Back in my day...

The driver was playing games.
However, I would not be worried about him rear ending you if you are slowing a mile or two at a time. It's enough to irritate him, but not enough for him to hit you.

 

Well, Back in those days- Keeping our customer happy with service at THEIR convenience was our #1 priority- I Never did the black beauties or Cola........Did I Fail to run a log,Of Course,Many did to Service the Customer.... Different Time back Then- Roads are Bigger these days-3 times as much traffic- More Idiots to share the Road with etc.

trucks have become more Comfy- But Id Trade that in a second to share the roads once again With Men that were Truckers at heart- And Showed it amongst their peers.

Its almost like you can't call many of these Folks 'Truck Drivers" Anymore- They don't Fit the bill in their Appearance and Their Driving Habits........

 

I'm sorry, but the customer is NOT always right.
Nor to be pandered to when we have rules to follow and safety to consider.

And a REAL man does not put other lives in danger because of trivial crap like that!

 

As I Respect your post- I said,It was a different time back then- If you weren't driving then-Its hard for some to understand.

Family and our Customers were #1 Priority.helping each other was also top in daily activities......

Better attitudes back then- positive talk with each other......Believe me moosetek, We did things with Risk, but in large scheme of everything- Just a better overall outcome then the Ratrace of Today with Drivers running around without any discipline whatsoever,Let alone a Heart to be a Driver.

You aint gotta take my word for it....Trust me.

 

It was better because we looked out for each other back in the "good old days". I had a 48 foot drop deck brand new in Dec of 1980 same year I started driving. I didn't have a CDL or a chauffeurs license my state didn't require them as was the case with many states back in the day.
The old timers point is that like me he's tired of bright lights being flashed in our eyes when we pass, tired of drivers drag racing because one truck can pull 1/10 of a MPH better than the other one yet it lacks the speed to do a clean pass. Tired of the drivers not having their radios on or even having a radio,. It's a fact you still need it to communicate. We're tired of texting and telephone conversations while driving. Really just tired of the lack of respect that should be shown to each other regardless of who you drive for or what you drive. Men and women like me cut the trail so those that followed might have an easier path and because we liked eatting.Young drivers don't understand how good they have it now.

 

I remember the Canadian truck strike in 1990 , I was sitting on a bridge by buffalo with a load of potatos for Toronto , they would let perishables pass but I sat out of respect .
The food shelves and gas pumps were dry in three days .
And the surprise to me was almost every car that went by cheered , waved and honked at us in support .
I'm of the belief at this point, that's the only way we will ever get this industry turned around .

 

Anybody remember the days of light loads and Johnny Bars?

To you new kids, trucks used to come with a lever or a bar that would only engage the trailer brakes when applyed. They would apply the trailer brakes harder than the parking brake. With a light load, you could lock the trailer brakes and smoke all eight tires without even slowing down. The offending vehicle would disappear in a could tire smoke. I've had the offending vehicle reappear in a 90 a couple of times. I even had one do a 180.

You can also rip your trailer onto the shoulder and throw up the dirt and pea gravel.

For the most part, I ignore them unless they have their high beams on.

 

Stupidity overload. I have a headache now. I realize some of those could have been medical emergencies, but I'd put money on it that most were ignorance.