Indian River

I'm part of an even newer generation of truck drivers, starting in 2017. Smart phones were already the standard by then so I've never really used am/fm or satellite radio. I can't imagine if I had to just listen to whatever the stations play instead of my hand picked playlist, hahaha

 

I forgot about that. Very annoying. Sometimes too, by the time you found a strong signal, you'd be getting too far away, and begin to lose it in 5 to 10 minutes and have to start searching again.

Not to mention the 10 minutes of commercials every half hour. See post above, but you'd finally find a station that came in strong only to hit it at the beginning of a commercial segment. Then, sometime in the middle of the first song, the station would fade.

 

I remember having to change out audio books. Both cassette and CD. On top of trying to find a radio station along the way.

 

Thanks, will do.

 

Man, I can't imagine how hard and stressful things must've been back then.

 

LOL. Vs. today? I mean no disrespect, but you must not be very old or been in trucking very long, hence your screen name.

Most of the people on here over 35 or 40 (Don't mean to leave anyone out, just guessing) would probably give just about anything to go to "back then".

Logging on paper, no buzzers or dings or warnings going off constantly in the cab. Your truck braking without warning. No cameras, fueling where and when you want to. No DEF, no emission problems constantly keeping you down and costing a fortune if you're an O/O. No sitting and waiting forever at a fuel island for someone to move so you could get fuel. No going to bed wondering if the front of your truck was still going to be there in the morning. People taking "bath's" in the sink. More courtesy on the road, and I'm sure a mess of other things I can't think of right now, but yeah, stress today vs. "back then?"

I'll take back then.

 

Everything you said is right on. I started to drive in 1969 and retired in 2011 so I can relate to every item that you stated. I miss those old days and glad to be retired. I know that I couldn't pass the hearing portion of the physical anyway.

 

Well said. I started in the 60s and things were definitely less complicated in those days. I drove mostly local and short regional but when I took my turn at OTR I'd go a week, sometimes two, and never speak to the office. They'd leave word at shippers or consignees with our next load. If I ran out of things to do I'd call in.
Today's equipment is a lot more comfortable and easier to drive but everything else is worse. Much worse.