The way things use to be

I don't go back quite as far as you do, but I do go back 25 years or so. I started as labor for my brother in law, who ran for United Van Lines (bed bug hauler). I remember truckers wearing jeans, boots and a halfway decent shirt. I remember bumping into other bed bug haulers who needed a hand for the day because they couldn't afford to pay labor. We would work all day loading their truck and didn't expect anything in return, because we knew if we ever needed a hand we could just look around the truck stop and get a little help, maybe for free, or the price of a meal. I remember sitting in a truck stop on the 4Th of July weekend, we gathered up some of the other guys, that ended up sitting also, and had a barbecue right there in the lot. We had one of those little Hibachi barbecues that went everywhere we did. Everyone pitched in and we had a great time, ( no crying about being stuck on the holiday ). I remember if a truck was broke down you could count on help as soon as the next truck passed by, if they couldn't help, they would go get someone who could. No cell phones back then or computers in the truck.
I've been struggling with the thought of getting back on the road, I went out with my brother in law, he hauls produce now, and has for the last ten years or so. I had been off the road for twenty years, and when I seen what tucking had become, I was more than just a little surprised. I saw truckers wearing flip flops and shorts. I saw people urinating in parking lots while the restroom was merely 100 ft. away. I've walked into truck stop restrooms where people have taken a dump on the floor two ft. from a working toilet. I found myself asking the same question, what the heck has happened to trucking ? Have people changed that much that they no longer take pride in what they do, or how they present themselves in public? I was off the road long enough to get a new career and a decent retirement, and now I'm looking at a second career as a driver. When I mention to people that I want to go back into driving I usually get a strange look, and they ask, you want to go do what ??? I'll be making my decision very soon, hopefully it's the right one.
Later, Bill

 

Being a "new generation" driver I have to agree with both of you. I may be "new" to driving a rig but I am by no means "new" to the industry. I have ALWAYS had a deep respect for truckers. My grandfather drove "milk" truck for Capone and my uncle died on the road....his trucks steering failed in the mountains, this was "back in the day" long before condo's and air ride etc.. I have worked on the docks loading and unloading trucks for many years.
I was shocked and appalled when I got on the road and found that the brotherhood that "used" to be truckers was not there anymore. CB rambo's and highway hustlers fill the air waves and mean spirited drivers fill the tru...oh TRAVEL CENTERS...we dont call them truck stops anymore
I know I'm no "poster child" for what a trucker should look like, I have long hair, but rarely wore shorts and if I did it was after taking a shower in a very HOT place. When I got to my shippers/recievers I always did my best to look professional but I ALWAYS behaved and portrayed my self in a profesional manner. I have sat at recievers listening to drivers beeyotching about the reciever and how long it takes and jesus christ they charge ya an arm and a leg and then make you wait blah blah blah. It was at times like those I felt ashamed for my profession and what it has deteriorated into in.

 

There needs to be more people out there like US. When I use to drive the only time I would wear shorts was when I was sleeping in my truck. I always wore a pair of jeans and a T-shirt(never ripped up and nasty). I took a shower every day some times everyother if I had to. We as a whole need to say something to these nasty drivers who wear sweatpants, never shave, shower, and **** in there pants(atleast it smells like some of them do). If there is a guy who is in front of you at the t/s that smells that bad do you say something to him? I know I have. Do most drivers atleast call out on the CB to the guy on the side of the road with his hood up even if it is somebody like Swift or JB?? I know I always did because I would want them to do the same for me. It should be a brotherhood still and we need to do our best to get it back to what it was.

 

I agree with all of you. I am also a green driver, but grew up with trucking in the family. My God-father still drives tandem fuel trailers up in Quebec. He drove milk trucks for years, my dad drove for him for a while and also drove the company truck in to Montreal to drop off and reload for the machine shop we all worked at.

I wear shorts, a nice shirt and most of the time my work boots. Lots of places I will change into jeans since the shipper or receiver is a mill. I take pride in myself and my truck and load. I have been the ONLY driver to stop many times at car accidents to render assistance. While every other truck just goes tearing past. I even have had troopers ask if I had hit the car or the car hit me since most drivers do not stop. I guess they figured I was involved since I stopped. It might have taken a couple of hours out of my day, but, knowing that the people got to the hospital and proper medical aid is more than enough satisfaction.

With the QC units in today's rigs, stopping gets you a message pretty quick from the disfunctionals questioning you. Pretty sad really that those of us on the road that are many times the first on the scene cannot stop for fear of our jobs.

I don't know if I would have the skill to catch up to and then catch a runaway rig. I'd like to think I would at least try. Although I cannot say I would since thankfully I have yet to have it happen.

Most of the new technology in trucks and trucking is great to have. Only problem is that dispatch now thinks they are something special and micro-manage their drivers. If they let us do our jobs and drive some of us would be much better off.

Thank you for all your time on the road and helping those of us 'green' guys with all the little things.

 

I haven't even been out here 5 years yet, and have only owned my truck for a few months, but I am usually shocked at the level of unprofessionalism displayed by many of today's drivers. Now, I don't care if you're a fingerless-glove-wearin', chromed-out-company-truck-drivin' sooopertrucker or if you're an old hand getting it done in a 20 year old Freightshaker, as long as you're willing to learn and willing to help you'll get my respect.

Yeah, I'm a long-haired rebel-lookin' dude, and when I'm rolling down the road I might have a pair of shorts and a tank top on, but when it comes down to business, I'm throwin' on my clean jeans, sharpest lookin' shirt and worn-but-clean work boots. If I see a truck with the hood up on the side of the road, I'll at least give a shout on the CB. 9 out of 10 times I get no answer, but the 10th time I'll get "Yeah, I'm ok, help's coming, but thanks for asking."

In the truc.... uh, I mean travel plazas, I don't throw water all over the place at the sink, I don't try to hit the target in the urinal from 4 feet away, and in the stalls I'll even give a courtesy flush if ya know what I mean. Sometimes if the restroom is particulary messed up looking, I'll even clean it a bit myself to make up for all the so-called drivers out there who prefer to destroy everything they touch just because "The staff gets paid to clean it."

In my humble opinion, the industry is in the state it is in because as a whole, we don't watch out for each other any more, and we don't give a rap about how things look. A friend of mine once told me that when it comes to business, perception is EVERYTHING. The more successful you appear, the more successful you become.

Have some respect for your fellow drivers, and maybe... just MAYBE... others will respect us as well.

I'm just sayin'.

 

Oh, and bigdaddyo? How is it that you've been here since '06 and have only posted 28 times? Every post of yours that I've seen appears to be an attempt to start a flame war. Interestingly enough, your profile doesn't even say if you're a driver. Ok, if you're tired of all the phonies and losers, please, give us the benefit of your experience. Regale us with tales of your legendary exploits. C'mon, we're all waiting.... think I'll go pop some corn and pull up a lawnchair.

 

Ummm, yeah, ok... ever take a blacklight into those nice clean motels you sleep in? I'd rather sleep in my truck... at least I know what's been going on in there.

Maybe I'm completely off base... maybe I'm the one who's completely wrong and you're the one who's never, ever wrong. Stranger things have happened. In any case, please, allow all of us scumbags to benefit from your years of experience... what, in your opinion, is wrong with today's trucking industry? At least SP was expressing an opinion, you're just flaming folks... and I fell for it. Oh, well, live and learn.

Oh, by the way, the type of truck you drive has nothing to do with what kind of person you are. I own a 2003 International 9900i, but am hoping to trade it on a 379 Pete because I like them. Maybe your dream truck is a Volvo 630... I don't know, and what's more, I don't care.

Maybe you're one of those guys rolling down the road in some kind of junkyard refugee with the headlights duct taped in place and four different colors of primer. You do it your way, and I'll do it my way.

Hell, maybe I'll even give you a shout on the CB when I see you on the side of the road with your hood up.

On second thought, probably not.

 

if he is staying in hotels every night--probabely an rv hauler--who tried the big road and couldnt cut it--
and as for staying hotels---just do a search on hotels--most are now infested with bedbugs---so there billybigrigger---you are definately with your own kind