Differences between driving in the seventies and today

Guess I got lucky. I started with a small O/O type company. My first OTR truck
was a 400HP CAT......it was geared pretty low......didn't go fast but did real good
in the hills of the PA Turnpike. I passed a lot of trucks on the hills. That truck was
spec'd from the factory like that......when the boss ordered it he had intentions of
keeping it for many years. Bought what was one of the best trucks available at that
time...….than he did a good job maintaining it......kept it greased, etc. That truck ran
well for many years......well over a million miles.



As for the current parking situation...… I remember well when we used to park
on ramps......remember the wide spots on the PA Turnpike.....slept well many a
night. Would stop....get fuel.....eat a decent meal....than head down the road till
I got tired......pulled over and went to bed.


The business plan back than is seldom seen today. My boss bought the best
equipment, maintained it well, hired quality drivers......than got out of the way
and let the drivers do their jobs.

 

I had the exact opposite experience on the PA turnpike. 23hp truck trying to get up to New Stanton lol. Big brown rolling road block.

 

>one pump with a very long hose

I get that this is an apt description of fueling procedures back in the day, but at the same time it sounds like the punchline of one of those "who would win?" memes...

Who would win? A big and mean thirsty trucking machine, or one squirty boi with a really long hose?

 

Memory foam? Only memory foam you'd find in my truck is a topper pad I picked up from Walmart when I was buying sandwich supplies at some point. IDK what they use for the factory mattresses in those trucks, but it sure as #### ain't memory foam

 

This thread is making me feel old.

 

Im still kinda living this. I dont think i could have any more freedom from the boss. We get along great and hardly have to speak. A text pickup number and site once a day could get us by for weeks. Works out perfect.

TN is unfortuantely phasing out ramp parking. Which saddens me, it took tremendous effort and suffering to relocate us and our shop here and i did it because i felt they were one of the last states to modernize [read: adopt all the BS that the rest of the moonbats conjure up. ]

 

Sounds like a great deal. Sure aren't many of those left. I am happy with my
current job...….as far as the routes and customers go.....it is a good deal......BUT
the trucks are absolutely the worst garbage I have ever driven. Company is owned
by some bozo's in another state....never met any of them. They couldn't drive a
truck if their life depended on it. To them a truck is a piece of equipment.....like
a wrench or a hammer.....they wouldn't dream of buying something decent that
a driver could actually feel good about driving.


BUT...to be fair.....some of the ding dong drivers they hired over the years
didn't take care of the trucks...….SO....now they just buy the cheapest garbage
they can find.

I enjoy a good home cooked meal......BUT.....I do eat a roller dog every now and
than. I eat ice cream and candy occasionally......SHHHHH....don't tell my doctor.

 

We drive old cat powered petes. The boss is tight on wages but will pour money into his iron without question so thats how i get my bennies. I order a part, slap it on. Hes got a good operator and ive got a good truck. Probably the best rig i'll ever be in.

It, like me, has its quirks.