The year is 1973 and I'm parked in the Toledo 5 Truck Stop. It's late at night and I'm hungry and headed to the restaurant for something to eat. My memory is a little vague but as I recall it was a Union 76 and not a particularly nice place (old and pretty dirty). As I walked across the parking lot I was struck by the number of trailers loaded with steel and the number of axles. I remember thinking: "Wow, that's a lot of tires to kick." Some of the trucks were very old and looked like junkers-- old Crackerbox Jimmies and Mack's. And of coarse some were bright and shiny and new.
That unmistakable smell of the livestock trailers hung heavy in the air and that sound of a hoof hitting the side of a trailer or shuffling on the trailer floor with that anguishing moo made me sad... and that is how the Toledo 5 Truck Stop is permently etched in my memory. I wonder if it is still there?
Once inside the restaurant the jukebox played country music and the waitress took my order. I was brand new to the truck stop scene as I'd just completed my orientation with North American Van Lines. I was supposed to load in Cicero Illinois the next morning. My brand new 1973 White Road Comander was hooked to a nice new drop deck 45 foot trailer.
But as I recall, not one driver wore flip flops nor shorts nor had a backpack. Back then, it was bluejeans, work boots or cowboy boots. He carried a small suitcase or duffle bag to the shower and emerged smelling of Aqua Velva. He'd give the gal at the customer counter his towel and get his deposit back, then go get something to eat. It was the same across the country. The exception was mostly in boots and hats. The further west you went, the more cowboy hats you'd see.
I shake my head when I see what's walking around truckstops nowadays.
Drivers don't look like drivers anymore
Discussion in 'Discuss Your Favorite Trucking Company Here' started by 2old, Aug 5, 2018.
Page 1 of 84
-
Chuck Humbuckers, Rideandrepair, TheLoadOut and 67 others Thank this.
-
Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds
Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.
-
CHUBS, TheLoadOut, cdavis188 and 54 others Thank this.
-
She's hot, what's her name.
Rideandrepair, cuzzin it, lual and 7 others Thank this. -
I sure do miss the days when every truck driver thought he was a cowboy or a motorcycle thug......not.
Deadhead-er, okiedokie, cburch21 and 12 others Thank this. -
Last edited: Aug 5, 2018
cdavis188, mjd4277, Still undecided and 27 others Thank this. -
TheLoadOut, shogun, D.Tibbitt and 19 others Thank this.
-
I can't understand how anyone can possibly think Flip flops and CMV's are a good idea. I've been wearing work boots & jeans in my truck for over 30 years. I can't count how many times, I could have been seriously injured if I hadn't been wearing those work boots & jeans. I believe that flip flops & CMV's are not compatible in any way shape or form IMO.
cdavis188, Snow Hater, Auctioneer and 30 others Thank this. -
Is she looking for a team driver?
lual, Itsbrokeagain, D.Tibbitt and 3 others Thank this. -
Hauling logs I had a a pair of sneakers I would put on for the 3 hr drive to the mill.
D.Tibbitt, RedTruckerDan, Oxbow and 5 others Thank this. -
D.Tibbitt, tommymonza, snowman_w900 and 2 others Thank this.
Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds
Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.
Page 1 of 84