My first load 52 years ago. Trucking ain't the same, but has really changed

I used to deliver to Red Owl in Green Bay, in fact, I think I took in one of the last cheese loads there.( 1987?) I used to pick up 8 O'Clock coffee in Toledo, and it was in a former A&P warehouse, one of the originals. It was no place for a 53 footer. Had to back up to the dock, and jack knife the tractor so people could get by.

 

" trucking ain't the same" and, " but it has really changed", kinda mean the same thing to me

 

I can smell the cigarette smoke.

 

Hard to believe we used to fuel, then pay.

 

I’ve been on the truck 7 1/2 years approximately now. Got into trucking right at about the age of 50. It’s Changed quite dramatically just since when I first started. The quality of drivers on the roads is scary as can be. When I pull into most truckstops now, I question if I woke up in a different country. Literally. Most of these drivers are just passing through the industry here to make a quick buck. It’s already preconditioned into their equation that when they have a major mishap they’ll just run and flee. They don’t have a long-term invested interest in the industry anymore like they used to. They duct tape their trucks together run on bald tires violating every rule and law and just do it until they get caught or have an accident and then they get out.

 

Diesel was $ .35/gal and the driver got a $ .05/gal cash in hand rebate. Ate good in those days. Free coffee at the fuel desk. Fill your thermos in the restaurant when you got that 5 cent cup of coffee with your meal.

 

Don't forget your stamps!

 

And pay with a ck . Not only that, i new most of the owners of the truckstops i stopped at on a regular basis.