Where have all the Old Timers gone?

Hey, get off my lawn( if I had one) and get a haircut,( if we had hair). I'm just teasing, dear, I'm glad you have an interest. It's refreshing, to say the least.
It's tough to compare our trucking to todays trucking. So many changes, our views and what we held dear, no longer exist. I took my daughter with me many times, and she loved it. I think it made her a better driver too. I'd say, without question, it's the great friends I had, that would give you one of their steer tires to make a delivery, figuratively speaking, of course. You had to, there were no cell phones, we were on our own. Speaking of cell phones, I can't think of a more destructive device to ever be in a truck. It went from "just get there safely", to "where are you now,,,how about now?" It's the smoking gun as to why there are so many pileups today. I say, that, and all the offshoots, ELDs, GPS, HOS, etc. has changed the job so much, I didn't want to be part of it. Trucks have become so user friendly, you don't need friends to help you, help is just a push of a button away.
Re: Deer guards. BEST INVENTION EVER! I'm no tree hugger or PETA follower, and animals cause literally millions in damage. I know, it's not the deers fault, but in a modern society, there's no place for them. They breed like rats with no natural enemies. I talked to a guy when those deer guards 1st came out, I said, "have you hit a deer yet?" He said no, but was kind of looking forward to it.
Re: truck speeds. Most company trucks are limited to 63 mph. It's 100% the idiot drivers fault, for trying to pass ANOTHER 63 mph truck. It's called "elephant races". If you experience 2 trucks doing that, call the passing trucks company and inform them of that, give location and the TRUCK cab #, not the trailer #, and they will reprimand them,,some. Not too much, or they'll quit, then what? A good rule of thumb, if the truck has a lot of chrome and 2 exhaust stacks, it's an O/O, and no speed limiters, but the cost of operation is making them dinosaurs.
I'm not sure what the future holds, it doesn't look too good, from an old timers view. Things are going to get a lot worse before they get better, THAT'S a given. If you are even half considering of following in the old mans shoes, I strongly don't recommend it. I'm sure your dad would feel the same way.
Thanks for your interest, especially if your dad is gone, I'm sure he told you a couple stories that would curl your hair. When they took the "fun" out of it, it's really a crappy job,,,

 

Im sad to see the lot lizards go......

Lol I am playing. I'm a long way from an old timer, as I've only got 13 years in. I like to eat so truck stops evolving to more "grab and go" food seems to be fading away. Every once in a while I feel the pressure of being out on the road, because of thr fact that I have to miss everything involving my kids and family. It's so much sacrifice. In the end though, to contribute to society this way makes it worth it to me. Personally I do like elogs. That only made my job so much easier. I was glad for that change. I like the trucks we drive now, as they look sharp and ride great! I still do like the lifestyle even though its hard. I still do love the greatest show on earth and that's the scenery from around the country. It's something about a sunset west of the Mississippi.

 

15 years
The rest of my answers are the same as Grumppy. Seriously, he said it best.

 

First driving job in 1972. Regional Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and New Mexico.
Diesel was 29 cents a gallon.
Got 5-6 cents cash(real money in hand) back for each gallon if you put it on a charge card.
76(Big Orange Ball) was the dominate truck stop in my southwest area.
Real sit down restaurant with a section just for driver's.
Paper logs that could be made to fit any situation.
AM radio with clear channel radio stations you could hear cross country at night.

And mostly, driver's were friendly.

And the bad side was when they past the 55 MPH national speed limit.

 

Since 1983 at the age of 10 when I ran cow trucks down lease roads in south Tejas ranches with my uncle and moved water well drilling rigs with my grandfather in rural areas.
The main thing that soured and ran off the old hands I grew up with over time (other then age and health) was the over regulation that made the CDL into a joke. It is nothing more then an avenue for revenue and control. The license means nothing in the sceme of things. You are no better a driver with one. I know any old timer that started before 1992 would agree.

 

Awesome response! Just get a Harley if you don’t already have one and that road friendship will come back

 

When I started there was always plenty of parking, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Now there's a severe shortage of parking. What to do? Elog puts the driver in violation for driving over hours and risk being fired.
Police know this and see a chance to write fat tickets for illegal parking.
Predatory towing companies know about it and get rich with outlandish fees for towing trucks.

 

Most of the old timers have died.

 

Since I consider old timers to be drivers from before the internet was invented, I figure most are retired or dead. But for the guys with 15-20 years experience that consider themselves old timers I reckon, I come across them all the time.