Where have all the Old Timers gone?

I was born in 94 but grew up just by white's truck stop and always had truckers in the family and neighborhood. Always heard them complaining about the deregulation and how bad it's become in the early 00s and were retiring early. Now the guys that's replaced them are the old timers to today.

 

I retired, thank god, before the steering wheel holder, cell phone addicted drivers came to be the majority.

 

Part of the parking shortage is from all the mom and pops that shut down. Take and combine all those that shut down and that's a lot less spaces to park

 

I am not an old timer but have a few miles behind me. Started in 89 and everyone seemed to be friendlier and more respect. I remember you could start your run and if you wanted to stop and take a nap, visit someone, etc....you could without running out your clock or breaking out a second log book. Too much trash talk on the cb nowdays. Someone mentioned oversight and yes there is too much that is labeled as safety related but it should be labeled as more controlling. Retired for two years today.

 

Fine Right Here.

I'm still "out there", literally where the bus routes are not, just not 40 Ton Wheelin'.

Things I recall from 1998 to 2021:
COMRADERIE Both On The Roads and Parked Up At Truck Stops as well In
Truck Stop Rest and u rants, when Phones were available at ALL TABLES.

Game Rooms For More COMRADERIE.
Smoking IN Buildings Was NOT a Problem.

When WHITE'S At Exit 205, I-81, Virginia, WAS Still A Quality Truck Stop.

Chatting Away On The C.B., Parked Up, When Traffic Chatter was flowing Like On An Open Interstate (I-10) in Texas.

When Drivers DID NOT Park On Fuel Islands for 1 hour Plus, Unless Broken Down.

When Groups Of Trucks Travelled Safely TOGETHER In Bad Weather (Fog, Ice, Snow, other), at Night and Day.

WHEN Any Driver Was Parked In A Breakdown Lane with Flashers Flashing, Responses Were Had On C.B.s Regarding Their Status (unless The Drivers Were Seen Outside), Then Someone Would Stop.

When Some Shippers/Receivers Actually Gave A Hoot To Not Pollute Our Patience & Tolerance Levels.

When There Were LESS Scale Houses, Less Rules, Less Aggravations, Less Speed Limiters,
Less Auto-Shift (Except Switcher Trucks), When Comic/Coloring Books Still Ruled, $5.00 Dollar Showers as well So MANY EXTRA Shower Tickets From Fueling, NO E-LOGS, No NANNY CRUD, NO Driver Facing Cameras, No Alarm When Backing Up With Door Open, and the newer other negatives.

That's Enuf.
CHEERS!!

 

There are still a few oldsters left. My dad just hit 60 years as a driver this year. Everything i know about trucks i learned from him and grandpa who hit 72 years as a driver before he died at 90. Though dad is just about done with trucking. His opinion is and i quote "im too #### old to be playing these BS games with the dot anymore".

That said i have just over a decade myself and even i remimber it not being that bad when i started. Seemed to really start getting nasty very fast around 14 though.

 

####!!! both of them put in some time. My dad and uncle both hit the 40 year mark this year

 

don't forget, always free coffee at the fuel desk!!

 

You either got along with it or found another line of work pretty quick. Driving examiners these days pass a lot of people that something with a 220 and a 4+4 wouldn’t.