"Streamlined Trucking" The Third in a Series by SharLeigh

From the very first horse-drawn wagons on dirt roads (barely roads) to the fuel-efficient diesel trucks and trailers on the new American Interstates, the trucking industry was rapidly growing, improving and changing throughout the 20th Century. Trucking quickly blossomed into not only a streamlined system for moving freight but also a way of life for most of the people involved.

The 1920s were known as the golden age of road construction. Many of the early highways and streets appeared at this time. By the 1930s, technologies that concentrated on smoother and faster transportation took center stage. Diesel engines and fuel were adopted by the trucking industry because of better efficiency. The 1930s brought the first semi-trailers, trucks with closed cabs, improved suspensions, cab heaters, sleepers and side mirrors.

With all of the previously-mentioned advances for the freight haulers, it seemed nothing could go wrong. Rest assured all was not well in Mudville. The State governments were in charge of trucking regulations. Each state had different rules. This caused a lot of confusion and frustration for the drivers hauling freight between multiple states. The Federal Government soon stepped in to clear up the differing regulations and made them uniform.

The Federal government had previously provided all highway funds but, with the advent of the Motor Carrier Act of 1935, the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) was created and given full administrative powers over trucking. But that was not the only involvement the Federal Government had with the industry. The Federal Highway Act of 1954 appropriated 175 million dollars for development of the Interstate Highway System. In 1966 Congress created the Department of Transportation (DOT). The DOT was responsible for safety issues and the ICC was in charge of trucking's economic interests.

And so began the golden age of trucking. With faster, stronger, more efficient trucks rolling down freshly paved Interstate highways, drivers could get more done in less time. The American economy was growing in leaps and bounds and "stuff" was in high demand. Dedicated Independent truckers that worked hard could expect to live a fruitful life - albeit on the road, in a truck, away from their family for weeks at a time.

Eventually, the Federal Government made the
decision that "less is more" and effectively deregulated the industry with the Motor Carrier Act of 1980. The act eased some regulations and cut the high costs of the large federal bureaucracies, but deregulation was a boon for the freight-hauling industry. Enacted in 1982, the federal Surface Transportation Act (STA) set uniform weight and length laws across the country. In the 1990s, the borders between America, Canada and Mexico were opened with the signing of the North American Free Trade Agreement. NAFTA provided free trade, open borders and eliminated tariffs. Some might say these events have made trucking better yet others would argue that they ruined a good thing.

Each decade since the 1880s has ushered in improvements for the trucking industry. The trucks of the 21st Century are aerodynamic, fuel-efficient, safe, and very powerful. In the early years, items to improve safety, comfort and appearance were not a concern, but today the emphasis is on these very things. Computers have also changed the industry. With computers on-board (both in the cab and under the hood), e-mail at the click of a mouse, and modern computerized dispatching, a lot has changed. With the use of satellite communication systems, some companies can now locate and dispatch a driver while on the road (no more hiding out in a truck). On-board computers, pagers and cellular phones are rapidly making the old C.B. radio extinct all together.

So what will the next year, decade and century bring? It is anyone’s guess but the future of trucking is strong and the picture is positive. Although the industry has changed significantly, a lot is still the same. There will always be a need for freight - the nation and the world depend on it! Take one last look back at the past, then look forward with all that knowledge and embrace and improve the future.