Have you ever met a trucker with over 50 years plus?

Our company kept guys, no one would quit. So we had a few with 35 to 40 years and alot with 20 or more years. And I'm talking about the safe drivers because you would see their names in the company newsletter.

A good friend of mine never worked for another company in his life. That includes all jobs. He started as a loader when he was just 16 and when they did away with loaders some guys got together and taught him how to drive.

It's a huge accomplishment to be recognized as a safe driver with the company because they include spills, mixes, scratches, and of course incidents and accidents. We all considered those drivers that made over 30 years as legends and you would be wise to listen to what they had to say. The company also went to them frenquenly about truck matters which I thought was cool.

 

I just can't imagine putting up with the dispatchers garbage for 50 years!!!

I wonder how the conversation goes when some wet behind the ears, college puke dispatcher tries to tell a 50 year veteran how to drive his truck!!!

 

I like listening to old drivers like him. They can tell you some stories!

 

And some of those stories might even be Half true! Lol

 

I agree it's the older guys who have the best stories.

When I worked for the transporting co. Alot of the drivers were retired OTR guys in their 60s & 70s. Lots of times we'd have a 15-18 hr deadhead in the van to get our trucks, I'd get to hear some of their stories. Needless to say it made the trip up go pretty fast!

 

Not every job has bad dispatchers. Ours are all located at one place and the loads are assigned evenly. If you have to toss a load or you want another there's never any trouble from them. It's nice when things run the way they should.

 

I worked with 2 guy's with over 40yrs of driving.. One is in his 70's and still driving.. The other was fired for stupid crap over a yr ago, from my last employer.. He has enjoyed 1 1/2 yrs off, and is going to start driving for my current company starting next week..

 

I've had some great dispatchers over the years Dave!

I've encountered a few bad ones too, But I've never really worked for one of those big carriers with the 20 year old know it all dispatchers either...

'Bout like it went a few weeks ago when some idiot in an England truck came on the CB and told me that I was going down Donner pass wrong...I told him that when he's been going off the hill for as many years as me and can honestly say that he's never smoked a brake on the way down, I'll be interested in what he has to say.

 

One of my good friends grandpa's started when he was 23. He just turned 76 a couple months ago. Back in November or December he decided it was time to hang it up. Then about 2 months ago he went out an bought a brand new truck.

 

The guy that taught me to drive started driving in the mid 1930's and was still driving in 1986 about two weeks before he passed away from cancer...He was an O/O for 45 years of his career.

In my opinion he was a better driver in his seventies than many of the younger drivers are these days.