Where have all the Old Timers gone?

Discussion in 'Experienced Truckers' Advice' started by TruckDriversDaughter, May 16, 2022.

  1. TruckDriversDaughter

    TruckDriversDaughter Bobtail Member

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    I’m sure this the wrong place for it, but didn’t know where else this question should go.

    For those of you out there:

    How long have you been driving for?

    What changes are you happy to see?

    What changes are you sad to see?

    And lastly, what do you miss most about your early days of driving?
     
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  3. rbrtwbstr

    rbrtwbstr Road Train Member

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    I've only been driving truck since 2001. And until 2009 driving wasn't my full time job, although it did eat up most of my days. So I can't quite say I'm an old timer, though I'm catching up.

    I can't really think of any laws changed in that time that actually made things better. Seems like every time a new rule comes out, things get a bit worse.

    What do I miss? Well, not really much to be honest. I've done everything I wanted to do behind the wheel of a truck except a west coast turn. And that don't matter to me much. I'm still doing something I enjoy, and doing it the way I like it. I feel fortunate that I run great equipment, without the nanny cameras and crash avoidance systems. I can still exceed the speed limits in the states I travel, if I wish. My company doesn't give me trouble, they leave me alone to do my job as I see fit. I even have the privilege of hitting a deer or 13 without worrying about my DAC report.

    If there's one thing I do miss, it's driver's helping other driver's out when there's a problem. And the truck stop lunch counter stories. Haven't heard a good truckstop lunch counter story in a while. There's not much camaraderie anymore. That's what I miss the most

    Would I do it all over if I had the chance? Probably, but I'd do a few things differently
     
  4. TruckDriversDaughter

    TruckDriversDaughter Bobtail Member

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    Not able to quote you (perhaps I’ve reached my “quote-a”?) but interesting that you’re granted so much leeway in this day and age.

    You must have one those bull guards on that rig of yours if you’re able to smash deer out of the way! Even still, aren’t you worried about them flipping up and coming through the windshield?

    I’ve noticed in Texas, most trucks seems to be locked down at 65 and end up in tandem when attempting to pass, which makes no sense, given that speed limits by vary by state and here it’s 75.

    Curious how that works…do you work for smaller outfit by any chance? It seems that the O/O’s have more freedom in terms of speed, but that’s pure speculation on my part, so feel free to correct me.

    It’s tragic to hear that there isn’t a sense of camaraderie among truckers anymore.

    Technology was supposed to connect people, but it seems to have had the opposite effect. People would much rather stare into their phones than strike up a conversation with a stranger.

    Message boards are really a relic of the past that united people in way that social media never will and it’s wonderful that ones such as this still exist/are active.

    Finally, I’m curious about just what it is that you’d do differently? If that’s something you’re comfortable sharing, of course.

    Looking forward to hearing back from you and others!
     
  5. Grumppy

    Grumppy Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

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    1) 35 years
    2) I dont know too much I am happy about except the money has increased for me as a company driver
    3) over- reaching & ridiculous regulations
    4) real air horns, trucks that will actually go the speed limit then some & sit down restaurants
     
  6. Brandt

    Brandt Road Train Member

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    It seems like it was more fun driving when I first started but that could be from being younger and it was a new adventure when we all start. I kinda miss the old sit down restaurants at the truck stops. Not the food but it seemed like we had more free time to play with. The ELDs kinda stopped that because of the hard 14 hour limit. I'm also not running cross country anymore, so Lossing driving time running back roads and doing more drop and hooks vs just driving all day

    The roads seem so much worse today then I remember when I started. They are so many big holes and seem so rough today.
     
  7. RockinChair

    RockinChair Road Train Member

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    22 years

    Other than the invention of PrePass, not much.

    The end of sit-down restaurants that are open 24 hours, e-logs that don't allow the 15 minutes of flexibility that paper logs allowed, the 14 hour rule, lower quality drivers (by that I mean skills and attitude), and a multitude of other things.

    The fact that trucking was simpler, and sometimes even fun, back then.
     
  8. Brandt

    Brandt Road Train Member

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    Remember when other driver would flash their lights in daytime if the see you were behind a slow truck. Back when JB hunt was still limited to 55MPH it was just normal for other drivers to let you out vs today nobody does that anymore
     
  9. Tall Mike

    Tall Mike Road Train Member

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    ~28 years and three months.

    ~I'm happy for the technology advances in trucks. I drove some sketchy equipment back in the day.

    ~Everything in the industry expense wise has gone up.

    ~I miss the friends I made that are no longer with us. This lifestyle claimed more than one over the years.
     
  10. rbrtwbstr

    rbrtwbstr Road Train Member

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    in the bush somewhere
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    No, but my truck does sit a bit higher than most, so usually if I smack a deer with the bumper, it gets rolled underneath, the bumper is usually junk afterwards, but I never feared it coming back over the hood.

    Yeah we have 20 trucks and an owner that still drives. He leaves us alone for the most part.

    Would've bought my own truck when I was younger
     
  11. supergreatguy

    supergreatguy Road Train Member

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    Went straight to O/O at 23 (27 now)due to being young with a growing family. I’ve been around trucks most of my life, and witnessed trucking take a lot of people I know out of lower income households.

    What I took from trucking is that in the end, I love trucks, but don’t feel happy pulling loads. Imo it’s wise to always have a truck sitting around, because you won’t ever starve if you got one.

    Not much I’ll miss besides long open roads. but I do feel grateful for all I’ve learned.

    It’s a hard life, you either get otr or you get 16 hour days. I plan to exit this year, but will always keep a truck around.
     
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