Back in my day...

RedRover · Oct 14, 2017

Also worth noting, FMCSA studies of crash reconstructions estimate that 85+ percent of crashes involving CMV aren't actually the fault of the commercial driver, nor are they preventable.

Oddly enough, 100% of reviews by the safety department of every trucking company ever, have determined that every single wreck ever is entirely the fault of their driver; in addition to being directly responsible for the death of baby Jesus and puppies. Interesting isn't it, that FMCSA judge us less harshly than other truckers or safety...

RedRover · Oct 14, 2017

Dennixx said: ↑

When someone says the "good old days" I think they are just being nostalgic.
Maybe less rules and regulations made it the good ol days.
Maybe because they,for the most part, acted and dressed the part of a trucking professional and were respected and admired by the general motoring public.
The world moves much faster now.

But as far as good old days I'll take some modern technology over the olden days everytime.

Spring suspension all around, including the seat ..not good.
Split rims...not good.
Bias ply rubber..not good.
No heated mirror, no motorized mirror.
No heated fuel tanks and to keep the windshield defrosted we had adjustable turret vents and dash fans.

How bout the air wipers or the window washer pump ball on the floor next to the brights.

The loudest turn signal units you've ever heard and your huge tachograph.

8 track was a treat which gave way to cassette , a definite improvement but we still listened to all night truckin radio on the am.

Back in the good old days I used 40 & 42' trlrs everyone went crazy when 45 became the norm, and don't remember when nylon came out cause everything was chained.

Seem to remember most co. trucks were coe and don't recall a 9 or 10 speed back then.
Hoods were for O/O for the most part.

The interstate system noway resembles what it is today, half was still 2 lane.

Every truckstop had a restaurant and a big table where the vets hung out and if ya sat close you'd be able to soak up some knowledge and/or some bs

Seen many changes over the years, some good and some bad but I can honestly say you'll get out what you put in it.

Maybe when we all get 40+ years under our belts we will be sitting at a lunch counter somewhere in the future lamenting about the good old days.
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In 39 years I'll be sitting at the truck stop lunch counter all nostalgiac about how "back in my day we used to drive the trucks manually..." and some punk ### kid fresh out of his 2 hour course on how to type in the coordinates for the automated trucks will be like "suck it up you old #######..."

RedRover · Oct 14, 2017

"People driving trucks? That sounds terribly dangerous. Thank God we aren't allowed to drive them anymore."

Dennixx · Oct 14, 2017

RedRover said: ↑

In 39 years I'll be sitting at the truck stop lunch counter all nostalgiac about how "back in my day we used to drive the trucks manually..." and some punk ### kid fresh out of his 2 hour course on how to type in the coordinates for the automated trucks will be like "suck it up you old #######..."
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Probably the counter of a space station nourishment center while your space pod transport hovers behind you..lol

Ridgeline · Oct 14, 2017

Sorry guys ... I am one of these guys who have driven over 40 years on and off. I was taught by a guy who was driving a car when Roosevelt was in office and a truck when Truman beat Dewey.

5000 miles is bullsh**.

MACK E-6 · Oct 14, 2017

8thnote said: ↑

Nope. There's a hill on I-24, about 40 miles from my home town, called Monteagle Mountain (so-called because of the town of Monteagle at the summit of the ridge, although the ridge itself is technically nameless). I've never heard of this "Mt Eagle" though.
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Relax. I was kidding.

Wargames · Oct 14, 2017

RedRover said: ↑

Just got done listening to some guy at the lunch counter telling me that he's been driving 40 years and he's about to hang it up because he's tired of steering wheel holders with no training and an elog taking the nose off of tractors at the truck stop. Not to disrespect those with vastly more experience than me, but also not one to just let that type of #### slide, I asked him what kind of trucks they used when he trained to get his cdl.

He informed me that they didn't have a cdl back then, so he had no formal training and just hopped up in his cabover Kenworth t600 with a 48 foot trailer and ran like the wind, doing coast to coast in 2-3 days and turning around and coming back the other way before spending a week at home and doing it all over again.

So maybe you older drivers can help me do the math here... 5000-6000 miles in a week, no nose to take off at the truck stop, 48 foot trailers, no formal training and on drugs... and this generation is considered more dangerous for our lack of common sense? Also I should note that this guy walks with a serious limp because of 3 separate accidents that involved other CMV. One of which, he caused when he smoked his brakes heading down Monteagle.

He's right man, it is dangerous on the road--with guys like him lol
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Let me tell you something, he has over 40 years driving, he has more knowledge in this industry than you will ever have. He is frustrated with the new clowns driving, with NO EXPERIENCE. Leave him alone.

STexan · Oct 14, 2017

The older drivers have a lot to contribute to younger set, and the younger set has a lot to contribute to the older set. A blend of the two would likely make a whole that would be greater then the sum of their parts.

Lots of older drivers have acquired a lot of "bad habits" generally related to being over-confident, lots of younger drivers have not yet acquired some of the valuable habits and skills

Moosetek13 · Oct 14, 2017

Wargames said: ↑

Let me tell you something, he has over 40 years driving, he has more knowledge in this industry than you will ever have. He is frustrated with the new clowns driving, with NO EXPERIENCE. Leave him alone.
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Everyone starts with no experience, but there are a larger number now.

How many truck drivers were on the road 40 years ago compared to today?
How many new drivers?
With even 20 years ago, there really is no comparison even with the total number of vehicles on the roads. So of course there are going to be more accidents and mistakes.

There is so much traffic now that many highways have tripled in size. Just look at the Salt Lake area, going from 2 lanes on each side to up to 6.

Plus, people in general are more reckless these days. Tailgating is the norm now, like they all think they are NASCAR drivers that have to take advantage of the draft. Trying to bump people out of the way.
Not to mention playing on the phone while driving.

It isn't just the quality of truck drivers, it is the quality of nearly every driver out there.

I have been driving a truck for nearly 7 years, but I have been driving since I was 16.
That is over 40 years ago, so I do remember how things were back then.

These days people are simply insane when they get behind the wheel, of any vehicle.

Wargames · Oct 14, 2017

STexan said: ↑

The older drivers have a lot to contribute to younger set, and the younger set has a lot to contribute to the older set. A blend of the two would likely make a whole that would be greater then the sum of their parts.

Lots of older drivers have acquired a lot of "bad habits" generally related to be over-confident, lots of younger drivers have not yet acquired some of the valuable habits and skills
Click to expand...

younger drivers will never see 40 years of driving. Not a chance.

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