what was it like

I remember bedbugging in '77 with my brother. We got lost trying to find a house out in the countryside in Kentucky. Finally parked the truck with 4-ways next to a farmer's mailbox and walked about 1/4 mile to the farmer's house and asked to use his phone. At first he wasn't going to let us use his phone because it was "going to be long distance". It took us nearly half an hour to explain to him this new fangled thing called "800 numbers" and it wasn't going to cost him anything. Finally got through to dispatch who in turn got in touch with the brother-in-law of the homeowners who obviously didn't have a phone set up in their new house, got directions, and got back underway... after getting some nice apple pie from the farmer's daughter... literally.

 

Drivers didn't jump from job to job...because no one would hire you if you hadn't been on the job for 5-6 years.
Drivers never complained about things...they had plenty of issues but they overcame them and didn't say a word.
Drivers were proud of the company they worked for and what they did for a living.
Drivers helped each other out without question....helped out 4 wheelers too.
LEOs and DOT were tough in some states but mostly fair. If you had an attitude you got an attitude back.
Drivers respected each other and showed it.

 

Way back then, when I had only been driving for about a year, this so called religious family man that owned the truck took me for my road test; about 1400 miles round trip. The first rest area which was close to his home town, a woman on the CB looking customers. He stopped and said, when she comes to the truck, you go wait in the picnic area until we're through. She came to the truck, he rolled the window down, and it was his neighbor and fellow worshiper at his church. He was a changed man the rest of that trip and couldn't talk without stammering & stuttering. She had that "deer in the headlights" look too as she quickly backed away from the truck. After that he wouldn't make eye contact with me and soon after, fired me since it was in an "at will state."

 

BINGO ! But we did complain,just not about every little thing.You did what needed to be done.

 

Yep!! And drivers took pride in their ride! Big word there "PRIDE". We took it personally (I still do) if the truck was dirty or not running right. I see some of these guys today and just shake my head.....

 

I was the Trucker of the future! Had a "auto dialer"! Just put it to the mouth piece on a dirty pay phone press the right button and it would call any number you put in to it. 2 Police scanners, a Big radio, C.B. 2 radar detectors, & a 73 mph truck. Back then "local information" on a C.B. would be real. If someone was broken down their would be three rigs parked behind him & all of us getting him back out on the Blvd. We stopped to help Old People & Women. We were proud beyond belief when our child said, My Dad is a Trucker!

 

I 10, W bound. Hey E bound, anything behind ya? Nope. Thanks, Your clean for 25 miles. Wife poked her head out of the curtain, MR. 107 mph really? Just making sure all the gears work dear.

 

Beat me too it LOL--yup there where whiners back them too--difference was usually once one started 3-4 hands would quickly tell em to shut the #### up! And trust me children were to be seen and not heard--& to the guys of my ol man's generation--everyone was a kid--at least until your first grandkid could spell ya for a few hours---LMAO

 

I've been thinking about your post the last day. It was commonplace to see at least one other truck parked on the side of the road helping another trucker. In fact it was relatively rare to see a trucker stranded on the side of the road alone. By comparison it is very unusual to see another truck pull over to help a trucker today.

I think back then we used the CB to communicate our difficulties, get help, and it developed more of a community feeling among truckers. You could ask for a part and word would get passed along from truck to truck and pretty soon another trucker would get the word, find the part, and get it to you.

Today CB talk has degenerated to the point I rarely use one anymore. Everyone has a cell phone and/or Qualcomm to communicate their breakdowns, so nobody assumes you need a hand anymore. To top it off the government fairies are deep into our logbooks and we don't dare stop to lend assistance for fear of losing our own income.

 

I remember the "bridge" time between common use cell phones and the older payphone era. Phones at the counter, and me with my little pre-paid long distance cards and 800 numbers. Order dinner, call dispatch, set the phone down while I ate (and dispatch screamed), waited for those magic words...."I got you a load" or "this'll get you home"...