Trucking in 1942

This is about as elaborate as it got during that period....

1940 Ford tractor.....

 

I assume it was difficult to buy new equipment during the war. You should research Corbett trucks that were manufactured in Henderson, NC during that time. Search on Hank's Truck Pictures.

 

That's what I'm thinking.....

IIRC...Sleepers weren't in trucks back then.....And drivers just basically placed boards across the seats with their feet hanging out the window.....

Anyone who drove back then had more brass than most of us doing it today....

No A/C.....
No power steering.......

No wussies need apply back then.....

 

Yea, steering would suck at low speed. Would have to stand up and crank that big wheel around.
google hanks truck pictures. They have some good pics of White trucks around that year.
They were the parent company of Many current company's at different times.
They owned Diamond T, Western Star, AutoCar, Stirling, and others. Also produced Freightliner for a time.
They were about the largest truck manufacturer at the time in the US, also Mack was good at the time, but White was higher quality.

 

If you use Hanks truck pictures Keep in mind that he is based in western canada and the old Kenworth Pete and Hayes (all the really good trucks) were all western manufactured and would have been rare in NC . But a western logger with a hall scott hi horse power LPG sure would have caused truck envy

 

i hope this may help. In that time the starters of trucks were Manual(big stick). When you didn't have energy you had to turn a handle in front of the motor. The cabs didnt have much isolation it has like hell in the heat. No power steering,the seat was stationary in the button was your tool box, the brakes depended on the strength of your right leg( its pretty hard to describe it to you).to stop the truck + always had 8x8 pieces woods, the all diagrams and connection brakes was copper ,( no hoses) The drivers had a pot next to the manifold were they put food and fifteen minutes starting the truck(driven) their lunch was done.the drives always drinks water from any river and put in the radiators too, The motors ran 65,000 to a 165,000 to make the overhaul. A driver needed to have skills of a mechanic (growing up in a back yard) when you wanted help you needed to send a telegram. The distance between states were weeks not day or hours like this day in time. this is based on what my father told me (I did not live this)