Life behind the wheel has changed drastically in the last decade—and even more so over the past 20 or 30 years. At Truck Drivers USA, we asked our community of drivers: “What’s something today’s kids will never understand about life on the road 10+ years ago?”
The answers? They paint a vivid picture of grit, resourcefulness, and a kind of unity that’s hard to come by today. Here’s what our drivers had to say.
Maps, Payphones, and Handwritten Directions
Before GPS and smartphones, trip planning was a skill—and a serious one. Many drivers recalled flipping through a Rand McNally atlas, deciphering handwritten directions, and hoping they didn’t miss a turn.
- Clayton Willard said, “Running multiple log books and how an Atlas works.”
- Shauna Alfred echoed that: “HAVING A MAP… AND ACTUALLY KNOWING how to read one.”
- Donna Marie Csontos added, “GPS was fairly new when I started 13 years ago and you had to use both [map books and GPS]. Plus some common sense.”
- Dan Richards and Chris Olson both remembered the road atlas as a crucial tool—Chris noting, “Try 40 years ago with a road atlas, a roll of quarters, a notebook and a pay phone.”
- John Shakkar Settineri reminded us of another time-tested habit: “Calling dispatch from a payphone.”
- John Taylor said, “Buying a calling card. Waiting for the pay phone.”
- David Williams added, “Pay phone rooms, or waiting for a table in the restaurant that had a phone.”
Brotherhood and Respect on the Road
One of the most common themes in the responses was camaraderie—a bond many drivers say has faded over time.
- Harold R Magoon said, “Drivers actually worked together and saw it as a brotherhood.”
- Lori Sheridan shared a heartfelt memory: “A driver could be on the side of the road, on the radio asking if anyone had a simple tool, say vice grips… another driver stops to help fix the problem, and both go down the road to have coffee together before running together on their route.”
- Troy Tidmore added, “Drivers helping out each other more.”
- Scott Krauss reflected on the days of “CB use, The Truckers Brotherhood… sharing of the road and road info.”
- Mark Ryan noted the “respect for the road and the fellow truckers,” and even gave a nod to the “camaraderie” many now miss.
- Freddie Sturdivant reminded us: “If you got on the CB radio and asked for local directions, you would get help.”
- Shelly Sparrow summed it up: “Log books, family, CB, hazardous work but appreciated, respect.”
Life Before Screens and E-Logs
Several drivers talked about a time before everything went digital. That meant paper log books, real conversations, and fewer digital distractions.
- Jack Ables said, “I ran two or three different log books… only way to make money in the 80s and 90s.”
- Jeff Fowler echoed: “Running two log books.”
- John Durrell brought up another detail: “Loose leaf.”
- Harold Dorsey said it best: “Literally anything that doesn’t involve a screen of some type.”
- Claude Venable offered a more humorous reflection: “Also the English language.”
- Kevin Petersen noted the difference in “what it took to communicate.”
- H. Kline shared, “People actually talked to each other when traveling.”
- Dan Hakala remembered CB chatter fondly: “Some real comical characters out there, and for the most part the language was civil.”
Respect, Presentation, and Hard Work
Respect for the craft and each other was a running theme.
- Sandra Willoughby recalled when truckers “were dressed to impress the customers and proudly represent their company.”
- Robert McNeely, Tony Byrne, and Marvin Kelly each pointed to a single missing value today: “Respect.”
- Charlie Arnold noted the “hard work and stern discipline” that defined the era.
- Bill Garrett summed it up with some humor: “You had to know how to grab gears and didn’t wear flip flops.”
- James Benedict said simply: “Work boots.”
- Cynthia Morse added: “Common courtesy.”
- Robert Piaczynski threw in another lost virtue: “Patience.”
- Deborah Merrin Goodall and Pedro Diaz both mentioned another fading skill: “Driving a manual.”
- Will Lavander emphasized the “clutch pedal and stick shift.”
- Donald Pearrell added: “No air conditioning and only manual transmission.”
What We’re Missing Now
Some drivers went beyond specific memories to reflect on what’s been lost over time:
- Mary Miller said, “Why mom always read a road map…”
- Rena Vance put it simply: “You had to find a location with nothing but written directions, no GPS!”
- Claude Venable and others gave a shoutout to the CB radio—a lifeline and a community builder.
- Gail Lohoff may have said it best with just one word: “Freedom!!!!!”
Times change. Technology evolves. But listening to veteran drivers reminisce shows just how much heart, skill, and community once defined life on the road. For the next generation, these stories serve as a reminder: trucking isn’t just about getting from point A to point B. It’s a lifestyle built on independence, hard-earned respect, and real connections.
What do you remember about life on the road back in the day? Share your stories with our Facebook community.
