Where is everyone #5

First truck I ever drove was a 67 r model Mack. 673p putting out a blistering 178 hp. No ps, no a/c, no brakes on the steer axle top speed of 53 mph. It was 30 years old and the biggest pile of #### on the road. Trust me I appreciate a modern truck. But at 18 I felt like a king leaving the quarry with 13 ton of #57

 

Yea, what did the physics experts think a wheel stud does? Let alone at a rotational force to boot. This is why in nature some mothers eat their young.

 

First road tractor I rode in was a R model. That was 1975 if I remember correctly. Aunt Virginia had bought a new trailer for her property on around the mountain, her brother uncle Herman used his bosses R model with a lowboy to bring the case dozer and cut her lot out bigger. I had already been bit by the trucking bug watching Movin On on tv, this just fueled my fire. Pretty sure it had a 237 / 5 spd. Always liked the looks of a R model.

I too am glad of the newer features in trucks, especially the power steering, Dr said I rheumatoid arthritis and that’s why my hands hurt and fingers lock up in the mornings. I hate the small diameter steering wheel on my bucket of bolts, but at least I can turn it with one hand….

 

I used to work on an R model dump. Camel back was wore ### out quite possibly the squirrelly est pos I ever drove 10 miles. 237 Maxidyne and a 5 speed.

Drove a 77 Transtar II for a couple weeks one time. A model CAT an 8 under (also known as 13 direct) the back box was an under drive not over. But it would still split up top like a 13. RT12513 I believe was model. It was tall cotton Budd wheels aluminum steers and chrome steels out back. Never liked the whole being first on the scene of the crash idea.


However I was a spoiled rich kid I’m not old enough to remember the poor days. All I’ve ever owned have been fairly nice ol Pete’s. Except for 1 W9 that was a Aerodyne 1 with a Detroit and a performance 9 speed. Just wasn’t our cup of tea.

I was at a grand opening feed in Batesville this week ran into a prominent figure in the trucking business there. We are talking and he says hows trucking treating you. It was a punch in the gut to tell him I’m parked and working in my shop. He tells me nothing wrong with that he has recently sold out too. In that conversation he says you know yall had the nicest fleet of trucks in the state. Julian and I both were jealous as hell we couldn’t have that kinda equipment. I only tell that to make the point of I’m not self made, i didn’t claw my way to the top on my own. I have no idea what it’s like to drive harder equipment.

 

company driver rhetoric....the shop foreman told me so.
the Canadian air brake license endorsement is our certification with the possible exception of Ontario's Z endorsement.

 

Don’t get me wrong. I’ve drove some turds. But I’m not where I’m at today without some help along the way.

 

That’s what really started me down this rabbit hole. Everyone now seems like they are scared or just come up with excuses to be lazy sacks of ####. Then try to justify it with some BS. Then go around bothering a working man, about some horse #### that a company told them. Instead of replacing a chamber they will waste a whole day and 800 bucks to pay some dip #### at the truck stop to do it. There was a time when most drivers would have changed it out in 30 minutes and been on the way.

These guys out here now are useless.

 

I should send the state a bill for trimming all their #### trees.

 

The first truck I drove was an early 70’s GmC Astro Cabover. 318 Detroit with a 13 speed. Power steering, that didn’t work, tilt steering that didn’t lock, no ac, not much heat, 20 foot grain box pulling a grain pup or a combine.

 

Up here it was a Freightliner coe with hot 318 with a 13 and 4.63gears and a 2200 mile loaded miles in 2 days with a 12 hour "walkoff rest stop" in Thunder bay. Load in southern Alberta and deliver in Toronto area. Lots of toothpicks.