The way things use to be

if you could get ahold of that 49 bus--that would be something

 

The 49 bus was cool it had a huge flat head inline six I dont know what size??? had air brakes two chrome air horns on the side of it, had 10 hole wheels etc.. the only thing we had trouble with was it would ping or spark knock alot due to crappy gas.. dad drove me to elcentro ca from fort bragg ca when I was 12 becouse the state of california helped me get hearing aids... while we were down there dad traded a 1968 ford van for that bus and he and i got my hearing aids and headed back to fort bragg where my mom and sisters were camped in the woods waiting for us to get back... now we had a house and I could hear...

 

that bus would be worth a small fortune today if it was still in decent shape

 

Well when I drove, it was Polo style shirts and blue jeans. Most of the time boots, but sometimes a good pair of Nike or Reeboks. I care what I look like, simply because I am the person the customers see. I dont think most of the seat warmers the big companies hire today even care if they smell like an NFL linebackers jock strap.

That is sadly where this industry is headed. Put an ultrashift in the truck and open your driver pool by 75%. We are the witnesses to the death of "The American Trucker"

 

I was checkin company websites to see what sorts of things drivers was saying and I come across one big outfit that is orange that had these little movies with drivers saying things they like about the companies and I swear they had two guys driving team that looked like they was sweet on each other and they talked that way too. Now I know folks is not all the same but that ripulzed me to think what might be happening in that sleeper that could be one I'm parked next too to.

People get so strung out on miles and is pushed so hard that they lose there pride in appearance tho shorts is fine if they're clean and have pockets. When a man wears a gym short and sandles and a tank he's showin no class and his underarm and chest hairs to the gals at the window and at the restaurant and that is just trashy. Cover your body and wash your nasty parts and keep the smells down and be kindly to everyone. I f you are in a God aweful hurry at least key the mic and ask a man if he needs a hand when you pass and call a wrecker if he needs it.

Southern Pride- Keep up the good posts and tell us all the details of how you stopped that rig. Thank goodness you saved that man. Did you have to scream to catch him? Was you loaded? Did the State Troopers have to come file out reports on the wreck or was it consitered a wreck? THat's good stuff there that dont' happen- If he wuz alive, Mr. Red Sovine could write a tune about you and that one like that old 309 song!!!

 

Man that is great. Send me a message saying how your truck is marked and if I ever see you at a ts, you meal and coffee is on me. I'll be honest now, I would not have the corage to do what you did and save that drivers life. If you'd done that for me, I'd have named my first born southern pride or maybe your real name (what if your name was darryl and then my daughter was called darryl..hehehehe) Anyway, thanks for sharing that story of your heroism and driving skills. Could you explain your ideads on them air pressures more ? I guess this hombre's kw was a coe sincst he broke his windshield. I bet he dirtied his drawed when he rammed your trailer!!

Good day to you, kindly sir!!!

 

Indeed it is. Much of my interest in the trucking industry came from sitting in coffee shops with my old man on the weekends and hearing his and his friends' "Truckin' Stories" Believe me, they did some trucking and had some stories. I wish I recorded them as most of those guys are gone now.

I agree on the brotherhood bit, but it's an uphill battle nowadays.

 

Yes the brotherhood that USED to be shared on the road is gone now to a degree. Hopefully sites like this can help restore some of that brotherhood as we all start paying it forward. If and it is a big IF people can be inspired by tales of old like Southern pride has related to us om many occassions and learn that it's not about you or the company but more about US as drivers needing to look out for one another and share in the fellowship and the hardship that we all can face on the road....then maybe this industry stands a good chance of becoming the true "DRIVING" force that makes America succeed. thank you Southern Pride and the rest of you old hands out there for helping dry behind our ears

 

Well i want to chime in here. I have only been a driver for a little over 2 months. I remember what rucking was in the old days. I have been around truck stops and truckers my whole life. THey use to look out for each other, they would help each other. You cant even get a person to tell you when there is a accident on the road these days. Or a cop sitting at the bottom of a hill just waiting to catch a speeding trucker not wanting to smoke his brakes on a 6% downgrade. Ive seen bottles filled with urine on the ground not 3 feet from a trashcan. Ive seen bags with feces in it too. That is just disgusting and uncalled for. No reason you cant walk into a restroom to do that. I always try to look professional when i hit a shipper. Throw in a piece of gum so your breath don't smell like garbage, comb your hair, throw on a clean shirt at least. Have some pride in what you do. I have alot of pride in what i do. I think truckers are the life blood of this nation. We move everything from cars, to clothes, to pencils, to guns. I mean if you have it we haul it. Take pride in what you do and in return you will get respect for what you do. Ive heard alot of truckers ##### that they dont get any respect but they are the first ones on the cb at a T/S talking about this hot chick or that hot chick or this dumb driver but they never offer any assistance.

I was at a T/S and watched a guy trying to back into a spot on his blind side. He tried for about 15 min then my trainer got out to spot him. Guess what everyone else was doing? ######## on the cb that he cant drive and needs to leave if he cant park the #### thing. How hard would of it been to get out and help him guide it in? It took my trainer 5 min to get him in that spot. This is what im talking about. No one has the balls to help anyone but they are the first to criticize. I guess its easier to be a "super trucker" from the cab of a parked truck on the cb then it is to get out and help someone.