Back in the day . . .

jim thanks for your reply just setting here in the snow and wondering how much life has really changed .lol dee said /that i,ll find something .to keep my chin up. keep up and someone or thing well come along .i just really wonder?? PLUMBCRAZZY>

 

Remember those old truckin songs like phantom 309, teddy bear, roll on big mama, lol , just listening to white line fever....

 

You mean the Nine-O-Nothing! We had a bunch of them at the old Thomas Produce, Greensboro, NC! Ffaasstt downhill, would jump in high range reverse when it saw a hill!
As long as you did not run it hot, would last forever! The story was that Cummins told Thomas Produce that for every one they had that got a million miles without a rebuild, Cummins would give them a new one! I think at about 6 new ones, Cummins said that was it! They are still being made for the marine industry last I heard!
Jack

 

* Most 4 wheelers had respect for truckers. In fact, many of them had CB's.

* If you got lost, getting accurate directions wasn't that hard to do.

* The EPA wasn't interested in trucks then. Engines that shut off after 5 minutes of idling were unheard of. Trucks with straight exhaust were common.

* The split sleeper provision was actually useful. Didn't have to do a 8-2 split. Could do a 5-5.

* A CB was the most useful tool you could have.

"Bear in the bushes taking pictures at the 55 yard line southbound" I bet newbies don't even know what this means

 

Must of run the klammath river Jim. Shoe string logging? I was up north oakridge area same time frame same trucks.

 

When I was a kid, I remember hearing my uncle and grandpa (both truckers) talk about the debate going on about the 'double nickle.' As far as flashing the lights, I do it because that was how I was taught to do it and it is the right thing to do. Idling trucks can be like music sometimes. I hate super singles! Good music: These days you have to bring your own. Johnny Cash, Waylon,...there are a lot of them.

When I first started driving in 1987, I remember only a few of the full-service truckstops. Always liked them and wish they still existed. My first trucks were cabovers and some (especially the IH's) wasn't comfortable. But that was truckin!

I also watched "Movin' On" and loved it! Made me want to be a trucker even more. The movie "Convoy" is one of my favorites! That black Mack is still my favorite truck of all time!

I always appreciate hearing stories from the 'fathers of trucking.' Keep 'em coming guys! Heck, I've got 26 years in and I am still a newbie compared to some of you guys.

 

"...Back in the day you had R-E-S-P-E-C-T for each other and gave it back. You NEVER wronged a fellow driver no matter what.
Back in the day you helped a fellow driver if they were broke down, sliding 5th wheel/tandems, etc. you worked together not against each other."

amscontr--I agree with you 110%!
The lack of respect between truckers these days is sickening! When you start becoming surprised when a fellow trucker stops to help, or when you get a ’light shake’ to bring it on in, or even a hit back for a radio check, you know things have slid too far away.

For far too many drivers the mentality is, “I’m not a truck driver, I simply drive a truck.” No bear reports, running with the CB off, no response when they do have it on, dangerous lane changes, and on and on.

But, like everything else, it’s a brave (and pathetic) new world out there. Everything is changing and not much of it for the better.

 

Back in 1999 I was traveling south bound I 95 and going around the east side of the Loop around DC. I saw a truck over on the side, ran out of fuel what he did. I pulled in behnd him to see what he needed. Then came a road side service truck and gave him 5 gallons but that was not enough to get him to the next truck stop down the road. So I offered him some of mine, and help the poor sole on down the road. No I did not do it and not tell my boss, for he was glad I did though he was flipping the bill. He under stood the truckers world and said thanks to me for helping a brother out. Years went by and I was driving for a different person, Thought i would make it to the TA on down the road, but on the side the road I ended at out of fuel and no help to come. All I heard on the Ole CB, was trucker laughing at the poor sole who ran out of fuel.

 

Driver, my hats off to you for doing the right thing! Hope your bad experience will not change your mentality. But to all those who would laugh at such a situation...hope they get it back in spades! No sense in that kind of BS!

 

Just 2 years ago I was going down GA 17 just north of Toccoa Ga and I saw a truck over heated on the northbound side. I was in my ragged ole Pickup truck so I did a flip and the next interception and went back to see if the driver needed any help. I offered to go get water but he turned it down, said he had some he add once it had cooled. So nothing else i could so I let him be.