Hello

Been retired 8 yrs started in 63 . I found this site looking for old pictures of truck stops. Found the picture of a 54 bubble nose KW at a truck stop . It had a straight up 220 cummins..That was my first cross country job . LA to Chicago ( Rt 66 ) .Boy did it ever bring back memories.. MTkid

 

One of my first driving jobs after I got out of the Navy was hauling fright from LA to SF in a 1952 Autocar with a cummins 200. it would take me 3-41/2 hrs to get over the Grapevine.but if my Autocar was broke down I used a 1951 GMC with a 4/54 jimmy. Now I tell ya that was raw power. If I was fully loaded ( I was pulling double flats ) I could not pull both trailers to the Top now that made for a long night. I then started running LA to Chitown with a 54 bullnose KW with a 220 cummins. There was many day you never saw the speed limit ( there was a lot of states the speed limit was 45 or 50 mph ). but it was fun most of the truck stops were great for the most part they treated you great if you needed there P up to run into town not a problem .Fuel was .14$ to .24$,Dello oil 1.00$,flat tie repair 3.00$ . Also in most truck stops the driver would get .03$ per Gal refund in cash if you filled up ( That would feed ya. )And in all truck stop you would pull up to the pump they fuel it check your oil and thump your tires than parked it on the line and you never had to lock your doors ,I sleep many night in NY City ,LA SF etc etc with the windows wide open and never worried. I went to work in late 64 for a outfit out of NJ hauling produce from all around the US to NY city. He bought me a brand new International CO 4000 with a 8V/71 ,you were a big dog with that..the average load payed .32$ Mi to the truck .Believe it or not I would pull out of NJ with a load of candy for LA, Seattle or SF the boss would give me 300.$ and If all went well I had 100.$ in my pocket when i got there ..Thru the years I drove Macks F and B model ,66 Dodge cab overs ( as ugly as it was it was a fair ride ) KWs, Petes, GMC and as for the worst a 69 cracker box jimmy with a 6/71.. All I can say you were treated with some degree of respect,the cops didn't give you a bad time ( but then again you barely could make the speed limit ) and you never got flip off. In 1971 As you can see I bought my first truck it was 66 Frightliner with a 335 cummings with a jake brake ,the first time i ever had a jake great truck .Then in the fall of 74 I got a brand new 1975 110" Peterbilt with all the bells and whistles with a 350 cummings. I tell ya I was walking in tall cotton.Than their is a Picture of my last ride when I retired in 2004 . What a difference in start to finish in rides. I do believe trucking was a lot more fun in the 60-70.But then again that was in a different time and different mind set.We were all proud to be Truck Drivers most of us wore a white shirt most of the time and black wellington boots ( I still have a pair in the closet ).. BTW I never had a AC until I put one on my 66 FL...But I well tell you what I'm most proud of I never had a chargeable accidents in my 40 plus yrs.. Thanks for the memories ...Mtkid