New Old Guy

First off I think I need to introduce myself. The " handle " is Whiskey Runner, or W.R. for short. I have been reading this forum now about 8 months and have to say there are quite a few people on here that know what their talking about. I first driving OTR in 1971, making a whooping 10 cents a loaded mile. I was driving a 1970 C/O Freightshaker with a 318 Detroit and 10 speed RoadRanger with no Jake Brake. Oh ya, no A/C or power steering either. I ran from North Carolina, hauling new sticks, (furniture for the newbies) to California and Oregon, backloaded to Miami, usually apples or potatoes, then loaded again back to N.C. This was usually done in about 8-9 days, as a solo driver. I have to tell you that driving "back in the day" was an experience. I have to admit that I did a lot of things that I shouldn't have, I won't go there, but let it be known that there were a few times that they could have, and probably should have, put me under the jail, if I had been caught. I stayed with this job for about 3 years before the "boss man" ran out of money and I found out that the IRS was looking for the truck because he owed back taxes. He also owed me about $ 2400 in wages. I finally got tired of driving for no pay, and also no money to buy fuel so I couldn't move. Pulled into a truck stop somewhere in Texas, barrowed a jack from the mechanic, jacked up the trailer and sold the tires for $ 50.00 each and caught a plane home. That was the last I ever saw, or heard about, that truck. There were a few trucking jobs that I took over my 35 years of running the road, and with all those years I learned something new just about everyday. I think the main thing I learned was NOT to expect the expected, cause a lot of the time it doesn't happen. To all the newbie drivers = While in school be like a sponge, soak up everything you can learn there, cause you will always remember what you have learned. Listen to your good trainers, and learn how NOT to do things from the bad trainers. You will learn either way. Oh ya, before I end this, always remember to take your home time. Don't be like me and stay out for 6 months at a time and think that the baby and dog will know you, cause the baby will start crying (cause your a stranger) and the dog will bite you (thinking your an intruder). Be safe out there drivers, it's your life and others that are at risk.

Welcome W.R! I'm sure we can all learn from someone with your experience and background. Thank you for your post. It was a good read, and I look forward to any more stories you might wanna share.

2 cycle Detroit, surprised that you didn't run some twin sticks as well. Cool.

I drove a 10 wheeler Ford dump in the late 70s with a 2 cycle, 6 cylinder Detroit. Real buzz saw.

Welcome to the forum.

I have been reading this forum now about 8 months...

You've been sneaking around here for 8 months? Shame on you! You should have said something much sooner!

2 cycle Detroit, surprised that you didn't run some twin sticks as well. Cool.

I drove a 10 wheeler Ford dump in the late 70s with a 2 cycle, 6 cylinder Detroit. Real buzz saw.

Welcome to the forum.

Actually I also started driving a 10 wheeler Ford with a 5 and 4 twin stick. There was so much slop in the 4 that every one in a while I would miss a gear, have to climb under the truck with a pry bar to get it straightened out. That was a couple of years before i went OTR.

Thanks for the welcome.

I have been reading this forum now about 8 months...

You've been sneaking around here for 8 months? Shame on you! You should have said something much sooner!

I'll try to do better in the future.