How many Million Milers do we have?

I dunno...over 2 million + in 34 years. I tried desperately to get away from it all twice, so my consistency dropped for a bit. Plenty of tickets, but not in the past 10 years due to having to behave in the HAZMAT world, and having the Homeland Insecurity Credentials and all, I gotta set a good example. (Pfttttttt...)

My problem is, I still like trucks that produce very thick black plumes of coal-like smoke after grabbing every gear, unlimited speed capability, and prefer two stick transmissions. Other than that, I'm just another one of the guys. If I didn't own a couple of vintage trucks, I'd probably have to find something else to do because I like the older stuff.

A guy broke down in front of the house yesterday with an Eaton Autoshift transmission that was stuck in 8th gear...with a load of cherries from Washington State going to Maine for an early a.m. appt. I helped him out by getting him onto my property, feeding him, let him use the phone, relax...waited for the road service guy that I referred to come diagnose the problem. Me not knowing much about these new-fangled electronical auto transmissions just figured it was another sensor gone bad, but what do I know.

The road service guy came and plugged into his data port and VOILA!...a bad sensor. He's on his way.

The difference in me and him was simple. He's a 34 yr. driving veteran, good at what he does...very good. BUT, that's all he does. Not trying to insult or dis anyone whatsoever. Everybody has their place, their "lot in life" so to speak...his happens to be running coast to coast while mine has been there, done that and now prefers to be closer to the farm. I also possess a self-inflicted mechanical ability not taught in a classroom, but in rest areas, parking lots and in repair shops that allowed me to work on my own iron, which built my knowledge over the years to a point that I can do anything to anything I need to on my equipment. That's a valuable resource when you own your own truck(s) or whathaveyou. Saving $$$ is the name of the game these days.

The golden rule in business to me is: "It ain't what you MAKE, it's what you get to KEEP" that counts.

Kinda got off subject from how many miles I drove I guess...but it's all kind of tied together. (Good save on my part, eh?)

 

Hi W900, it is refreshing to hear that. Today drivers are just that, drivers, and I'm not ripping on them at all, it's just the progression of things. I too love twin chimney's belching smoke, running in the "trouble gear", yakking with my buddies on the radio. I think sometimes of getting another old truck (although, I'll never find another '72 small window, like mine below, man, I loved that truck)but after reading all the drek people post about today's trucking, I've come to think, you can never go back to the way it was. Just be glad we did it when we did. And in the words of my hero, Jerry Reed (aka, Snowman), AND I'M A GONE!!:smt023

 

[QUOTE="semi" retired;4109338]Hi W900, it is refreshing to hear that. Today drivers are just that, drivers, and I'm not ripping on them at all, it's just the progression of things. I too love twin chimney's belching smoke, running in the "trouble gear", yakking with my buddies on the radio. I think sometimes of getting another old truck (although, I'll never find another '72 small window, like mine below, man, I loved that truck)but after reading all the drek people post about today's trucking, I've come to think, you can never go back to the way it was. Just be glad we did it when we did. And in the words of my hero, Jerry Reed (aka, Snowman), AND I'M A GONE!!:smt023[/QUOTE]




Couldn't agree more semi. I had a 72 Pete back around 86, I stretched it to 300", has a 5 x 4 and a Big Cam 400. I sure wish I kept that thing looking back now.

I came from the early 70's swinging meat hauling era riding with my big brothers, racing Monforts, Vitalis and other Kroblin trucks across the country. The beauty of the new 359's, an A Model KW Aerodyne, Double Eagle sleepers on a nice truck, 1963's, 3408's, KTA's, 12V71's....those days were the best we'll ever know, and as you said we're truly fortunate to have been a part of all that when trucking was so much of a lifestyle that it was embedded into your soul.

Now it's something I can't wait to depart from, lol.

 

Im get'n all misty eyed. I do miss those old trucks that would run triple digit. The scream of a turbo a cloud of black smoke hiho muscle truck.

 

Hey W, you know what's really sad? I ran into people that never even heard of Monfort.(GASP) Not sure where you are from, but in the mid-west, we had all kinds. The Anderson boys from Minn.(I think), A&H out of Footville, even Buchan out of East Troy, had some wild drivers. I knew a guy that had a V12 Detroit, called it "The buzzin' dozen", and yes, the 450 "Clatterpillar" was a big motor. I guess we could go on & on, truly the best time to truck.

 

[QUOTE="semi" retired;4109419]Hey W, you know what's really sad? I ran into people that never even heard of Monfort.(GASP) Not sure where you are from, but in the mid-west, we had all kinds. The Anderson boys from Minn.(I think), A&H out of Footville, even Buchan out of East Troy, had some wild drivers. I knew a guy that had a V12 Detroit, called it "The buzzin' dozen", and yes, the 450 "Clatterpillar" was a big motor. I guess we could go on & on, truly the best time to truck.[/QUOTE]

Same hear, a lot of drivers that I've run into never heard of Monfort, goes to show how old we're getting or should I say how much drive time we have. When I was haulin' beer to Colorado back in the late 80's I saw an add for Monfort at the Flying J in Julesburg Co. was going to apply at Monfort but never got around to it, was having a good time haulin' beer, I guess it was for the better, I think at that time it was the beginning of there end.

 

[QUOTE="semi" retired;4109419]Hey W, you know what's really sad? I ran into people that never even heard of Monfort.(GASP) Not sure where you are from, but in the mid-west, we had all kinds. The Anderson boys from Minn.(I think), A&H out of Footville, even Buchan out of East Troy, had some wild drivers. I knew a guy that had a V12 Detroit, called it "The buzzin' dozen", and yes, the 450 "Clatterpillar" was a big motor. I guess we could go on & on, truly the best time to truck.[/QUOTE]


I hear ya semi. It's an indication of just how long we've been around it, and how much it's changed too. The class is all but gone out of the job now.

I'm lucky...I have a "Clatterpillar" in my W900A, it's a 3406 PCTA 380 Horse, which I'll be in at 5 a.m. headed to Connecticut to load a backhoe, and take it to central New York state tomorrow. It keeps the fun in it for now, having an older rig to roll around in. At least until the gubment enforces us to all have ankle bracelets and recorders on ourselves 24/7...don't be surprised.....:smt022

 

Look at all them "Japanese Freightliners"....LOL! Thanks for that pic, that's OLD SCHOOL right there baby!

Take a Schneider driver out of his Cascadia condo and tell him he had to drive one of those for a week...whatayathink?

 

LOL.. That's funny, Bet that Schneider driver would make it maybe a few hours. Those are the trucks that I learned on, The Diesel Academy I went to was Diesel Truck Driving School Sun Prairie Wi. Graduated in Aug. 1978 Glad you like the pic, that's what I received from the school at Graduation had it stored all this time.....

 

Remember the old White "Road Commodes" (Road Commanders), or the "Cracker Box Jimmy", or even the "Emeryville IH"? Spend some time in those, that will tell you what a day be about.