40 years (almost) as a driver.

[robertdavey6]

A little maudlin, perhaps but, I was thinking that I'm only just short of having been employed, as a driver, for 40 years. January 1978 was my first "proper" driving job.
Given the changes, in that time, I got to thinking about the men who were in my current position, back then. They would have started driving BEFORE WWII and what changes they must have seen!
Might some even have driven steam wagons? Certainly they would have worked with people who did.
Go back another 40 years and the horsepower would have been just that. HORSE power.
How far we have come, in a relatively short space of time.

[Ian]

. . . . . and what will it be like in another 40 years?

[coastie]

In another 40 years, I don't suppose they will be many drivers, I expect that wagons will drive themselves with computerised loading and unloading. A bit like that port in Germany.

[Dingbat]

Yep driverless trucks ,robots doing every other job.....What will humans be doing .?Talking about the good
old days.

[coachman]

Originally Posted by Dingbat

Yep driverless trucks ,robots doing every other job.....What will humans be doing .?Talking about the good
old days.

Have you tried talking on the phone to any banks, public utility companies or government offices such as the DVLA recentley ? I don't think they actually employ and real people now only robots.

[Dingbat]

Originally Posted by coachman

Have you tried talking on the phone to any banks, public utility companies or government offices such as the DVLA recentley ? I don't think they actually employ and real people now only robots.

Certainly agree with you there.Coachman.

[coastie]

Coastguard is going that way too.

[Fazer9553]

Originally Posted by coastie

Coastguard is going that way too.

Bionic Coastie

[coastie]

Pretty much, yes.

[iguhrknc]

Originally Posted by robertdavey6

A little maudlin, perhaps but, I was thinking that I'm only just short of having been employed, as a driver, for 40 years. January 1978 was my first "proper" driving job.
Given the changes, in that time, I got to thinking about the men who were in my current position, back then. They would have started driving BEFORE WWII and what changes they must have seen!
Might some even have driven steam wagons? Certainly they would have worked with people who did.
Go back another 40 years and the horsepower would have been just that. HORSE power.
How far we have come, in a relatively short space of time.

It’s incredible to think about how far we’ve come, isn’t it? When you started in '78, things were already moving fast, but looking back further — to drivers before WWII, who might’ve been on steam wagons or even horse-drawn carts — it really puts everything into perspective. The changes we've seen, from the early days of steam to the diesel trucks we have now, and all the technology creeping in, is pretty mind-blowing.

And you’re spot on about the truck driver certification stuff too. Back then, it wasn’t as strict, but now with the CPC and all the regulations, it’s a whole different ball game. It’s become such a professional job — which is a good thing for safety, but it’s definitely a big shift from how it used to be.

What do you think, though? With all the changes in the last 40 years, where do you reckon the next 40 will take us?