They used atlases and maps, called the shippers and receivers to get directions. Used lots of payphones. As a kid I certainly remember the huge rows of payphones at truck stops with drivers waiting in line to use them. Collect call anyone?
The customer who is shipping the freight. This is where the driver will pick up a load and then deliver it to the receiver or consignee.
I was thinking about this the other day. It had to be a nightmare regarding getting dispatched for loads being stuck with pay phones or shipper/reciever phones if you're lucky.
It sure is handy walking in to the shipper and having all the load information available in my hand, looking up a satellite view of the location and knowing how you are going to get there, and even having Google to look up the place if you've got a bad phone number, etc.
Hell I had a Prime dispatch that had the address marked as a business that had been closed for years. A couple of minutes on Google and a few phone calls later figured out where the place was.
Or the time I picked up an egg load and the address for delivery was halfway across the country from where it really was to be delivered (brokers address was listed). I'm sure there is some great stories from the old days.
The customer who is shipping the freight. This is where the driver will pick up a load and then deliver it to the receiver or consignee.
Operating While Intoxicated
Knew a kid, who was good remembering numbers. He overheard a trucker at a pay phone reading his credit card number to call. Kid used that credit card number to rack up all kinds of calls ! Hate to seen the truckers credit card bill that month !
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So I'm just curious, how did things work back when there were no GPS devices, no cell phones, etc.?
How did truckers find locations? Did they just have a huge collection of city maps? Like Doc Brown's briefcase full of money from different time periods, did they just collect maps as they went along and dig out the one they needed each time?
How did they stay in contact with dispatch? Did they have to borrow the phone at customers? Find a payphone? How did they preplan their next loads, or did they?
These are the types of questions my curious mind is seeking answers for...