Finally putting it on the road

Never drove a truck with reyco but I've heard when everything is new and tight they ride pretty good loaded

 

Just so we keep it accurate, you probably meant you had your Chauffer's License, as the the CDL was only formulated and put into legislation in 1986. It hadn't been implemented yet, so technically, you couldn't have had your CDL that year.

In the United States, the Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1986 established minimum requirements that must be met when a state issues a CDL.[1]​

and

Drivers have been required to have a commercial driver's license (CDL) in order to drive certain commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) since April 1, 1992.​

Not being snide, just pointing out the slight memory distortion we all kind of suffer after so much time. The rest of your story I can neither confirm nor deny.

I get that it seems like forever since we drove from that point in time, but it's technically incorrect and I don't want you to get tripped up by someone less understanding and more sarcastic
(If that's possible.)

 

1st truck I owned (1973 Cabover Kenworth) had Reyco, as well as 10:00-20 bias ply on Dayton wheels. When you’re in your 20’s and feeling like your made of rawhide and spring steel that reyco suspension is the last of your thoughts lol. It rides better with a load for sure….

 

Congratulations!!

 

My '82 Western Star, which was basically a White with the same components as your truck, had that White "Reyco" spring ride, and I pulled RR containers out of Chicago. I broke 2 springs in a month, not to mention the sleeper mounts, I said, that's it, and had a local truck yard cut the back off behind the sleeper,, and graft a Pete Air Leaf on. It made a WORLD of difference, and was well worth the change.
In a sidebar, I see so many times, newer trucks, some not even 2 years old, some BRAND NEW, with all kinds of problems, mostly electrical. I can say without reservation, in the 3 years I had that truck, not so much as a light blink or gauge malfunction, on ANY older truck I drove, now that I think of it. You couldn't GIVE me a newer truck. Good luck, I like your style!

 

It’s quite possible

I went to a truck driving class at the closest vocational school, I don’t remember exactly when the license changed . that was a long time ago .

 

I took a simple driving test in a dump truck and they upgraded me to a commercial license in the 1970s in texas. Later they came up with the cdl and i was grandfathered in.

 

I started out with a chauffeur license in 1987. Cost $25 if memory is correct. Before I got the 73 Cabover in 87 I was driving medium duty trucks, like the 74 GMC 7000 with a vacuum operated 2 speed differential. Only needed a regular drivers license then, at least that’s the way it was here in WV.

Think it was 93?? When the CDL became mandatory for everyone….? Another big $$ gimmick to my notion.