If you had a choice to take a ride on The Time Machine would you be a happier camper if you could go back to 1999 and the working conditions and rules we had back then???
I'm posting this poll after reading the comments made by BusterNite from UPSF.
Also in case you are wondering why I chose to take the time machine back to 1999, I will explain.........
That is when Truckingboards got started and in honor of Truckingboard's 10th Anniversary, this will give us a chance to reflect on the many changes that have occurred these past 10 years. Back then many members were just getting their feet wet using a computer and we were all too busy working and making money to be looking for a trucking message board. The majority of the members did not even join TB until 2006 or later. Now that we do not have layover runs anymore we have time every day to come here to Truckingboards to learn something new in the trucking world.

I'd have to say the '99 Viking era. They seemed to care for customers and employees. Employees doing PR for the company and going the extra mile everyday because they WANTED to made a difference. They understood that flexibility was a necessity in the ltl business.
Could we have weathered 9/11 and the aftermath that followed? I think so. It would have been a challenge, and no one can say for sure, but I believe so.
FEDEX hadn't really taken over then, and even though freight was down in 10/11 million lbs levels, we did OK. One of the things that helped was drivers had the option to take a trip or day off to help a driver who hadn't worked, the opportunity to work. They didn't have to lay off drivers, so when business did pick up, they didn't have to train new drivers or go out and find unqualified drivers. The extra board running a wheel type also helped. Much more fair to the drivers. P&D drivers actively sought more freight and new accounts. This current mess? I believe so, probably better than a lot of freight companies. I think the fact that open communication between management and employees would have been a definite asset.

There was an entirely different groove at the old AF. I'm not going to say FedEx is better or worse, however, the groove is definitely different.
I preferred the old AF. It's kinda like the difference between a burger on your own grill out back and one from McDonald's. One way or another, you're gonna get fed. One is just a happier experience......that's all.

peace

Ol' Man said it ..... Viking AND AF did things right to get to the top.... They treated their employees right,,, and that filtered down to the customers... In 99,,, I was a city driver with basically the same route everyday.... I'd go out of my way to make people happy... The small towns ,, (and sometimes cities) I went to , I had people that would wave to me when I went by... And more times than not,,, I was greeted by a smile and heart felt Hello...
I got several presents,,, and a couple free lunches by some of my customers when I left the city to go to the road... (that was my mistake) .... This is NOT to say I was better than the next guy,,, just the atmosphere the company had made me Want to be happy, nice,,, they would work with you,,, with the customer,,, etc....
Now days my main concern is watch my back,,, don't trust anybody,,, and try not to get fired.... Something is wrong with that picture......... But oh well,,, fedex is so big,,, they don't care.... remember the cd,,, if you don't like it leave ???? We would have never heard that back then......

Thanks River,,,, Nice poll.........

THAT says it all!!!

dead on we have a winner