XPO | Wether

The population in the US was 100 million people less 40 years ago. Also , there were NO cell phones. Also , "bells and whistles" don't drive the truck for you. Drivers now don't deal with the same type of equipment you dealt with , but , you didn't spend the majority of your career dealing with what drivers deal with now. Drivecams watching you. Cell phones - The number #1 distraction to drivers. We have more people driving which means more chances for something to go wrong.

I'm glad you made it to retirement and hopefully , you don't have to challenge yourself anymore.

Discretion is the better part of valor.
I would like to know what bells and whistles he's talking about.
All the good snow tires for truck are not made anymore and it all started on the left coast thanks California
Last I checked tire chain still go on the same way they did back then.

You forgot about the 4 wheeler that just can't stay home and have to go to the store during the storm
 
I would like to know what bells and whistles he's talking about.
All the good snow tires for truck are not made anymore and it all started on the left coast thanks California
Last I checked tire chain still go on the same way they did back then.

You forgot about the 4 wheeler that just can't stay home and have to go to the store during the storm


I would like to add the trucks would idle more than three minutes at a time, while you waited until they got the road open again, back in the "real trucker" period.
 
This is why some refuse to drive
2 dead and 55 car and truck pileup on I95 on the south side of Baltimore
17 Dec 16
Wow. That's scary to see a tanker come flying in and loose control and explode.

"Authorities on Sunday did not name the tanker driver or the other person who died in the 5 a.m. crash on I-95 North between Caton Avenue and Washington Boulevard. They were working to contact the victims' families." - Baltimore Sun

Apparently , killing the driver of the tanker. Challenge accepted , I guess.
 
Last edited:
C0AfeVjUQAEcyDS.jpg:large
 
This is what I was talking about, the modern day trucker could not carry water for the trucker of years ago


Ok they were a lot tougher back then. But today's driver & the company owners want their equipment & the load to arrive safe & intact. If I was transporting a human organ, then I would go to the ends of the earth to make sure that organ made it to the OR when it needed to be there. When is the last time you delivered 24 skids of product & it was put on a delivery truck as it rolled out of your trailer. I never witnessed that scenario in 30 years. I always tried to be on time. But I did lay down for rest to be safe & I was late. Only 1 time did a receiver refuse the freight? When I pulled away from the dock they came running out wanting to know what I was doing. When I told them I was taking their product to storage they hit the roof. 90 minutes later I was empty but banned from their dock. When I said thank you for the banning they became upset. Caught hell for it from my boss when I got back but as I left his office he handed me my next dispatch. That was early 1980. Now days I would probably get a pink slip. Times are a changing. Von.
 
Ok they were a lot tougher back then. But today's driver & the company owners want their equipment & the load to arrive safe & intact. If I was transporting a human organ, then I would go to the ends of the earth to make sure that organ made it to the OR when it needed to be there. When is the last time you delivered 24 skids of product & it was put on a delivery truck as it rolled out of your trailer. I never witnessed that scenario in 30 years. I always tried to be on time. But I did lay down for rest to be safe & I was late. Only 1 time did a receiver refuse the freight? When I pulled away from the dock they came running out wanting to know what I was doing. When I told them I was taking their product to storage they hit the roof. 90 minutes later I was empty but banned from their dock. When I said thank you for the banning they became upset. Caught hell for it from my boss when I got back but as I left his office he handed me my next dispatch. That was early 1980. Now days I would probably get a pink slip. Times are a changing. Von.
Some companies are funny one day the bitch when there freight is late and the next what to jerk you around and keep you there for hours
 
I'm retired now, but Con-Way forced me out many times. Thankfully, I made it without any accidents when other drivers didn't, but sometimes had to get a hotel. I have always been confident in my driving; it's the other guy that I worry about, and it's getting worse. I hope they don't go back to forcing you out.
 
I'm retired now, but Con-Way forced me out many times. Thankfully, I made it without any accidents when other drivers didn't, but sometimes had to get a hotel. I have always been confident in my driving; it's the other guy that I worry about, and it's getting worse. I hope they don't go back to forcing you out.
Forcing out was never a Conway policy. Few drivers had the backbone to make them put it in writing or call the regional safety MGR. Just two weeks ago, we refused to go on roads that were travel not advised. Safety mgr clearly stated if roads are no travel advised, we don't go.
 
Forcing out was never a Conway policy. Few drivers had the backbone to make them put it in writing or call the regional safety MGR. Just two weeks ago, we refused to go on roads that were travel not advised. Safety mgr clearly stated if roads are no travel advised, we don't go.

We were told that as long as the roads weren't officially closed, we go. Safety manager was a joke.
 
It's hard to explain,,and like the old saying goes,"if I have to explain it you would not understand !". But, I ran in weather years ago that was worse than the weather we have now. Road were closed,we went through, slow, yes a negative cash flow, but the freight had to be delivered! I am not trying to get into a pissing contest. But a man needs to know their limitations. And my mind set was, whatever I was dealt I did it,that was my job. Bad weather, I slowed down,,really slowed down, never gave up. And like I said; was paid very well! All i was saying; if a person is going to turn ran run with their tail between their legs under the false pretense of saving lives or coming home to the love ones. Then maybe that person should find a different occupation. I enjoyed driving. Had 40 years of no accidents all weather and running the upper Midwest. And yes now I am opening myself up for the backlash of all "the professionals" but I do not expect anyone to be put in the catagory of us older hands until they've driven the way of the past. Plus our equipment did not have all the bells and whistles the modern trucker enjoys.


Those bells and whistles include racing slicks for drive tires, cameras facing in and out, a computer keeping track of everything you are doing behind the wheel ( brake, accelerator, speed ), and some dip ::shit:: device that locks the brakes up against your will and with zero notice if it " senses " something. Also, there isn't a state I run in where chains are legal. And like the other fella said, it's a sue everyone, victim state we live in. The legal ramifications are severe.


But good to know your false bravado takes precedence over accepting the limitations of the vehicle.
 
Those bells and whistles include racing slicks for drive tires, cameras facing in and out, a computer keeping track of everything you are doing behind the wheel ( brake, accelerator, speed ), and some dip :::shit::: device that locks the brakes up against your will and with zero notice if it " senses " something. Also, there isn't a state I run in where chains are legal. And like the other fella said, it's a sue everyone, victim state we live in. The legal ramifications are severe.


But good to know your false bravado takes precedence over accepting the limitations of the vehicle.

Are you forgetting the early model trucks? Air assisted steering, and clutch? God forbid you ran out of air! Vacuum assist windshield wipers, and hope your vacuum pump worked! Foot pump windshield washer fluid, pray that the hose did not freeze-up. Two sick shifters, . No air driers,Yes those were the days, drivers drove the trucks and depended on no one but themselves!
 
Are you forgetting the early model trucks? Air assisted steering, and clutch? God forbid you ran out of air! Vacuum assist windshield wipers, and hope your vacuum pump worked! Foot pump windshield washer fluid, pray that the hose did not freeze-up. Two sick shifters, . No air driers,Yes those were the days, drivers drove the trucks and depended on no one but themselves!


The job has never been an easy one. These trucks today are no better at driving than anything from back in the day. Certainly more comfortable. But that don't mean ::shit:: in bad weather. And as the driver here that rolled in rain last year pointed out, it's not nearly as comfortable to be in, after you have wrecked it.
 
Are you forgetting the early model trucks? Air assisted steering, and clutch? God forbid you ran out of air! Vacuum assist windshield wipers, and hope your vacuum pump worked! Foot pump windshield washer fluid, pray that the hose did not freeze-up. Two sick shifters, . No air driers,Yes those were the days, drivers drove the trucks and depended on no one but themselves!
And it was wrong and stupid if you were expected to be safe when everything wasn't functioning and/or safe. But , as you can see in the video above , the most important safety feature is the drivers' judgement. If it's too dangerous to drive , don't.

That's not a challenge to overcome , it's a decision to not die or hurt someone else. There's no in between on this.
 
And it was wrong and stupid if you were expected to be safe when everything wasn't functioning and/or safe. But , as you can see in the video above , the most important safety feature is the drivers' judgement. If it's too dangerous to drive , don't.

That's not a challenge to overcome , it's a decision to not die or hurt someone else. There's no in between on this.
Again you missed the point, there was no better equipment,it was out job, people need stuff! We did it, no whining? Forget I said anything! Just do what you feel you have to. But don't complain about your compansation package! It reflects the repaonsibility of the person. I will just sit in my retirement chair and see how not only this industry changed but our society! I am done commenting about any of this b.s.; because the millenniums and gen x's just don't get it! Have a wonderful holiday season! And do what you have to do. I am out of it! I would say keep on trucking, but that is the mentality of years ago! I will say, tuck when the situation suits you ! ( because that is what most believe today)
 
Again you missed the point, there was no better equipment,it was out job, people need stuff! We did it, no whining? Forget I said anything! Just do what you feel you have to. But don't complain about your compansation package! It reflects the repaonsibility of the person. I will just sit in my retirement chair and see how not only this industry changed but our society! I am done commenting about any of this b.s.; because the millenniums and gen x's just don't get it! Have a wonderful holiday season! And do what you have to do. I am out of it! I would say keep on trucking, but that is the mentality of years ago! I will say, tuck when the situation suits you ! ( because that is what most believe today)
You missed the point - no matter what era , or what type of equipment , I said the most important safety feature is the drivers judgement.
 
Top