Would you quit if forced on eLogs?

You know what four things affected the trucking industry the most...more than HOS changes and EOBR's?

1. Automatic Transmissions
2. Power Steering
3. Air-ride
4. Auto-slacks

Because before those four items were the norm....Only real truck drivers drove trucks....

Now...We have whinny Steering wheel Holders.....

 

I would add "air conditioning" to the list, Working Class Patriot. We didn't have a/c in trucks when I first started.

 

Yeah we did....We rolled down the windows.....

 

Another would have to be the 9 speed transmission. Anyone can drive these. Go back to the 21 speed and ween some of the non truckers out of the industry.

 

21 speed? Never heard of that one....




American Trucker

 

Well if you want to get technical.....
It was the advent of the RTO/RTU trannies....

Before that....The "Brownies" were The transmissions......

Man....Can you imagine pairing a 6 On 4 with a 650 hp engine.........You could crawl up the Empire State Building with an OW load......

 

A 6 on 4 missing 3 gears?......

 

I would have to disagree with the above statements.. Now the only automatic truck I have driven was a city garbage truck for collections never have I driven a automatic tractor-trailer...

I would have to say people must not like change.. Rather then agree with saying change is good some of you the old-timers just think it is easier to say that the new generation of drivers are steering wheel holders... Well news flash we are still doing the same thing as you did years ago.. Pick up loads and drop of loads.. The industry is just evolving to become more efficient and safe...

I agree some drivers of the new age shouldn't be behind the wheel of a rig but you can't group everyone together.. There is still lots of responsibility involved when operating one of these rigs.. So if you think because they have made trucks more driver friendly makes you less of a truck driver then you are sadly mistaken.. Your just too stuck in your old ways that you don't want to accept change.. No worries..

Automatics - Great for the guys who can't shift.. I wouldn't want to drive an automatic but I have heard in magazines and from drivers (O/O and company) that they love them and this is coming from some guys who were from the old days.. Just cause I guy can't shift a truck doesn't mean he can drive it down the road, around corners and into docks safety... Not driving a standard transmission doesn't make you any less of a trucker .. do you drive an automatic personal vehicle? If so are you saying that cause I drive a standard car and you drive a automatic car that I am a better driver then you??

Power-Steering - This is safer then cranking the wheel without power steering.. I have driven a few trucks without power steering and I am glad they have power steering now.. Doesn't make me a steering wheel holder it makes me someone who appreciates making life easier for the driver..

Air-Ride - This isn't just a comfort thing for drivers but it also is good for loads as well... I mean companies paid extra to have air-ride equipped trailers used at one point.. It lesses the stress that a load will take because it soften the ride.. This is a good change for both the driver and the shippment

Auto-Slacks - I am partial to this.. I think they are a good idea but they also provoke laziness... I think this is where you get the steering wheel holder vs what you would say is a "trucker" ... Guy will be lazy and think that these things are bullet proof and then never check them.. I work with guys who don't get under the trailers and I am shocked!!!! (these guys ARE from the old days)... Me on the other hand check them and make sure they are working correctly.. Now although your not suppose to adjust them as this means a bad slack adjuster I know our mechanic still just adjust then rather then replace which I don't agree with but as long as my brakes are adjusted correctly it shouldn't matter I suppose.. Again I think these are a good idea but I also think it makes drivers less aware about checking brakes (by the way I hold a ticket to adjust brakes)

A/C - Total comfort.. Not needed but again helps the drivers out in the hot temps.. I personally don't use A/C that much (in my big truck or my own vehicles) I prefer fresh air... During sleeping nights tho sure I love it cause there is no air flow at night like when you driving down the highway..

So I would disagree about what you say in IMHO... I think what makes a good truck driver stretches beyond these changes.. I'd rather have a guy who can handle his truck in a safe matter and call him a trucker then have a guy who is an ####### on the roads that has standard tranny, manual slacks, no a/c, spring suspension and no power steering..

Not an attack.. just my view..

 

OK....we're talking mentality here....

Back when I was a kid...The majority of truckers were gentlemen....Today not so much....

How many fat-filthy-"wife-beater" wearing with sandals truckers were around 40 years ago?

I would say none....
Today...If you threw a rock at any truck stop parking lot....You'd hit plenty...

 

Also when I was a young driver....We had to know how to work on a rig...
Today....There are the Steering Wheel Holders that won't even change fuses or lamps.....Or is it they don't know how?