a documentary about trucking in the 70's

Cool video!
At least they included one of us old NC stick haulers.
I did that for years....furniture out and produce back in a cab over International.

It used to be channel 19 to about Barstow,get over on I-5 it was 17 or 15 depending on how far north you went.

 

Well I never got to experience the 70's (or 80's) but from what I've heard and been told from relatives who drove back then, that was the peak. Trucks were steel, not plastic. Cat was king of the hill. Long hoods and cabovers, not ugly aero trucks. Skill got you there and back, not a truck that drove itself for you.

Once again I think I was born in the wrong decade.

 

The segment about the gypsy driver. That is one thing that changed for the better! A hot load is one where there is only the shipper and the reciever, and nobody else? It was illegal for him to do it then, now if a guy with his or her own authority can find a shipper, without going through a broker, it's completely legal and more power to you!

 

I can remember riding with my uncle and my pap. Both owner ops! RESPECT to those drivers and even tho I'm 32 I kinda feel like they were the good Ole days as well.

 

My mom's uncle was a bullhauler in those days. Used to haul up to the Monfort packing plants up in Greeley, CO. Popping pills and running 3-4 days straight. Said back in those days a 75 mph speeding ticket was like $20-30. DOT didn't bother to look at a bullrack drivers logbook. Companies like Monfort paid tickets as a business expense as I recall..

 

Yeah, in a lot of ways it was more enjoyable. Not as much BS, we were a proud bunch, took pride in getting the job done.. Most of these new breed hands would not want to truck back then.

 

Used to run Ca. with 100k on the deck. High, wide and heavy! The good old days when those of us who were leased to the brand name carriers were represented by the Teamsters. The old 2 check system. We were employees, not independent contractors. The guy with the KW with ICX signs. ICX was a Teamster represented company. The drivers check 29% of the gross. The Co. paid withholding taxes, workmans comp. ,S.S. just like a regular employee. Plus paid 100% of your health and welfare. The truck check was 46% of the gross. No deductions for anything. All state and federal permits paid in full. Plus the Federal Highway use Tax paid. And working for Common carrier rates. Yellow Freight had a Special Commodities Division. All the brand name freight outfits had guys under lease with Teamsters contracts. How sweet it was! Oh I forgot, when we got to L.A. or any terminal away from your home terminal, and were on the board. Your motel was paid. Oh yeah!

 

Lots of trucking companies gone under since then. 265hp pulling 105k wasn't fast uphill. (15-22mph)

 

No need to miss it, find a Cabover to your liking and roll on. May have to delete Commifornia....?
I have a 1978 International Transtar II as a toy mainly, wanted something to haul my tractors to the show as well as my Bessemer engine, it weighs about 5200 itself. Doing cross country in a Cabover wouldn't bother me at all!! Lol. I've used those spring loaded idle sticks for Cruise Control....

 

I did that in a loaner ex Coca Cola side bay truck that Penske gave us when I worked at Pepsi when my truck went under the knife...again. Had one of those idle control knobs. Had a sticker that said not to but oh well....