Sage Truck Driving Student Still Driving Forward at 63 Years Old

Jacques Merisier has spent most of his career on the road, mostly rescuing stranded vehicles.

For nearly 32 years, he’s driven small trucks across Florida — primarily tow trucks responding to breakdowns and accidents along the highway. It’s demanding work, he says, and increasingly unpredictable.

“I’m not the young man I used to be,” Jacques said. “And the road has become too dangerous.”

Now at 63 years old, he’s making a decision others might find unusual for his age. He’s going back to school so he can make a slight career pivot during his final years of work.

Enrolled at Sage Truck Driving School in Fort Pierce, Florida, Jacques is currently working toward his Commercial Driver’s License (CDL). His goal is to continue driving truck, but larger rigs that allow him to stay safely on the road while remaining gainfully employed through retirement.

His decision to change direction was affirmed recently when Jacques learned he’d received a $1,000 Howes Truckers of Tomorrow Scholarship.

“We are proud to recognize Jacques Merisier as a recipient of the Howes Truckers of Tomorrow Scholarship,” said Rob Howes II, President of Howes Products. “His excitement and commitment to pursuing a career in trucking embodies the very spirit of this program and we look forward to seeing him succeed as part of the next generation of trucking professionals.”

A Career Shift Toward Safety

Jacques said his decision to switch gears in his career wasn’t made lightly. It came after years of watching his job change in ways he could no longer ignore. Picking up disabled vehicles on the side of highways has always carried risk, but in recent years this risk has intensified.

“It’s almost like suicide nowadays,” he said. “People are distracted. You can’t buy a car without screens everywhere. Drivers aren’t paying attention.”

The statistics, along with personal losses, hit too close to home.

“I’ve lost three friends who were hit on the road,” Jacques said. “In 2021, [the industry was] losing nearly three tow truck drivers a month. That’s not something people hear about.”

For Jacques, it became clear that continuing in the same role wasn’t a matter of if something might happen, but when.

“I’m a practical person,” he said. “I understand there are variables in life. I didn’t like the way things were going, and I felt like the odds were turning against me.”

But even as he stepped away from tow truck work, Jacques knew he wasn’t ready to leave the road behind. Driving has always been a big part of who he is.

“This is still about trucking,” he said. “It’s just a different way of doing it.”

Jacques began exploring CDL training programs in 2023, carefully considering his options while also managing personal responsibilities and financial setbacks, including losses in retirement savings. When he found Sage, he said its structure stood out right away.

“The schedule worked for me,” Jacques said. “It’s spread out over a couple of months, not just rushed in a few weeks.”

That flexibility, combined with the ability to pay over time rather than all at once, made the transition feasible.

“That was a big attraction,” he said. “And the scholarship definitely helps a lot.”

Entering a New Career with Intention

Now enrolled and progressing through the program, Jacques says the experience has exceeded expectations.

“It’s been fantastic,” he said. “I like how the courses are laid out. It fits with my schedule, and I’ve realized this was the right choice.”

He’s also found value in learning from instructors who bring decades of real-world experience into the classroom. In particular, Jacques appreciates the contrasting teaching styles of instructors Lanny Ashburn and Mark Howard.

“You can ask questions, and they give you insights from millions of miles on the road,” he said. “Mark challenges you to think. He’ll ask, ‘What do you think?’ and then help guide you from there. I like that.”

When Jacques learned he’d won a Howes Truckers of Tomorrow Scholarship, he said it confirmed he’d made the right decision to change careers.

“I was elated, and I still am,” he said. “It means someone believes in me and wants to help me reach my goal. This may be a second or third restart for me, but it’s my journey. Now it’s not just mine alone.”

And despite his age, he considers this a journey he intends to take full advantage of.

“I’ve got at least seven good working years ahead of me,” he said. “I just had my physical, and all my numbers are where they should be.”

His plan is to drive either over-the-road or in-state, keeping the flexibility to travel while continuing to do what he enjoys most — meeting people and seeing new places.

“I like starting the day not knowing exactly where I’ll end up or who I’ll meet,” he said. “That’s always been fascinating to me.”

What he does know is that he wants to approach this next phase with intention. It’s the main piece of advice he gives to people seeking a similar career.

“Don’t get into trucking just for a job,” Jacques said. “It’s a career. Have a plan. Know where you want to be in five years, then the next five.”