what happened to brotherhood

I'm still here and offer to be helpful to other drivers but usually they get offended...
It used to be fun to stop for coffee,sit and shoot the bull with some old school drivers,climb back in the old cabover and go down the road.

Every once in awhile it is nice to run up with another one of us older drivers and actually have fun talking on the radio.
That is rare now days though.
I remember when the boot shine guy got my business once a week....

 

In addition to what has already been posted, let me add this: Just the sheer volume of truck traffic has increased exponentially over the years. (It may actually have decreased, in the last few though.) But with the increasing numbers of drivers, you are going to have increasing problems.

My guess, (and that really IS all it is,) is that back in the '40's and '50's, you would here the same complaints from the old timers out there. And I also believe that things were most definitely NOT "all roses," back then.

It is also my firm belief, that this country has gone down hill in every way, mainly due to the entertainment industry. Kids see these stupid things on TV and in the movies, and believe that is the way people SHOULD act. That coupled with parents being either too "busy" or just plain too #### lazy to BE parents, has spelled disaster for our civilization.

I honestly fear what this world has waiting for my grand kids, and their kids.

 

BigDon,
First off, an Old Fart is nothing to be ashamed of and yes, I cracked up at your avatar "honey badger don't care about being bit by a snake, he'll eat it later after his nap"...but have to agree there is far more apathy out there than ever before it seems. Even to this day I notice the Old Farts 'get' when I use my lights to thank them for passing (and understand when they do it for me to pass WITHOUT DRAFTING THEM) and the other way round. The newbies just look straight ahead and don't care or don't know what it means.
Chatter box was the best way to pass time on a long haul. It didn't matter what you drove conversations were struck up and if a couple were peeling off but stopping at a Flying J for coffee they'd invite you to join them. There was always a tussle on who could get the bill first because we all wanted to pay for everyone - haven't seen that in a long time.

Lots of things have changed but if all The Old Farts and Crabby ol' Ladies just help others out when they see it, maybe it will catch on.
Then again I'm not betting pigs can fly either.

 

FWIW, I never help anyone with anything, not after hearing about people trying to sue the guy who was helping him back up. The culture is sue first, you could help someone slide a tandem and you might get sued for a coolant leak from the reefer. Just like I don't flash anyone over or blow my airhorn when people motion for it, because while 99% of the time it would be fine, that one person who has a problem and wants to blame it on you can really ruin your day.

Now, I would like to be more helpful than I am, but at times it seems like everything is a legal risk.

 

What a sad commentary this is on the times we are living in. Unfortunately, what you are saying has a lot of truth to it. And yet, there still are instances of "people helping people," just because "it is the right thing to do." I am not criticizing your point of view. Way too many situations point to it being the way things are today.

As for me, I'll still help somebody out when I can. And take my chances on the lawsuit.

 

I have only been driving for a few short months but I come from a long line of truck drivers. I spent many of my summers traveling OTR with uncles and my grandfather who also made the trips a learning experience for me. I was being schooled even when I wasn't in school. It's true there is a certain etiquette among drivers that you don't see much anymore but I hold onto all those things I was taught and use them all the time. I like to think that through my actions and those of others that etiquette may catch on again. We are all out there doing the same thing everyday and what does it hurt to make some other drivers day that much brighter. It's a lonely road and for most of us all we've got is each other. Just sayin'

 

I am one of those drivers that will help people with tandems, flash u with the lights to pass, love blowing my airhorn for the kids and will ALWAYS help another driver out anyway I can. You can't just sit with your head in a hole thinking you will get sued for everything. I believe in pay it forward and what goes around does come back around.

 

it was a few months back, i was working on my truck at the truck stop, had a coolant leak not a big deal, another driver walks over and ask if i need anything i said no just about got it fixed, he said well i need help sliding my tandems if you can spare a minute i said sure and helped him out he said thanks and we shook hands i was walking back to my truck 1 row over and he comes up and hands me a gallon of coolant, and says this might help you out and thanks agian...

my dad said always be willing without exspecting it will pay 10 fold..

and if someone is on the shoulder of the road move over

 

driving schools dont teach those things....lmao.....remeber back in the days you learned to drive by your old man or another trucker who showed you the ways

 

Yep. I dropped the ball by not getting my class A when it was mandatory...would save me a bit of time aside from blindside backing (in need of brush up and new inane laws).
For some reason I don't think that's gonna translate very well once you are out there but an old dog like me can still be taught a few new tricks. Really wishing I'd stayed with it decades ago.