How much better was it back in the day

Discussion in 'Experienced Truckers' Advice' started by ronjeremyjr, Apr 30, 2020.

  1. black_dog106

    black_dog106 Road Train Member

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    We had to think ahead, planned the next day. Made our phone calls the day/night before. Now everything is this minute.
    Keep your head down, do the job and made a good living.
    Truck drivers were heroes and everyone liked trucks.
    The general motoring public was courteous and even accomodating, almost always yielding to the truck. Today, everyone hates trucks and truck drivers, scum of the earth.
    There was solidarity, not the all for me and f you mentality. A driver had a flat tire, there would be 2-3 trucks stopped, helping him change the tire. Every car and truck moved over to make room. Today trucks run you over. No one changes tires anymore, so the tire service battles the traffic now.
    If you were stopped on the side of the road, there was a constant question from the CB, checking on you, if you had a problem, could they help.
    The modern electronic era has dumbed down this country even more. Tough day when we have to open an atlas or make a call to the shipper/receiver for directions. GPS satellites stop working and this country is going to be f'd.
    If one got bagged for a violation, paid the fine and that was the end. No points, no surcharges and on...
    Reyco was the highway suspension, walking beam for off road, so one slowed down on the rough roads. Mosr drivers today the motto is "hammer down". Still a few drivers today with pride and class in taking care of their equipment and not abusing it. There is a big difference in talking about it and actually doing it.
    Someone would sponsor you to get your class 1 license. No stupid, expensive driving schools. Someone tells me that they want to get their license nowadays, I ask them if they fell down and hit their head. I tell them not to do, they will be sorry.
    Yep, trucking has got so much better.
     
    Last edited: May 1, 2020
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  3. SmallPackage

    SmallPackage Road Train Member

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    That is so true on the help on the road of days past. I replaced the damper on my engine a few months back and after running around for an hour I decided to pull over in a vacant dirt lot off a county rd and check the torque on the bolts. I got 2 lifetime friends that sold out and are now driving for the same company. They happened to both drive by me with my hoods up and all I heard was a beep beep. They don’t have airhorns and can’t have cb’s in those co trucks and because of the elog bs CAN’T STOP! Because of driver facing cams they texted me an hour later when they got to their stop and out of the truck “ Are You Ok?”
     
  4. Roguefox

    Roguefox Light Load Member

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    Dont forget cell phones, real nice to be able to talk to your loved ones anywhere anytime. I make way more money today than "back in the day" and drive maybe 3/4 the miles. Anyone who misses calling shippers and receivers for directions is really soft in the head.
     
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  5. Coffey

    Coffey Heavy Load Member

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    I got a question for y'all how did you make them 5000 mile week Look legal on paper?
    Did you all just not turn in paperwork or what
     
  6. Dennixx

    Dennixx Road Train Member

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    Time perception and memory are funny things.
    Us old dudes say the past was better and our fathers and grandfathers would argue times past were simpler and better than ours.
    Technology nonwithstanding, the attitudes in general and of folks driving and people in general were more positive.
    I'd wager that the young cats today and those just starting out will talk about the "old days" and how it was better "back when."
     
    Brettj3876, MACK E-6 and alds Thank this.
  7. Deere hunter

    Deere hunter Road Train Member

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    In 20 years or less this will be the good ole days. You know it!
     
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  8. Dennixx

    Dennixx Road Train Member

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    2 or 3 books
    1 was current and the next was backed up 8 hrs.
    When you stopped you switched, you'd show yourself just starting out after 8 in the bunk.
     
  9. Coffey

    Coffey Heavy Load Member

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    I get that but I'm more worried about turning them in to the office how do you get all your paperwork work looking good in case an audit comes or something like that
     
  10. Coffey

    Coffey Heavy Load Member

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    Cause there no way to run 5000+ mile solo in 70 hours
     
  11. Dennixx

    Dennixx Road Train Member

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    5K in 70 was never my speed but solo I'd run 4K+
    turns, midwest to AZ then CA and back in 5 or 6 days. Office didn't care as long as logs showed a legal run. We did not have a reset back then.
    Even into the mid 1990s I could run 2K w 25 stops on a Saturday Sunday run then be back at my regular job on Monday 6am.
     
    Coffey Thanks this.
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