Back in the day . . .

One of My first driving jobs was hauling engine blocks for GM across canada.I drove a 359 pete that had been streached 12 feet,armstrong steering,no a/c,running a 400 big cam cummins with the fuel pump shimmed and a 13 double over.(that truck would run 105mph.)Pulling a 7 axle 45 ft van.And grossin over 100'000lbs.That was back in 94,thought I was billy big rigger

 

I am all for " Back in the Day ". Life was simpler. Equipment was not as good. I drove two years without power steering. I did not like the idea of power steering actually and was skeptical. Something else that could go wrong or break down I suppose.

In the early 80`s during the recession truck stops back east had a lot of parking space anytime. Traffic was eerily little. Doing my part to help others I hired lumpers to unload the trailer otherwise I would do it myself ( extra dollars ). In the late 70`s I think was near the end of the real free`r days of trucking. It was good. I`m not sure I would want to be out there now. If I can`t run the truck to stay warm or cool to get a good nights sleep then there is a song to remind employers ( Take this job and Shove it ) which makes me laugh cause in reality I am a rebel but I got the job done instead of being a " yes man ". They knew I could get the job done, missed some call ins and they asked. My explanation was well the load is delivered. Am I good ? Man I love those confidence days.

 

Do you remember OJ Monday out of Arkansas? He was always at the produce market in Dallas delivering to W.W. Rodgers Produce. Has quite a few trucks back then.

 

I walked to school, uphill, both ways. Does that count?

 

Only if it was barefoot in 4 feet of snow!

 

I did not read the entire posts, Did anybody say anything about Exclusive Use. A couple of those in a week and you made some money.Or how about getting unloaded and hawking the fork lift driver for a load.I used to haul car parts in the late '70's early '80's between WI,MI,MO,OH, and when in Detroit i would ask the fork lift driver for a load of M/T racks going back to a shipper, the rate was less but no deadhead miles, i would call the company and told them what i was doing and gave them the info so they could bill the company. It got me back to get another high paying load. The company was R-W Service System out of Taylor, Mi. Or how about exempt freight, blind loads, or what real authority was.

 

I read the whole post and enjoyed it all, Thanks for the memories even tho most was way before my time. I started out pumping fuel (.2? per gal) and worked my way "up" to the grease rack in the 70s. I used to get a kick out of moving the trucks. Power steering?? I was 18 and weighed 115LBs!! AHH the stories I heard back then

 

Boron Truck Stops which merged and became theTA's of today
Blue and White Truck Stops
When a leg check was just that!
Yes a Good Buddy was a good thing to be called until that stupid song came out!
PettiCoat Junction was a great place to stop and enjoy a great meal and a beautiful set of legs but the last time I stopped I think in about 86 there was nothing but "older" women running around in those short skirts there!
When !-20 heading west from Augusta ended several times before Atlanta and you were on and off the 2 lanes and the same from exit 5 Douglasville all the wat into Alabama you were on Hwy 78. Good eats along there!
!-285 when finished the FIRST time was actually only 2 lanes each direction! There was talk back in 1997 to drop the shoulders and turn them into a lane!
Some truck stops actually had a lounge there that served "adult" beverages and had locals stopping by!
The 76's and others had the old big shower with a bench which was like the old military showers that evolved into a small stall but you still had to go to the restroom and shave. You had to keep your eye on your bag in case a hand came under the stall to steal your bag!
Drivers with a rolled up cone taped to their microphone to get that "reverb sound!"
4 wheelers knew how to drive around a truck
The word Trucker was not a dirty word!

 

Jack you just brought back alot of memories but...

how bout riding thru the single rollover scale holding bingo card, and fuel receipt out the window (brew in lap, one burnin in fingers) and get waved on

or heres one better - driver appreciation week all over