basic pension. I personally can manage on my pension, i am on £1200 a month, and live reasonably well, but i get the basic + serps + plus a private pension…i work cos i cant sit at home all day watching the tv or playing on the computer…i tried …i had 18 months off, and after decoratng, building, etc etc, i wanted to go back to work…i still enjoy driving, still enjoy europe, and the extra money enables me to have lots of luxuries. Just had the car spruced up ( £2000 ) new garage doors, and a conservatory, and other bits and bobs that are called maintenance…
I would say that many drivers over retirement age do it for 2 reasons…`1. they would probably be dead by now if it wasnt for work. 2. they cannot live on a basic state pension. Dont forget some are widowers, and need to mix with other drivers, to keep in touch, to still be part of a team. When you have driven trucks for over 50 years it becomes the norm, diesel in the veins.and its the routine we miss, we all looked forward to putting our feet up, but some of us just couldnt…i myself have bought and paid for 2 homes, my uk one, and one abroad, but i am one of the fortunate ones…and good news is, i am going to retire again next year, and will spend many months in the sun in my home abroad, and i hope you will all have the strength and the money to do the same.
Basic state pension is changing in 2016. It’s just under £160 a week. The people who will suffer are public sector workers (Yes it’s a Conservative government) who haven’t paid enough serps.
I am lucky. Even though I have a final salary pension that stopped in 2010, I still have 20 year’s to retirement age. I will be able to qualify for the full state pension.
Working to me, is and always will be, to look after my family and out of work activities. I will never continue to work a day I have to.
sweepster:
Why would anyone want to continue working past retirement age, I think it’s a more of a need to work.
Maybe these people have not equipped themselves financially for retirement?
Although things have picked up a bit now, just remember that the economic downturn has lasted for seven years now. Hundreds of thousands of people lost their jobs in those difficult times, whilst others ended up with all overtime and bonus payments removed, some working shorter working weeks and even some people that haven’t had a pay rise in those last seven years. None of them have done anything wrong, but it has screwed up many folks retirement plans. Even the interest on savings is below the rate of inflation now, so people’s savings are diminishing in real value. Some folks are having to postpone their retirement plans.
The whole problem with retirement planning, is none of us knows how long we are going to live. Do you budget to live to 70, 80, 90?
raymundo:
And don’t forget the many younger truck drivers who go for a medical with some doctor in a pub cark who has no knowledge of their medical history but appears to be fit enough on the day.
raymundo:
And don’t forget the many younger truck drivers who go for a medical with some doctor in a pub cark who has no knowledge of their medical history but appears to be fit enough on the day.
That could easily be remedied if there was a law that your own GP must do the medical at a reasonable max cost - say £50
My mums husband is 72, he just got back from a parachute and handgliding holiday in Tunisia, he also just did that huge zip wire thing on North Wales, ■■■■■■ nutter
