next time you think you have something to complain about

I don't think the loads those guys haul would be classified as "LTL", Kid. I'm thinkin' it'd be more like OTL, (Over The Limit).

Seein' what they have to endure in other, less developed countries, makes me think about what the early pioneers in America, --- with two to four, or maybe six to eight horses, mules or oxen for power, --- had to contend with while crossing this Country from the east through the Gateway to the West, traveling through uncharted territory sometimes, without the aid of a Rand McNalley Official Motorless Carriers' Road Atlas, --- with hostile natives in them thar hills, sometimes launchin' fabric piercin' pointed projectiles. Besides muddy bogs to get through, sometimes, they had the Mighty Mississippi and Missouri Rivers, and the Colorado River, --- if they were headed for California, --- to ford every time.

Too bad there's no video of the early pioneer's trek, or of the first mail service, --- the Pony Express. Although the Pony Riders service was short-lived, --- made obsolete when the Golden Spike was driven, and telegraph wires were strung on poles stuck in the ground along side the tracks, --- I wonder what the Pony Rider's pension plan consisted of?

I think it's safe to assume that if the rules and regulations we have today for Big truck truckin' were implemented back in the day, there'd still be only 13 Colonies and the West would still be wild and mostly unsettled. No Hollyweird makin' movies and it'd be more than a hundred years until the natives opened their first casino in California, --- Viejo Meh-he-ko back then, --- (no Alamo to remember, yet, pre-Davy Crockett) --- affording them the clout to contribute and influence political candidates outside their Nation within a Nation, while allowing no outside influence on their reservations.
Communication was the key to the door, and learning to speak with a forked tongue cinched their success.

Over weight, over dimension, over length, over height, over hours, over their head and severely under insured, --- with the ICC, DOT, ASPCA, OSHA, ATA, MADD, CRASH, MATT, lawyers and unions, keepin' a watchful eye on the pioneers to keep 'em in line, --- while the renegade and outlaw muleskinners, (later to become the original "Teamsters" union), refused to conform, preferring instead to run under their own authority and ignoring HOS regulations, rakin' in big profits while evading taxes that pay for those government provided services. Some thangs would remain unchanged.

By golly, .......... we've come a long way since back in the day.
Just think, what used to be a useless, worthless by-product of refining crude into oil, --- that as few as 60 years ago sold for around ten or fifteen cents a gallon, sells now-a-daze for close to five bucks 9/10ths. I think they call that "progress", inflated no doubt.
My biggest concern right now is, .......................

Uhhhhh, ---- Have I gone and digressed again?
Sorry 'bout that.
My bad.

:smt047
​

 

I'm going to have to check out that video of Tail of the Dragon. I'm very familiar with the road being a rider myself although I haven't had the chance to ride that particular one yet. I stress 'yet'. But knowing how this road is frequented by bikers I can't imagine truckers driving the same road.

Should be an interesting video. I look forward to checking it out.

 

I hate jobs that make you feel like you are stuck in a rut..........:0

 

Video also shows what happens if there isn't a goverment.
That road was once paved.
Then the gov went downhill..............so did the road.
Just something to think about.

I tip my hat to those drivers,nobody can call them steeringwheelholders.

 

Here is a link to the dragon website. click on trucks on the truck to see pics of where your momma said you shouldn't be. It reminds me of Rt 60 through Buena Vista a few years ago that USX liked to route everyone on.

http://tailofthedragon.com/dragon.html

 

In my twenties I used to ride a fire road on my dirtbike like that only, it was about 20 miles long. I used to be so sore after beating it both ways in about 8 hours and whine for 8 more hours. I can't imagine what those guys feel like after a trip of that .....30 days of the same thing youch

 

As if 403 miles taking a whole month to do, didn't the narrator say the driver got $300 for the trip? I hope he asked for a raise after that!

But ya, I'd rather face that road then the one in India on IRT Deadliest Roads. At least those drivers in the Congo don't have to face the crazy traffic. For the most part it's just you, the truck and the road you have to fight.

 

http://tailofthedragon.com/video/movie_files/trucks.WMV

http://tailofthedragon.com/dragon_trucks.html

 

There's a major highway in Mexico, MX40 between Mazatlan and Durango that's very much like the Dragon . Just imagine Deals Gap with turnpike doubles going through it. It's known as El Espino del Diablo (The Devils Spine) and is roughly 195 miles long and takes upwards of 10 hours to cross. Last I heard it was being bypassed by MX40D which will be a toll road.

 

Should have driven in Portugal 20y ago.
Going to Porto there was a bend that a semi couldn't take in 1 go.
And that road was marked on the map as the highway.