Old days of trucking vs. New days?

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by Craig List, Jun 3, 2019.

  1. Craig List

    Craig List Light Load Member

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    So for the older crowd that use to drive before autos/gps/cameras/cells phones and all those creature comforts what was life like on the road and how did things get done?

    What are some of the major difference between trucking in each of the decades like the 50s/60s/70s/80s/90s and even the 2000s.
     
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  3. 201

    201 Road Train Member

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    I'd say the biggest difference was, years ago, we weren't so time conscious, we had a "we'll get there when we get there" attitude, and it was a lot safer, believe me. The day the cell phone came out, and this "where are you now?" attitude, I wanted no part of it. Also, years ago, we didn't have cell phones, only a CB radio, and we looked out for each other. It was a brotherhood, of sorts. With cell phones today, that just isn't needed anymore, help is a click away. HOS too, we made our HOS, and nobody got killed. You drove until you couldn't, a 2 or 3 hour nap, and good to go. Roads too, years ago, many routes were still 2 lane, and 2 lanes keep you awake a lot better than interstates. They were dangerous as heck, yet, I'm not so sure staring at a superslab all day and night with the speed control on, is any better. Not many told us what to do, like today. It was a different life.
     
  4. lovesthedrive

    lovesthedrive R.I.P.

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    Trucking in the 80's pales to what it is today. Back then anyone could drive a truck, all you needed was a license and a handshake for most work. You would have to find a phone booth and pay coinage to call the company to find the next load. Computers were only used in a office and internet didnt exist yet. Much of it is reflected in the TV show Movin On

    Yet remember, back then you also had thugs that would steal your load and your truck. Also there was a vid from some news agency of when the USA was just starting to crack down on hours spent driving. One driver said he had been driving 36 hours straight and seemed wasted.
     
  5. 201

    201 Road Train Member

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    Movin' On made me take interest in trucking, Smokey and the Bandit sealed the deal. My 1st T/T job, late '70's, I filled out a 3x5 index card with some phone number of next of kin, took a short road test, and was trucking that very afternoon. About 2 months later, my boss asked me if I had a chauffeurs license, I said no, he said, better get one. So, get this, I went to the Wis. DOT office, the examiner asked if I had a road test of ANY kind in the last 2 years. I said, well, I took my motorcycle test last year, he said, good enough, $8 bucks. For the next 35 years, I never did take any kind of road test in a truck,,,:biggrin_25523:
     
  6. Moose1958

    Moose1958 Road Train Member

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    I think Trucking can be divided into 4 eras. The first era generally started in the 20s and lasted through much of the 50s. Driving during this era was tough. It was during this era that the federal HOS and logging rules came about. The next era started in the 50s and lasted through the early 70s. This time was where my most fond memories of my father are. No CBs, drivers were much more sociable and the infrastructure set up around trucking was not a pricey as it is today. However, the states really begin to see trucks as a cash cow and a lot of the states really go going on this. One good thing from this time at least my opinion is the carriers held drivers in higher regard then. The next era started with the marriage of CB-Hollywood and how this industry started to be glamorized by movies like Smokey and the Bandit. Then went through a slow period of change until the FMCSA was formed and the new CDL law came into effect. Today in a lot of ways trucking does not come close to being what it was 50 years ago. Good or bad!
     
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  7. x1Heavy

    x1Heavy Road Train Member

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    You wont believe it.

    Maps. City maps, I had the entire NYC 5 Boroughs down to ALLEY LEVEL and ALL bridges for about 200 dollars total. We had warcouncils at the I-78 exit 7 76 Truckstop during the late afternoon as we assembled for a push into NYC Hunts and other places via GWB, in those days LONG before 9-11 it was a question of which level to use when it's not chocked with cars at 10 PM (If you used the lower level you tried to not use any hammer because homeless were sleeping above your stack in between the beams.

    You had toll booths up there as well. So nickels and dimes, oneses and fivesies.

    Talking to dispatch. Pull in, fuel. 30 minutes, make 20 dollars change quarters.

    Park, another 20 minutes, walk to truckstop.

    Sit in the special call room, big lazy boy recliners at large pay phones. Ledger pad, pen and paper etc. Plus your briefcase containing ALL of your working papers for that load. Including current temp setting pulp temp and vent status etc.

    Call dispatcher be on hold 20 minutes. Go over some itsty bitsy stuff. One was functioning as my "Trucker Daddy" older than Moses. He would belabor a certain bridge, a certain turning or what have you. I did not have the heart to tell him progress was slowly razing his stuff in favor of a brave new future.

    Get instructions or get yelled at until they wind down, yell back. Hang up. Get food and drink. Unwind.

    Go get truck catch logs and toss into sleeper pull out. 2 hours have gone making a phone call. That's ok you are 4 days to the coast and only need 2 to get there driving. But you will use 4 because of all these nicky picky stops.

    This is just a beginning youngster. Ive a whole load more...
     
  8. 201

    201 Road Train Member

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    Don't forget de-regulation. That opened up the flood gates for shyster companies,,several of which I worked for,,:evil3:
     
  9. x1Heavy

    x1Heavy Road Train Member

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    Only 36? He aint got his stamina yet.
     
  10. x1Heavy

    x1Heavy Road Train Member

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    Load of food items arrive at cold storage in some town.

    HOWDY! Be shore glad to see you son, what with them vittles, put her anywhere, get you empty right quick. If you wanting food, call this number bertha bring it across from that diner over yonder. Wes been all up on the good things you have in there.

    Fast forward to today.

    **GRUMP[Profanity] you again! scram, yer late 4 minutes.**

    Half the time I come out of there just fixing to pee on that gaurdshack and his computer crap. What a grump.

    Makes me really surly. That's not good.

    200 years ago a sailing ship delivered secured messages in 3 months. They can have their 4 precious minutes.
     
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  11. Broke_and_Hungry

    Broke_and_Hungry Light Load Member

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    If you were on the side of the road, drivers would always stop and try to help. Now you are lucky if you don't get hit.
     
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