At 90 years old, Doyle Archer, the world’s oldest truck driver, has announced hisretirement. Officially recognized as the oldest male truck driver at 90 years and 55 days on February 2, Doyle has been driving for more than six decades, logging approximately 5.5 million miles throughout his career.
Doyle has been with Coomes Inc. in Phillipsburg, Kansas for the last 20 years, where he recently earned the title of “Million Mile Safe Driver” for driving a million miles without a single incident. He remains committed to trucking, stating that the word “retire” isn’t in his vocabulary, and he plans to keep driving as long as his health permits.
Over the course of his career, Doyle has transported nearly everything imaginable in a truck—from livestock to canned goods and petroleum. One of the greatest perks for him has been the opportunity to see parts of the country he might not have otherwise, having driven through 48 U.S. states and across Canada. He’s also experienced the famous Route 66 from Chicago to Los Angeles and driven along the first 8-mile section of the Eisenhower Interstate System in Kansas.
Some of his favorite sights include the prairies, timbered forests, and the wheat fields of the High Plains, which he especially enjoys during June and July. He has also visited places like the Kennedy Space Center, Johnson Space Center, and various ports, while witnessing countless sunrises and sunsets from behind the wheel. Despite the challenges such as severe weather and rising fuel costs, Doyle reflects fondly on his life on the road, cherishing both the experiences and the people he has met along the way.