Student needs to speak with Outlaw Truckers for a paper

PHXKendra · Mar 28, 2012

I'm guessing from reading all the threads that most outlaw truckers are old-school and aren't around. I thought I would be able to hear exciting stories about crazy things they may have hauled. And YES I know what black beauty is because that's another thing I was told was popular among the outlaws. Skateboard man describes what I think an outlaw trucker is.

PHXKendra · Mar 28, 2012

skateboardman said: ↑

i dont think he means an outlaw in the law breakin sense per se. i think he is looking for old time drivers who drove fast trucks, that were decked out, and who absolutely loved running the roads.

they got the job done, and never were late, always had time to help someone out, and could fix about anything to make it in.

things were somewhat different years ago, there are few fast trucks and even fewer fast women these days.

i guess none of you would even know what a black beauty was, wouldnt know hand signals warning of things up ahead, but as waylon jennings said " ladies love outlaws"
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You nailed it. Thank you.

PHXKendra · Mar 28, 2012

I am also interested in why people are not a fan of outlaws because I want to present both sides of course.

This subject interests me because I have always been fascinated by those who don't live by the rules.

PHXKendra · Mar 28, 2012

brsims said: ↑

Kendra, very few truckers ever pulled drugs, guns, stolen cars, or anything like that. Even among the 'outlaws'. That stuff was done by smugglers, and you won't find any of those here. Smugglers are rarely properly licensed, and don't typically run the 'big roads'. Generally, they don't even run Big Rigs. Most smuggling is done using aircraft, cargo vans, or good sized pickup trucks.

"Outlaw Truckers", and the culture around them, is more about getting the job done without government over-regulation. The greatest cause behind outlaw trucking is the reciever's desire to have thier freight yesterday, and the driver can't pick it up until tomorrow. We accept the job of delivering the freight, and run until it's done.

I had my "outlaw" days as a young driver, and they were probably the most fun I've ever had while upright with my clothes on! One company I was with loved the fact I could do the "Chicago turnaround" as we called it. I ran out of Zelienople, PA (down by Pittsburgh, PA) straight up to Chicago and back. Back then, it was a ten hour drive one-way. I'd run up, drop my load, grab a backhaul if available, and run straight back. Do that two or three times in a row, and take the rest of the week off. Company paid me a fair amount of "extra" for doing it, cause it made us look real good to the contracted shipper. No illegal drugs used, just alot of caffeine and ephedrine to keep my eyes open.

Nowadays, I don't run that hard anymore. Heck, I don't run period since I'm currently retired from trucking and in college like yourself. But I got plenty of stories from my outlaw days, and some pretty good ones from later in my career, when I had quite driving like an "outlaw", but never lost the attitude...
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Perfect. That's a good story.

PHXKendra · Mar 28, 2012

PHXKendra said: ↑

I'll save the Trucker Hero for a fuzzy-feel good story. Thanks for the story idea.
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I was being sincere.

PHXKendra · Mar 28, 2012

ac120 said: ↑

Consider this a job interview, Kendra. Why would I talk to you when I don't know who you are?

"Outlaw Trucker." Why the caps? You seem to think there is or was an "outlaw trucker culture," that the topic would make a fine magazine article (I realize this is an assignment), and that people who had broken a few laws would give it up to a voice on the phone. So someone told you "wonderful, exciting stories" and you believed him. Did you do any fact checking or background reading for depth? Where did you get your ideas? A Burt Reynolds movie? A "reality" show? A video game? There's nothing wrong with being naive, but why push it?

Ah ... attitude. First rule of journalism: don't insult your sources.

This is ridiculous. You were "told"? I mean no disrespect, Kendra, but you have no idea what you're talking about. Cronkite's rolling over in his grave.

There's no need for phone calls or emails. Just post your questions.
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This may double post because the first one didn't go through.

I am not just wanting to know about laws an outlaw may have broken. I want to know the culture of the outlaw truckers for instance the impact on their families, how they were treated by union truckers or cops, ect. I'm trying to shine light on a culture that seems to be long past so people can know they existed. I do not judge when others tell me their stories (because everyone has a story). I have no idea what I put caps on Outlaw Truckers.

PHXKendra · Mar 28, 2012

Some of my other questions are:

Has there every been a woman outlaw?

Is it a lonely life?

Did any of you outlaws someone you traveled with a companion? For instance a dog that permanently lived in the cab, ect.

What did you name your truck?

In your opinion what is the most beautiful part of the country?

What music do you prefer when on the road?

What's the longest you ever drove (in hours)?

tracyq144 · Mar 28, 2012

PHXKendra, hopefully you can get the "real deal" for your assignment. It's not a bad goal to document this aspect of trucking, but, alas, those days are mostly gone, AFAIK.

I started out in 1986, and in those days, a trucker got a pickup time, and a delivery time. What one did between those two times was ALL up to the driver. And it was GREAT! It was the most freedom I had ever had while still making a good buck.

As far as I was concerned (and I think this went for most drivers), all the rules and regulations were merely "suggestions". LOL.

No longer, I am afraid. Even for those who don't have EOBR's, the ability to track fueling times and toll receipts have pretty much forced all of us to run completely "legal". By the rules.

What used to be an absolutely fun, great job has turned into just another way to make a buck, and not a very good one, at that.

Good luck on your assignment, might be a little more compelling to compare "yesterday" and "today".

TheRoadWarrior · Mar 28, 2012

Black Beautys and California turn arounds... Those days are long gone .....but yes you do see some of these new drivers doing meth and crack.... To get the load there and get paid what we use to get was a bonus for getting there early we ran on Beautys and Cali's...your right we ate chips and downed coffee and put er in the big hole and didnt let up....a choke and puke when ya had time was like a gourmet dinner...

Hardlyevr · Mar 28, 2012

Perhaps you might want to look at a different type of trucking, back prior to the '80's everything was regulated in the US, but there were a few guys known as Wildcatters that ran and were VERY independent. Sure some of them were also outlaws, but the majority of them were NOT the criminal element you seem to want to glamorize.

Today it is much easier for an individual to get their own authority to haul freight where that they want or can service.

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