Old days of trucking vs. New days?

I had a 99 FLD that had air wipers.

Wig wags on the other hand stopped in the mid 60s

 

I have an 87 fld with air wipers, I drove a 99 classic that was electric, I do not recall driving any freght shakers between those two years.
I drove a 73 A model and a 76 pete both had wigwams though.

EDIT, my 87 is an FLC, not D. lol

 

I drove OTR in the mid 2000’s but drive locally now. Obviously that was still a very different time than say the days before cell phones. I think the biggest difference for me compared to the new OTR truckers is GPS and Smart phones. I became a better driver because I learned to use a road atlas. I did call shippers from phone but didn’t have google to help with maps. Funny thing was my trainer at FFE had a GPS and he was constantly getting lost because of relying on it too much lol Right then I said to myself to learn to use a road map

 

Don't know about that. My dad's old '78 W9, my '80 W9 and my uncle's old '84 W9 all had wig wags.

 

I got into a satellite compound in Delaware off US 1 or US 13 near a nursery shipper. The GPS was not updated to reflect the new built bypass road 400 yards east.

The Nursery burned there is rebuilding it.

I used my GPS to essentially remove the need to interact with potential predators in urban areas that have a higher threat level. If I knew exactly where the shipper etc and went there at least once. I can get it to it without.

It was a very new thing in 1999. But I never imagined what it evolved to now. If you really want a eyeful... check googles my location history on your google log in. It will map your personal cell phone's travels going back years down to 10 feet. IF you were logged in with a google log in under your real name etc.

 

Maybe it was a Canadian thing. My uncle's 1970 didn't and none of the trucks I rode in in the 70s did.

 

I'm enjoying the trip back in time, lots of fond memories, thank you all.

As was said, deregulation was the beginning of the end of the best years of trucking.
I was fortunate enough to have experienced the 70's and the culture that existed.
Food was reasonably priced, there were lots of little roadhouse diners that served up home cooked food, a lot of truck stops offered free showers, meal vouchers and even truck washes with fuel purchases.

The overall atmosphere of the trucker culture was more laid back and truckers were a heck of a lot more brotherly than what they've become over the years.
I stopped for a tinkle one time on #17 in N Ontario, early 80's, out in the middle of nowhere by US standards, and two truckers stopped to see if I needed any help.
Was standing with my back to the wind between the wheels and fuel tank on the passenger side and aiming at the ditch when this head pops around the corner of the cab and says. "hey driver, need any help."
The reefer was running and I didn't hear him sneak up on me, scared me half to death, made me p*ss all over my shoes!
The other one popped his head around the corner a little while later, while I was trying to get my pecker unstuck from my zipper!

I really miss the roadside "out of service" gatherings where a bunch of hard working drivers come together by chance and they all agree it's time to take a day or two off and disappear en mass from their companies radar screens.
Find a small town with a good restaurant, a liquor store and a rail siding, drink a few beers, smoke a little weed, play some tunes, eat good food, party with the locals that show up, maybe meet a gal and do some dancing and smooching, get your ya ya's out, then get back on the radar again and keep on trucking.

My 66 K100 had wigwags, I don't remember any 70's trucks that had them either.

 

One of my trucks had a wig wag it stayed right where it was too. But I did not run that one too much, not from farm to farm for a few days gathering milk. It's NOT that real big on the mountains. But that old reo would pick over the ravines deep enough for sure well enough.

As far as the 60's and 70's with truckers I was a child, but they come to do the things that they think proper at meal times etc.

Things changes in the late 80's when everything went overseas and everyone suddently started counting sense for lost dollars by 6 am next morning firing those who refused to mush.

I remember one load I got it into Toldeo 30 hours early. A little making time as they say through the woods. No hurry at all. Took care of everything. And the Ladies at the diner the rest.

At the day of delivery my company then said where in hell you doing up there 2 days ago...

Wot?

Today, delivery date, and time here I am 10 minutes early, you be quiet boss.

They blew up.

You would think those old codgers would understand the 60's and 70's way of getting things done the easy way.

I learned to let it go. They never did.

 

Quite possible. I remember asking my dad what it was when I first rode in the '78 when he bought it.

 

Maybe they were canadian, but like I said,the 73 KW and 76 pete I ran both had them. I can tell you exactly where I was in both of them when that arrow dropped. lol
The ship channel bridge on 610 loop in houston with the pete and coming off the caprock in eastern Nm in the kw.