How Things Have Changed In This Business!

[Pappy]

I decided to start a new thread from a previous one due to the fact that mine may be somewhat overwhelming.
When I started in the trucking business:
You sat on not much more than a peach crate to drive. Long before air ride seats ever came along.
A low air warning device was a round flag under the driver sun visor that just dropped and dangled when air pressure dropped.
The average trailer length was about 35 feet!
Trailer brakes were not spring activated!
A 2 and a half foot wide sleeper was big enough to sleep in!
Air conditioning meant 2 windows down and 53 miles per hour!
Mosquitos in NJ must have weighed at least a pound!
There were only a few miles of Interstate highways completed and only in a few states!
Highways were either concrete or tar and gravel--Canada had packed cinders!
Truck stops had sit down restaurants with real food!
Churches had signs posted "Truckers Welcome--Come As You Are"
I remember driving 700 miles and not hearing more than 3 or 4 oeople on the CB!
This listing could go on and on but I have come to realize that I truly am older than ASPHALT!
With over 5 million miles behind me, I ca'nt help but let it bother me to hear what I reffer to as the NEW BREED OF TRUCK DRIVER and complain about the equipment he drives--How fast it will run and how bad things are. It seems to me that very few of these drivers ever stop and think about just what they really have and take time to thank GOD for it!

Pappy

 

[Bruno]

Pappy thanks for all your great posts, yes times have changed. My father told me that back then you had no com cards. It was western union to get money for fuel.

Drive safe
Dave Mayfield
FedEx Custom Critical
13 years as an O/O in Expediting.

 

[Mcarriers]

Good post, truckers used to be someone who was an honest, hard-working person. Anymore you really don't know. Drivers used to help each other and speak decent to each other on the radio. With the way some of the big companies throw warm bodies at trucks is pretty scary.


Mello
FedEx

 

[nightcreacher]

actually when I started,I would leave the terminal,and get a com check number,then came united services, a card,which we know today as com data.
like was said,air conditioning was 2 windows down at 55 mph,if you could get to 55,we were paid $9.00 if we slept over night in that
2 1/2' sleeper box,power steering was called armstrong,a joint was a place to get a beer,not something you smoked,you waved at fellow truckers,they waved back,sometimes useing hand signals,not the one finger salute,if a truck was broke down,you would stop and help,not try to take his place in line,you passed another truck,they would flip there lights,and if they pased you,would flip to say thanks.
Four lane roads were being built,wva. turnpike cost $9.00 and was just 2 lanes,speed was 45 but might have been 55 in spots
truck speed in pa was 50.
A truck stop was a place you could stop,attendant would fuel you,while you ate,and talked to your fellow truckers,not waiting in line,for a camper to pay their bill
most of our truck stops,had company charge accounts,not com data,if you wanted to listen to music,you had to furnish the radio,cb was just comming in,you could actually have a conversation,if you found another with one,I pulled a 42'trailer,then a 45,next 48,til now a 53,but pay was the same then as now,for most companies,everyone wanted that buck a mile,where I worked,I was paid percentage for drivers pay,union scale @ 29%,truck averaged $1.20 per all miles,
union scale was,$0.23/mile,and $9.32/hour,my percentage pay was more,but we didnt run the line 4 for hourly pay,and we didnt get paid for dead head,or surcharge when it came along,that went to company as they paid for fuel.
This is turning into a book,I know there is more but I'm going to stop before you fall asleep reading this,and let somome else contribute.