Old timers, was it really better before technology?

left the road in Jan. 2019 to care for late wife at 65 yrs old. was going to back in Nov that yr, but company was changing to auto's with all the nanny buzzer crap and decided I liked puttering around the house. lol

we actually learn the etiquette of the road from being cussed at or told you were being an ###. But, we learned from it and passed it down. Not now, all the rules of the road have been forgotten.

 

I’ve been driving professionally for 26 years. I sure don’t miss paper logs, and I like GPS (though I’m glad I learned how to read a map back then, because only a fool will just enter an address and trust that the darn GPS knows best). I miss good truck stop food, but I have gotten very good at cooking for myself in the truck. I drive with a 10-speed manual, but I drove buses with automatic transmissions for years and liked that too.

 

What days?

70s - very easy, dangerous, and a hard living.
80s - easy, not as dangerous but not as hard of a living.
90's easier, not as dangerous but not as hard of a living as the 80s
2000, it became like driving a car, we noticed bad drivers who again made it dangerous.

Other drivers, be it 4 wheelers or other truckers who were on drugs and alcohol.

What's a gps?

You lived by an atlas, we were all in the same boat whe it came to directions.

Maps, like gas station maps? I had hundreds of them with customer's names on them and specific directions on them, bad habit from the guy who taught me how to drive.

I wish it was 1978 again ...

 

Just adding to my earlier responce. Automatics are here to stay while at 1st didn't want one I grew to like them, Running the Chicago area and other metro big cities the auto is something that grew on me. While I enjoyed my 1st go around in trucking better, I happened to get into tankers my 2nd time around and found I really enjoyed it. Tanker is a whole lot better than the dry van world i was used to. You got 2yrs exp. I say go for it. Been 10+ yrs tanking now and love it. Awsome money and benefits and nothing hard about it. ELDs dont bother me a bit, Not chasing miles in tanker anyway. Now this driver facing cameras thing is where I draw the line, Pointed at the road fine I
guess But not at me It is not happening with me, I'll retire 1st.

 

Still doing it just as I did when I started in 1987, mechanical engine, manual transmission, updated truckers atlas I still own and use, CB radio that stays on, paper log book, I have a gps my wife bought me long ago but it’s use is simply for the mph shown which is pretty accurate, my Speedo is a liar. Big difference today, we have these cellphones which are a double edged sword. Used a coin back then to make a call and find out my wife was in labor and heading to the hospital……

 

The old ways. I ran paper maps until I retired 2 years ago. Called customer for final mile. If around Chicago or other cities and we’re not familiar with low clearance location. I would call non emergency ph # of local fire dept or police station. To get a specific known truck route into customers even in pay phone days. After 33+ years I never tore up my equipment or got myself in a bad situation. Unlike these #####es in a box everyone wants to rely o (GPS). Nope technology only as good as the person using it and you must still use common sense. Not a common trait anymore.

 

The old Thomas guides for Southern CA area were great. But yeah Like you I have boxes of paper maps and Thomas guides

 

This reminds me I used to have a 7 county atlas just for the chicagoland area also had a book of chicago's low clearnce viaducts. Most of the bridges were marked lower than they actually were, I can recall many bridges marked 13' And could still clear a 13'6" under them

 

Oh yes, the old Thomas Guides for SoCal, I still carry those in my truck.

 

Let's not forget Power steering, air ride and air conditioning. Even though I believe the lack of power steering actually helped me learn to back a trailer much quicker. No over steering forsure