Stop ur whining and drive

I remember when the TA in Rawlins, Wyoming was a Rip Griffin's and had full service fuel pumps.

 

My first start in trucking was '77 in a '74 Ford Cabover. California Concrete was not fun in that thing, like to snap your head off from the forward and back rocking.

Howard Johnson's on the PA Turnpike, sitting at the counter next to a driver shaking so hard from his uppers and coffee he was barely able to get the cup to his lips.

Convoys... remember convoys? Nothing like being a rookie in a cabover trying desperately to stay within 20' of the trailer in front of me at 80 mph to stay in the draft, but not so close I'd run into it. I heard it from the other drivers in the convoy if I broke the draft and couldn't keep up with that weak little "engine that couldn't".

 

These are some beer trucks from days past. No I did not drive them!




http://www.slideshare.net/Lavennder/old-beer-trucks-33720138

 

Remember sitting in the bar on sundays,watching football at Gay Johnsons Truckstop,which is now the Flying J in Rawlins.Before the big fire.

 

I once ran in a 10-15 truck convoy across Ohio on the Turnpike back in the 55 truck limit days. Nose to tail running 58 mph. I don't know what the OHP expected, they had a bear every 10 miles.[emoji14]

We had a blast.

 

- Slappin a cow magnet on the back side of the tachygraph, so the printout would be nothing but fuzz.
- Holding your index and middle finger sideways on the two lanes to warn on coming drivers about an ICC check ahead.
- Giving a every on coming driver a friendly wave.
- Slowing way down on the curves so your swingin' beef wouldn't flip you sideways.
- Tossing your sledge hammer on the accelerator pedal while pulling a grade - "hammer down".
- Graduating as a professional driver; being able shift a 5 & 4, smoke a cigarette, and drink a cup of coffee - all at the same time.

To the OP - thanks for posting those pics!

 

oh wernt those air wipers wonderfull , i miss having to jump out and throw up the arm to get the dam thing started .
and then there was cable shift system on my 84 kw coe ..needed a prybar to shift it in cold weather lol.

 

As for the hand throttles, it seemed like the cable was broken more often than not. I remember using the idle sticks that were for sale in every truck stop for a cruise control.

Aladero's in Dunnigan, CA at I-5 and Road 8.

Martha Inn in George, WA. Used to swap out trailers there, get something to eat and head back east.

 

Good old RJ Elliot.........Who would have thought Vitalis wouldn't be around now. TNE was another one.