Ninety year old truck driver hangs up his keys after 8.7 million miles

A Canadian truck driver is celebrating the end of a career behind the wheel spanning more than six and a half decades.

In August 2021, Peter Klassen, 90, finished his final run for Ontario-based Premium Transportation Inc., according to local outlet the Welland Tribune.

Klassen has been with Premium Transportation for twenty years but has been trucking since 1955, having previously worked for Veri Trucking Inc. and General Motors.

The outlet says that Klassen has driven more than 14 million kilometers in his 66 year career — which is about 8.7 million miles.

Though he is based in Ontario, Premium delivers to all 48 states and Klassen often crossed the border into the U.S. He says that Laredo, Texas, is one of his favorite destinations.

Premium President Mike Hogan said, ““He really cared about his job. Even on his last load, he was three hours early.”

Last summer, John Christner Trucking driver Larry Miles was honored for hitting 10 million safe miles.

In 2019, driver Barry Queebodeaux was recognized by KLLM for 9 million safe miles. In 2015, Memphis truck driver Arthur Cage was honored for driving 6 million safe miles in a 42 year career. In 2018, Georgia-based truck driver Bobby Elrod was recognized for driving 5 million safe miles in 45 years.