Knights of the highway

Deregulation.
That's when companies started the downward spiral of freight pricing, and paid for it with driver's pay. Which has eventually turned into drivers squeezing every minute of everyday for that cents per mile pay. So courtesy, helpfulness, and respect have been left in the dust.

 

I like what Moosetek13 said (#7). My experience is that the large majority of younger people today (I'm 74, so anything under 50 is younger) are just fine. So are the older folk. However, we live in a litigious society, more so than ever before. And that culture conflicts with most everything that is honest, trustworthy and admirable about the human race. IMHO.

 

Today's truck drivers are just reflecting the moral values of today's society. Honestly today I might be in the minority, but I had rather you just keep on going and not stop if I am also stopped. (loads constantly being hijacked and/or drivers killed). I am a retired driver. My last 10 years on the road and in some situations since my retirement with things I have seen and heard about I am sickened that there is as much human trash as there is driving trucks. If I could change it I would. Something happened in the early 70s just after the national 55 MPH speed limit was set. ( I know states could op out at the risk of their highway money). Then drivers all over started using CB's. After several TV shows and a song or two glamorized trucking the stage was set. After close to 35 years later all I can say was one of the happiest days of my life was the day I cleaned out my truck and went home. I have never really wanted to go back.

 

Cellphones, "diversity", drug crime / drug war, lawsuits.

 

Good luck trying to correct the behavior of someone that hasn't noticed there are other trucks in the country.

 

I'll stop in the day light.
When the dark falls, however, I don't trust anyone: you're on your own and I expect to be.

 

Don't tell anyone about this... and I don't believe it's a qualification for knight hood.

If possible, on occasion I've pulled out a few that were stuck. Money has been offered for the help, I've said no thanks just pass on helping hand in someway to another.

It doesn't stop there, there are still ways to help out a fellow driver.

 

Tech has it's place but I've never missed stopping to hit a pay phone, that call to dispatch in the morning and evening.