How much better was it back in the day

I’ve read a lot that trucking was better back in the day 70s and 80s. But I’ve also read how back in the day companies would make drivers run illegally and keep 2 sets of books back when paper logs were the norm. Something else I read was no touch freight didn’t exist that drivers had to load/unload themselves and sometimes due to time constraints had to pay a lumper to unload out of pocket. I have had to pay lumpers but with a company check. I started driving only 2 years ago but I certainly appreciate the no touch freight whether it be live unload or drop and hook. If I was made to run illegally with 2 sets of books and taking drugs to stay up as some drivers not all used to do I would not enjoy it. I can certainly imagine less headaches from fewer regulations compared to today.

 

Its not so much the lumper (Thats 60 dollars from your pocket if the boss says you cannot charge us with that lumper, you pay it yourself. Unloading pay is or was only 30 bucks in those days so its a loss.) However.. what is 30 dollars to sleep 14 hours while two lumpers in the back sweat in the hot trailer while you snooze in Air conditioning and build up strength for the pending 1400 mile overnight?

Sleep is valuable.

Those days were... easier days.

Dispatch load looks like this 80's style.

Hey you. Take that trailer to Chicago monday next week 8 am. Call when empty. DO NOT BOTHER ME this weekend or anytime this week.

You literally are now on your own. Chicago is your problem. Not the boss. He knows the A and the B and how much to collect. And who to call. But its your total problem. Everything.

So you have 5 days to load trailer for chicago wed noon. Thats a day to load. Then drive 18 hours straight through then a day or two in the joints and deliver on the 4th day. That will take a day. Call when empty sometime monday afternoon and start all over again.

I hope you got your oats chasing them midwest girls....

 

It was much better years ago.
You rested and slept when you needed to, not when some pencil pusher politician decided for you as now done with Elogs.
There was plenty of parking in every state and without corrupt tow truck crooks hiding in the shadows.
I kept two sets of logs for years. I know when I can safely drive and when I shouldn't. I didn't have any wrecks.

 

I am sure there a many different opinions. Equipment is better. Power steering, ac, better heaters, smoother ride. I like the lumper services now also. Never dealt with the 2 logbooks myself. Never dealt much with forced dispatch, but sure some have. Less traffic back in the day. I have never been micro managed, but again sure some have. But i have had my own truck since 1980 , started driving for my father in June of 1974..he sorta just let me go with not much fanfare. Long as i stayed out of trouble.

 

Way better back in the day........and you could make great money. One truck could support a middle class family. The trucks and fuel were cheap ........

 

Exactly, I ran two log books when I needed to and no one ever asked me to do it, It’s not like dispatch could make you do it. Even back in the day you were in control of your truck.

 

Everyone had to walk to school, in deep snow, uphill both ways, chased by rabid dogs.

Some of those things happened to some drivers in some companies at sometimes.

 

You had actual restaurants and most had decent buffets.

The country wasn't littered with the top 5 chains.

 

Nobody mentions the 55 mph speed limit. Nobody mentions using payphone. Nobody mentions no GPS. Nobody mentions the bars at truck stops.

 

I read the same thing in various places that pay was better when you adjust for inflation and cost of living.