Anybody remember thurston motor lines?

I was a line driver at Thurston out of wilmington NC terminal for about 3 yrs till april 1980. I ran mainly to the griffin mill in griffin ga with fiber from the dupont plant outside wilmington. When as far west as memphis, south to jacksonville fl, north to balitmore area. (there authorty was larger but that is where i mainly ran) I live in raleigh now and the fred anderson toyota place on glenwood was the thurston terminal. I remember sleeping in there with the bunks area below the docks are and offices.

My tractor was number 2077 a older non sleeper freightliner with cummins 290 engine with 10 speed trans, that was governed to 1850 rpm or some 63 mph. call them the dragon fly trucks.. drag up the hill and fly down the other side. If you travel on hwy 70 toward newbern nc before what is the new section, you can see a couple old thurston trailers on the right side of road past a convenience gas station store.. bring back old fun memories every time i see. them..

I did not realize thurston was sold to brown and then bombed out.. that is a sad way to go out.. I often wondered what happened when i drive through charotte and go past the sugar creek exit is where we got off to head to the terminal and where the hotel we stayed in was located..

 

Hi i hope this gets to you...i work for yrc and i work with a lot of cf guys ..but my story is in the 80s i was in high school and my dad drove for thurston motor lines out of dallas tx...i own a truck road service and one of my custermers has an old storage trailer with thurston down the side...

 

My first job in 1984 was fuel attendant at John Skidmore Truck Stop in Flatwoods WV. Thurston trucks came in all the time. One driver invited me to go back to the terminal with him and get a job there myself. Should have went. Run 48 states for about 30 years and retire forever. And after being all over the country, I’d know where I want to retire to. Oh well. Too late now.

 

Yes, I worked for Thurston from December 1983 to July 1987. First started as team out of Charlotte for 90 days then ran out of Tri-Cities (Blountville, TN) the rest of the time. Fist truck was COE day cab White # 2222. 7 speed, lol. Then got bumped to a Jiff-lock GNC Brigadier # 2430. Tall cotton then- had A/C AND Power Steering! Drifter was my handle.

 

Thurston

, owned and operated by Doc Thurston. Training ground for Akers and Johnson Motor Lines. Located down on Graham St. in Charlotte.

 

got bumped to a Jiff-lock GNC Brigadier # 2430
Never heard of one of these before. Talk about old shool....