Looking at the US map, gives you a clear picture of how most of the territory is covered by ground.
To live and work on that ground, people always needed all sorts of things, requiring strength and time to get those things delivered to desired locations. Cultural, economical, political and generally every aspect of life and development, is more or less related to transportation.
Transportation had its own history, from the time when moving freight was done mostly by train and horse-drawn vehicle, up to the point when trucks took over the biggest share in all national freight moving.
The trucking industry’s evolution over the years is really interesting and it can be surprising how big its role was in making what the US are now.
1900’s and 1910’s Beginnings of Modern Trucking
Can you imagine that back in the 1900’s, it took a whole month for a truck to arrive from Seattle to New York.
The starting point to the modern trucking industry of today was the humble first creations of the tractor/semi-trailer combination that can carry some freight.
These strange vehicles could be seen only in metropolitan areas. They were slow with a maximum speed of 15mph. It had iron and solid rubber tires and the roads between metropolitan areas were rural and mostly unpaved.
By 1914 the US counted nearly 100,000 trucks, mostly used in urban areas.
World War I
During the years of World War I (1914–18) truck use and development had its first rise in significance. The increased congestion of rails exposed the need for alternative modes of transporting cargo.
During these years, Roy Chapin was the first who tried a long-distance shipment (OTR) with pneumatic tires that could carry heavier loads and drive at higher speeds.
By 1920 the US had more than a million trucks on the roads.
The years beyond 1920 saw several advancements, such as improved rural roads, the introduction of the diesel engine,] the standardization of truck and trailer sizes along with fifth wheel coupling systems, as well as power assisted brakes and steering. By 1933, all states had some form of varying truck weight regulation.
1930’s – “New Deal”, ATA, HOS
The famous “New Deal” from 1933, requested that every industry create a code of fair competition. To create that code of fair competition for the trucking industry, the two associations, the American Highway Freight Association and the Federated Trucking Associations of America merged and formed the American Trucking Association.
Next year, on May 21, the first ATA’s president, Ted Rogers was the first truck operator who signed the code of fair competition. One year later, Congress passed the Motor Carrier Act and replaced the code. The Interstate Commerce Commission got authorized to regulate the trucking industry.
In 1938 Congress enacted the first hours of service – HOS regulations.
1940s – 1960s US Interstate Road infrastructure
President Roosevelt took the initiative to explore the idea of an inter-regional highway system, but World War II caused the idea to be put aside.
After WWII ended, the plan was set for the interstate highways but it had no funding until mid 1950s when President Eisenhower reactivated interest in the plan.
Finally, in 1956 Federal-Aid Highway Act authorized the construction of the Interstate Highway System, allowing big trucks to travel at higher speeds through rural and urban areas. This act also authorized the first federal maximum gross vehicle weight limits for trucks, set at 73,280 pounds (33,240 kg).
Before the end of the 1950s modern containerized intermodal shipping was pioneered allowing for a more efficient transfer of cargo between trucks, trains, and ships.
Documentary from 1950s “wheels of progress”
With the interstate highways becoming a reality, the first truck stops were beginning to form, as a place for getting diesel fuel and large enough area to accommodate parking to 10s to 100s of trucks.
1970’s – Rise and Fall of Trucking Culture
This is the period when trucking culture got mainstream in the US. By 1970 there were over 18 million trucks on America’s roads and since the mobile phone was not yet present, the communication was done over the extremely popular citizen band – CB radio.
The picture of a cowboy type trucker with a recognizable shirt, hat and slang, was probably created back then. The whole hype about the truck drivers was around their rebellious behaviour, the special slang they created using the CB radio and the lifestyle they lived being on the road almost consistently.
Here is some of the famous truckers slang, also called CB lingo:
- Alligator – blown tire on the roadway
- Back Door – behind you
- Back ‘em Up or Back Off the Hammer – slow down
- Bear – police officer
- Break- request to talk on the channel
- Catch Ya on the Flip Flop – see you on the return trip
- Chicken Coop – weigh station
- Cash Register – toll booth
- Comic Book – a trucker’s log book
- Better Half – spouse
- Big Road – an interstate highway
- Bobtail – tractor with no trailer attached
- Double Nickel – 55 mph
- Evel Knievel – motorcycle police
- Four Wheeler – standard automobile
- Granny Lane – slow lane
- Hammer Lane – fast lane
- Handle – one’s CB nickname
- Ears – CB radio
- Parking Lot – a truck that hauls cars
- Safe Driving Award – traffic ticket
- Salt Shaker – snow plow
- Smokey – police officer
- 10-4 – okay
- 10-20 – location
- 10-33 – emergency
- 10-36 – what is the time?
- Yard Stick – mile marker
Movies like “Smokey and the Bandit” and “Convoy” were on the top of popular culture of 70’s. Everything escalated when independent truck drivers went on trucker strike 1979.
Cell phone technology improvements inevitably led to decreased popularity of CB radios, and eventually fading the trucking hype.
1980’s – Setting Standards in Trucking Industry
During the 80’s, trucks and truck drivers weren’t mainstream of pop culture any more.
In this decade, Motor Carrier Act of 1980 and the Surface Transportation Assistance of 1982 were the most important moments in the industry.
First one deregulated the industry, causing increased competition and lower pay for drivers, while second one standardized truck size and weight limits on a federal level, removing a barrier state problems.
After Motor Carrier Act of 1980, truckers could price freely within 15% up and down from current levels.
The law produced a higher level of competition which eventually resulted in lower prices and profit margins. Suddenly a large number of new non-union carriers showed up, and they were mostly new low-cost firms.
In the end, truck manufacturers reduced their inventories, final consumers benefited, but competition got really hard and became a permanent mark of the US trucking industry in following years.
1990’s – North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)
Probably the most important, and certainly the most controversial moment in the trucking industry of the 1990’s was the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), signed by Canada, Mexico and the United States.
NAFTA’s impact has been the subject of many relevant studies all over the world. These attempts were equally in favour and against the agreement, based on the impact the agreement had on national economies.
However, it seems that the US benefited the most. According to the US Chamber of Commerce, NAFTA increased trade with Canada and Mexico from $337 billion to $1.2 trillion in less than 20 years, after the agreement.
21st century – Trucking Industry Issues
In 2000’s, the US trucking industry faced the biggest challenge. Trucking companies were faced with an aging fleet of vehicles.
Midrange engines were supposed to replace the old ones, but the companies chose to avoid buying, and turned to low mileage used trucks.
Low-mileage tractors were all over the market which caused lowering the prices. Rock bottom prices were threatening to fleets, manufacturers and truck finance companies. Almost 70% of the trucking companies found themselves on the verge of bankruptcy.
One of the great things about trucking is the fact it’s vital to the national economy. Speculation cannot change the necessity of freight movements. That is a possible explanation how the industry kept going in spite of so many problems in the 2000’s.
Documentary from 2007 Modern Marvels – Truck stops
The last two decades are all about globalization, and how everything is related. You often hear that shaking action on one side of the world could produce consequences on another.
It’s enough to know that technological breakthroughs didn’t pass by the trucking industry. In fact, trucks turned out to be ideal for implementing tech innovations because of its features, including communication, gps tracking, WiFi and more.
Nowadays, the real issue in the US trucking industry is a shortage of truck drivers. Hiring truck drivers is becoming a challenge for trucking companies. Some are seeing female truck drivers as a new labour pool. Others are expecting new technologies like self-driving trucks to be a solution.
All in all, we are living in exciting times, and as you can see from this brief overview it’s always been like that in this business. Hard competition, endless roads and loneliness, sometimes unpleasant customers, deadlines and much more, are requiring strong characters and creative workers.
But all that is a regular part of everyday life of a trucker. That is why they are so cool, and so important. Personally, I consider that being a part of the trucking industry is a privilege.
