Feb 13, 2016
We were roadtripping to Milwaukee earlier this week and my Dad and I got to talking about his days working for L & L Foods. He used to bring me to work from time to time to hang out and see the different trucks.
Trucks are cool
Built Like a Mack Truck
I remember really being into trucks for awhile. L & L Foods didn’t really have anything big (the one box truck) as all of their deliveries were smaller and made in refrigerated vans. Not a problem though as my Dad would come home and tell me about any cool trucks that came to work. Peterbilt, White Freightliner and Mack tractors were always worth talking about, but Kenworth was my favorite. That said, for some reason I bought a Mack bulldog paperweight. Why? I guess to keep all my papers from blowing away.
My favorite
The one truck that really jumps out at me is the Noon Hour Herring truck. Noon Hour Herring was a company based in Chicago and judging from the semi that delivered to L & L they were doing pretty well. The tractor was a Kenworth, conventional style with chrome wheels, tons of lights and a double air horn. The Noon Hour logo was white, navy blue and gold which made for a pretty cool paint scheme. And the design on the tractor was continued on the trailer as well. Pretty nice rig. The guy who drove the truck even let me sit in it a couple of times. I believe once I even got to pull the air horn.
Cab-Over White Freightliner
My friend Dan Maki (lived close by in Burke Heights) was into trucks as well. His Dad was a driver for Graber so he was around trucks a lot. His Dad must not have driven too far as he didn’t have a sleeper on his tractor. That was always Dan’s thing… a tractor with a sleeper on it. For me… the big chromed smoke stacks (vertical exhaust pipes) and the air horns were the thing.
I really liked the White Freightliners as they were all “cabover” style. Nowadays you don’t even see that style much, if ever. I assume the laws have changed and the length of the trucks isn’t as much of an issue, thus, no need to cut things short. Or maybe it was an issue of maneuverability? I suppose working on them was more difficult too? Who knows? In the end, I thought they looked cool, but you just don’t see them these days.
Life as a trucker
I think being a truck driver would be really cool, but I’ve heard stories about how poorly drivers are treated. I like the idea of just driving. Just rolling down the road, listening to music and enjoying life. I’ve heard that it’s the loading and unloading that stinks. You get to certain places and the guys who run the docks can really make or break your trip. I’ve also heard guys say that to really make money you need to fudge your log book and drive constantly. Regardless of the truths of the job… it sounds like fun.
Alright, back to the real world for me. 10-4 good buddy!
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