89-Year-Old Colorado Truck Driver Pulls in Prestigious Award
Loveland, Colo. resident Dave Sheets has been a truck driver for over 25 years, and at 89 years old, he has no plans to stop.
The grandfather went viral on Wednesday (May 5) after the North Dakota Highway Patrol commended him on Facebook for his commitment to safety. His dedication not only earned him a Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance decal but also caught the eyes of thousands across the Internet.
While most wouldn't dream of working at his age, Sheets doesn't seem to mind — especially because he's driving his own 2000 Peterbilt semi-truck, which his granddaughter Shawna described to us as "immaculate."
"I like doing what I'm doing. I would rather be busy. Can't stand to sit around," Sheets told Townsquare NoCo. "And if I'm going to do it, I like having it be my truck. It gives me more of a feeling of independence."
His story hasn't just impressed the internet. Terry Crawford, Sheets' boss and owner of Savannah Transport, told KVRR that he is a "terrific, old-school truck driver" who can "outdo" most of his younger drivers.
Sheets is also using his newfound fame to give advice to those with less experience on the road — and to stick up for female truck drivers.
"I have known and do know a number of very well-qualified ladies that drive," he said. "Sometimes they're not given the respect that they should have because they're doing a heck of a job too."