Fleet Management News & Business Info | Commercial Carrier Journal
Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/251785
HONORING OUR A carrier is defined as one that transports or conveys. One, such as a person, business, or organization, that deals in the transport of goods. In the early 1900s, carriers in this country, were transitioned from horse-drawn wagons to the more efficient use of motor-driven vehicles for moving freight from one place to another. When World War I broke out, these new trucks accelerated the transition. With the increased construction of paved roads, trucking began to achieve a significant foothold by 1930 and soon aer became subject to government intervention. In the 30 minutes prior to my daily webinars, I show videos of the "Good Old Days of Trucking." I want to remind everyone that this transformation period we oen refer to as the "good old days" came about with much blood, sweat, and tears having been shed by our trucking ancestors. A lot of hard work went into building our current highway system. Drivers were social at the truck stops and everyone was on the radio giving out the much needed road chatter as to where the bear was hiding. During these formative years, truckers have developed a split personality in the public imagination. ey're either knights of the highway known to quickly lend a hand to a stranded motorist, or the big rig in the wrong lane holding up the four-wheeler traffic. Yet, this country wouldn't survive long BY PAT DICKARD, ITS CORPORATE TRAINER Pat Dickard Knows without truckers hauling everything that we eat, drink, wear, or use in some way. I also find it interesting that a lot of folks used to stop at truck stops to relax and eat. ey just naturally thought they should. ey figured any place a truck driver eats, the food had to be good. is way of thinking is changing as truck stops have transitioned into fast food chains. Truck drivers are taking a second fiddle to the tourist at almost all truck stops. e Trucking Industry has been challenged with an overwhelming amount of government regulation and rising costs. Yet, they have met the barriers head on with a great deal of zeal and success. Constant technological advances have improved operating efficiency of the entire trucking community. Today, trucks handle much more cargo than any other mode of transportation and without them the U.S. economy would grind to a halt. I take my hat off to the approximate 800,000 men and women keeping the country moving. V o l . 8 , N o . 1 TRUCKSTOP.COM 7