THE 'OLDEN DAYS OF SLEEPERS (VOL I)

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  • Опубліковано 5 жов 2024
  • A Phantom Lane video featuring vintage photos curated and colorized by Thor Norvegian. Phantom Lane takes you on a nostalgic ride into the golden age of over-the-road trucking to remember the long-forgotten phantoms of the fast lane. Enjoy the view!
    Submissions welcome via Phantom Lane Facebook Group: / phantomlane

КОМЕНТАРІ • 140

  • @geedubb2005
    @geedubb2005 Рік тому +43

    The drivers back then earned every penny they were paid. Keep in mind, this is long before the interstate system. I’m old enough to have know a few drivers from that era. There were no creature comforts back then. You froze your Burt off in cold weather and cooked in the hot weather. God Bless those heroes.

    • @doct0rnic
      @doct0rnic Рік тому +3

      On a seat stuffed with straw

    • @charlesgray3810
      @charlesgray3810 Рік тому +2

      Yea I got you they sure did but I love these old trucks all of them.

    • @the.porter.productions
      @the.porter.productions Рік тому

      O-H-I-O Porter greetings 🇺🇸 Driving back in the day wasn’t always easy. I’ve heard some stories of having to stand on the running board to steer the truck when it was loaded. Not sure how true those are. The old drivers I’ve met were quite unique characters, but loyal & hard working. True Knights of the Road! Peace & Grease!🥰😎✌️

    • @dearbrad1996
      @dearbrad1996 Рік тому +2

      They earn every penny these days too. No picnic out there

    • @the.porter.productions
      @the.porter.productions Рік тому +1

      @@dearbrad1996 🇺🇸You got that right! I know that sometimes the drivers are forced to take loads at a cheaper rate, sometimes losing money. They get caught between a rock & a hard spot. Trucking is never easy & there’s money to still be made. It still takes a special breed to be a truck driver! Amen!🥰🤩✌️

  • @timkis64
    @timkis64 Рік тому +17

    could you imagine how exausting it would be to make 350 400 miles a day in one of them before there were interstates.all the stop & go of little towns & back road hills you would need to cross.the manual steering alone would be hell in those conditions.much respect to the gentlemen who safely operated these beasts.

  • @mileagemaker9925
    @mileagemaker9925 Рік тому +56

    Another great video 👏👏 ! Sure bring back memories! That's back before any CDL! Most of us back then learned to drive in a farm truck on a gravel road and when you had to get a license it was called a chauffeur license. No drivers ever wore flip flops or sandals or old baggy sweatpants! Everyone spoke English too and there was no road rage! Everyone stopped to help each other out!! Good ol' days 👏👏 Love your videos and keep them coming! God bless America 🙏🇺🇸🙏🇺🇸

    • @billloffler8637
      @billloffler8637 Рік тому +5

      I didn’t even know what road rage was then.

    • @jerryedwards4489
      @jerryedwards4489 Рік тому +7

      Those drivers out there now,don’t call them(don’t know shit bout trucking)much less about backing up,or just doing normal stuff,back in the 70’s we called them 90 day wonder s,got off in 2007,&glad I did,keep doing what you’re doing,thank you for taking us down memory lane🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

    • @johnboone2581
      @johnboone2581 Рік тому +6

      I quit driving just before CDL’s come along. There’s not enough money for me to go back now.

    • @dabigkahunacatfish2992
      @dabigkahunacatfish2992 Рік тому +1

      Well quite simply, back in our day we were truck drivers, today however they are nothing but truck PUSHERS, plane and simple. l hung-up my spurs after 47 years of all the fun l could stand.

    • @mikedouglas8422
      @mikedouglas8422 Рік тому

      -+ $2. Y8s

  • @happymotoring4674
    @happymotoring4674 11 місяців тому +2

    Watching your videos reminds me how old I am now. I have been driving 53 years now and drove some of these trucks for my dad when I was young. Beautiful work,fond memories...thank you.

  • @dustyroads5811
    @dustyroads5811 Рік тому +10

    They are like rolling pieces of art now compared to the modern rigs

  • @Lemmon714_
    @Lemmon714_ Рік тому +9

    My great uncle started driving in 1937 and I can just see him in those. I started driving in 1987 and now I am the old timer.

    • @the.porter.productions
      @the.porter.productions Рік тому

      O-H-I-O Porter greetings 🇺🇸 My dad was driving back in the 1930s. My oldest brother was born in 1937. I’ve heard many stories of the old trucks & truckers. I grew up around many old trucks as well. Love the oldies. Blessings.🥰😎✌️

  • @mrc1539
    @mrc1539 Рік тому +9

    Being a young man raised on a carnival during the late 50’s and early 60’s , none of our trucks had sleepers but several of our trailers had bunks in the nose of them. The team drivers would “ walk the rails “ to get in the bunk without stopping . Lots of blistered feet in the summer from pulling long grades , floorboards really got hot. Tuff ol boys in them days !

  • @TJ-USMC
    @TJ-USMC Рік тому +4

    Excellent Video, real "Hardcore Driving"

  • @lenscap8925
    @lenscap8925 Рік тому +3

    @6:30 the Malatesta & sons rigs had a storage warehouse at the far end of the block in Hialeah FL where I worked back in the 70's, during high school.Loved the ornate lettering on the vans and the curved front White tractors

  • @garydionne1357
    @garydionne1357 Рік тому +3

    Wow, that's Kool, man door in an open top trailer, like a man door in a curtain van , no axle lock, and a chain will work, and we think we have it bad, great 👍 video my friend and great day to you

  • @danielmoore7332
    @danielmoore7332 Рік тому +10

    Beautiful video! My first rig was an H Model Mack with a 20" sleeper. Good thing I slept on my side. Nice seeing all these old Pete's & Diamond T trucks. thanks!

  • @ervinthompson6598
    @ervinthompson6598 Рік тому +5

    My dad drove a '48 LJ Mack, with integral sleeper and a 750 split boom Holmes for Akers Motor Lines out of Charlotte, NC. I can still hear that purring rattle in my mind as that truck sat outside our house while my mother packed him sandwiches and coffee for trips.

  • @earlblackjackmartinjr5750
    @earlblackjackmartinjr5750 Рік тому +8

    I can't imagine running double from NC to Los Angeles an the North West back then. I bet it took a week one way an no AC. Can you imagine leaving the doors an windows open taking a nap, you would wake up with ya head laying over in the weeds an all of ya things gone from a thieves not to mention 50 mph down hill with a tail wind. I started in 1969 an I drove some very questionable equipment. They were tough that's for sure. Now the sleeper in the nose of the trailer would have been a plus for some I had to train. That was a perfect time out box for some crazy people I had to deal with. Out of sight and out of mind. 50 yrs was enough for me. It was fun freezing, burning up, driving asleep with my eyes open. I miss it. 😮😅 really I do. Seemed like time completely stopped when I got home for a day sometimes 1.5 days. 90 % of the time I was anxious to "go up the road" as we called it on Sunday night or Saturday night.

    • @rce8540
      @rce8540 Рік тому

      Great comment.

    • @daleyhanson5889
      @daleyhanson5889 Рік тому +1

      Hey B J" No palletizing and forklifts neither ,most was hand loaded and unloaded, then get back in it and drive all night give out before you start,,,

  • @THROTTLEPOWER
    @THROTTLEPOWER Рік тому +4

    Great pics!!!

  • @thornil2231
    @thornil2231 Рік тому +3

    As far as men fashion goes, look at the shoes. As far as videos go, listen to the music. Good background music!

  • @lisakigar4432
    @lisakigar4432 Рік тому +1

    They are real thuck Drivers Back Then. Love your Videos and the History of Trucking.❤❤🎉🎉

  • @gearbanger57
    @gearbanger57 Рік тому +10

    You could always tell a long hauler by the number of plates or state stickers on the front end.

  • @chevyrellstraightdropracin0603

    Being a truck driver I subscribe instantly love the video and history

  • @eddiewood6239
    @eddiewood6239 Рік тому +4

    Those cab width extentions "Sleepers" look far too narrow for most Men. Of course if one is tired enough, they would be most welcoming. Thank You Kindly for the wonderful video.

  • @thehillbillyhilton3557
    @thehillbillyhilton3557 Рік тому +3

    My grandpa drove right after WWII and probably drove for 30+ years. Love seeing those old trucks. Great little video

  • @torquetrain8963
    @torquetrain8963 Рік тому +2

    Wow, those old gals sure are still real pleasing to the eye. Dont know a red blooded man who wouldn't be mesmerized by em. Nice work phantom lane!!! Thanks!!

  • @repeat911
    @repeat911 Рік тому +3

    Great video!!
    I spent many years in KW -W9 day cab
    Sleeping consisted of a piece of plywood on the seats.
    Not very comfortable but when ur bone tired it worked

  • @the.porter.productions
    @the.porter.productions Рік тому +2

    O-H-I-O Porter greetings 🇺🇸 I’m glad to have a family that started in trucking back in the 1930s. I’ve met some of the drivers that worked for my dad back then. True Knights of the Road. There were a lot of drunks back then, too. He had some as well. The trucks were quite hard to drive at times & very rough. I still appreciate the old trucks though. You showed some very unique setups of trucks & trailers. I’ve heard stories of the sleepers in the trailers. My dad always slept under the trailer because he didn’t like those coffin sleepers. I’ve only seen them in pics though. Some good stuff my friend! Peace & Grease! 🥰😎✌️

  • @douglasweller9709
    @douglasweller9709 Рік тому +4

    ❤great video. Fry in the summer, freeze in the winter.

  • @myexpressways4106
    @myexpressways4106 Рік тому +10

    I am amazed at the variety of photos you manage to find! This theme on sleepers is really awesome. It makes my day to reminisce about my old days of trucking and to imagine even earlier times gone by. Thanks for another fine video.

  • @grantsmythe8625
    @grantsmythe8625 Рік тому +2

    Great pictures and some pretty good music too. Very nice and smooth, perfect fit.

  • @bctw9004
    @bctw9004 Рік тому +6

    That was awesome!!!!

  • @paulhart4477
    @paulhart4477 Рік тому +5

    This video is amazing! Been in the trucking industry for 30 some years and enjoy these videos,I also like collecting die cast trucks 🚚 mostly John deer and cat. But I don't leave out my 18 wheelers!

    • @the.porter.productions
      @the.porter.productions Рік тому

      O-H-I-O Porter greetings 🇺🇸 My dad started trucking back in the 1930s. The trucks were quite cool back then & some still are today. I’ve always loved trucks & collecting toy trucks hasn’t turned out to be a cheap hobby either. I own 3 trucks right now & working on a 4th. Love cabovers & anything old. Passing down that legacy to my boys as well. Peace & Grease. 🥰🤩✌️

  • @czechmate6916
    @czechmate6916 Рік тому +3

    These are some of the coolest looking trucks I’ve ever seen. 👍👍

  • @mikaelabowen5781
    @mikaelabowen5781 Рік тому +3

    This is fascinating to see. Historic sleeper cabs is a subject that's not easy to research for model building here in the UK - we didn't officially get sleepers here until the seventies.

  • @mikeabyssinia
    @mikeabyssinia Рік тому +2

    Good video, really captures back in my day when we had to drive a B series 10 speed uphill both ways in 12 feet of snow during a blizzard with no heat . ....year round.

    • @HeyItsJonny
      @HeyItsJonny Рік тому

      Thru July, no air no brakes. Send it.

  • @smartysmarty1714
    @smartysmarty1714 Рік тому +7

    Some of these trucks were still roaming the American highways as late as the early 70's. I remember seeing them as a kid and thinking "wow, that's ancient stuff". I don't remember too many COE's, but there were a fair amount of conventional trucks, at least where I was in the mid-west.

  • @ratdog3055
    @ratdog3055 Рік тому +1

    What is amazing is the number of these companies that are still in business!

  • @kennethsonier1766
    @kennethsonier1766 Рік тому +1

    Very cool, I love these classic trucks. Thanks for sharing 👍✌️🇺🇲

  • @oldmanfromoc7684
    @oldmanfromoc7684 Рік тому +1

    I learned hauling cement sacks for swimming pools unload by hand 26 tons. 1966 in 1957 two stick Pete double trailers!

  • @captainmorgan1107
    @captainmorgan1107 Рік тому +3

    4:42 I love the look of a B70 series Mack with the L model cab, and the sleeper makes it even better! Great video!

  • @darylenyland3702
    @darylenyland3702 Рік тому +1

    Love these old videos, I could picture, back 1940 year .

  • @chosenone101
    @chosenone101 Рік тому +3

    Love the pics!

  • @donaldthomas2106
    @donaldthomas2106 Рік тому +5

    Wow! A lot of these old beauties I've never seen. I thought I knew quite a few of them. Your pictures are super awesome. I really appreciate you bringing back the passed. I can remember some of them coffin sleepers myself when I drove. How about that truck with the homemade winter front. Guess he sure wanted some heat.

  • @lhall9381
    @lhall9381 Рік тому +1

    As a child I spent many hours with my dad on the road. (He was an owner operator). I promised him I'd never drive. After two heart surgeries, I was not allowed a CDL. I went one better. I ran the docks instead. Boy, do I remember a lot of those old day trucking companies. Deregulation ended that. Great videos. Will there be a vol. 3? Thanks for these posts.

  • @snydedon9636
    @snydedon9636 Рік тому +3

    Awesome! Thanks for the video.

  • @bruceschweigert6457
    @bruceschweigert6457 Рік тому +3

    Another excellent video,keep them coming!!!!

  • @alexgerrits349
    @alexgerrits349 Рік тому +2

    58 years of dedicating my life to all things automotive, I had no idea there was built-in sleeper cabs back that far.

  • @bluesharp59
    @bluesharp59 Рік тому +2

    Way cool video, Thumbs Up !

  • @borsanablues8243
    @borsanablues8243 Рік тому +2

    Very rare and nice photos ! 👍

  • @mikek7283
    @mikek7283 Рік тому +5

    Very cool. keep up the good work!

  • @bishopcorva
    @bishopcorva Рік тому +2

    A lot of handsome machines for sure. A part of me imagines the trucks, or body replicas at least, cruising the interstates and other highways on modern suspension and with modern drivetrains and such. If such would have to use DEF, that tank could easily be concealed in a "tool box" on the passenger side running board. That I think would be that extra measure of cool.

  • @jelau4851
    @jelau4851 Рік тому +1

    From as far I can remember, Truckers were America,s unknown Heroes, I can remember watching Cannonball TV serie when I was a kid, it was always full of adventure, and we all liked this show. Anyone remembers ???

  • @Pinzpilot101
    @Pinzpilot101 Рік тому +3

    I enjoyed watching this but you missed an American company that I saw a feature on somewhere in trucking history...They were a little different in that they built their own cabs and the built them tall and high, the sleeper berth was underneath the driver and below that was a straight 8 cylinder English Gardner diesel from which they got excellent economy on those long hauls. Can anyone enlighten me who they were.?

  • @CEOkiller
    @CEOkiller Рік тому +1

    I met quite a few of the old Outlaw truckers from the ‘70’s but these guys are a whole ‘mother level of tough…

  • @tboyz1
    @tboyz1 Рік тому +2

    2 up in a "C" cab legendary 👍

  • @mikeservais888
    @mikeservais888 Рік тому +2

    Another great video. Thanks!

  • @hughjass1044
    @hughjass1044 Рік тому +1

    All these trucks are before my time though I do faintly remember a few of the later ones on the road when I was young. If my dad was around, they'd mean a lot to him because it was in the late 40s to late 60s that he was a driver.

  • @daveweed2765
    @daveweed2765 Рік тому +3

    Just imagine how much more fun and adventurous it was back then.
    As for the interstate system? Yeah right. Every chance I get I get off of them. Speeds are faster in a lot of states but the traffic is really screwed up. And yeah traffic lights in town but Houston for example in rush hour can take up to 3 to 4 hours to go from Channelview to Katy and vice versa.
    And no Jake's but brake pads with asbestos and much lighter loads and no freakin automatics. The uniforms looked stupid though but no more stupid than below the knee shorts with flip flops and a hi viz vest that you see on any fuel island today. Being cold or hot because the "climate control" was half asked at best and these folks were tough and proud. Plus you pretty much live in a truck. Now the drivers need to stand up and walk in.
    But Truck Driving now is just a job and not a lifestyle for folks with a wanderlust that don't like playing well with others. The regulations now are idiotic, the so called training in schools is idiotic, the so called Safety in companies is run by idiots and management in the companies are idiotic run by idiots that can't even drive a truck.

  • @jimsmith9819
    @jimsmith9819 Рік тому +2

    i drove a 65 Ford COE the sleeper was basically a shelf along the back of the cab

  • @buckeyefangirl1976
    @buckeyefangirl1976 Рік тому +1

    One of my favorite tv shows in the 70's was Movin' On starring Claude Akins and Frank Converse.

    • @jelau4851
      @jelau4851 Рік тому

      I must be older, to remember ''Cannonball '' tv serie

  • @rce8540
    @rce8540 Рік тому +3

    Yes when I started with warren transport in 1979. We had Iowa base plate Wyoming Nevada Mississippi Oregon. There might have been more. Good old days.

  • @darrellmcmillian2085
    @darrellmcmillian2085 Рік тому +3

    The one thing I noticed they were aware of aerodynamics then now look at us now square trailers and everyone is complaining about bad fuel mileage 😳✌️

  • @UnmaskingTheMachine
    @UnmaskingTheMachine Рік тому +2

    Super cool content

  • @scottsheehan1596
    @scottsheehan1596 Рік тому +2

    nice video.i knew what alot of the truck models were,but some i had no idea

  • @middleclassretiree
    @middleclassretiree Рік тому +2

    A
    Great video I remember riding with my dad in some of these old tractors, my grandfather drove my dad and uncle’s and me and my brothers all drove but my kids said no thanks as the industry went to hell, I mean what is a class a automatic license anyway 😂

  • @BigElCat
    @BigElCat 8 місяців тому

    @2:42 and pause. Look at that, two steer axles under the cab, and three dual wheel drive axles. That would be one crazy rig to drive. At around the 7:00 minute mark, the audio track started blowing me away on the Hi Fi system.

  • @jks3849
    @jks3849 Рік тому +1

    2:25 A. Duie Pyle is still in business, i seen their 🚚, itd be cool if they applied this paint scheme to their newest 🚚

  • @robingilmore1444
    @robingilmore1444 Рік тому +3

    I slept many nights in them old 36inch coffin box sleepers .

  • @finscreenname
    @finscreenname Рік тому +2

    You put this video on 1.75 speed and you have a serious jam going.

  • @SmokyMountainPrepper
    @SmokyMountainPrepper Рік тому +1

    Back in the days of split rims and power steering. The power of both arms that is.

  • @dabigkahunacatfish2992
    @dabigkahunacatfish2992 Рік тому +2

    And l thought l had it bad with the first truck l owned, a 1971 Frightliner cabover single screw with a 1 wide X 2 deep bunk. Ahh yes, back in the day.

  • @ashleyjennings5224
    @ashleyjennings5224 Рік тому +2

    What a great video. Do you know what kind of truck it is at 2.42 the
    Roadway Express?

  • @DUCKDONKEY
    @DUCKDONKEY Рік тому +1

    Awesome rigs!! Super cooI vid. I could have used 2x longer per shot to really take it all in. 👍🏼

  • @tmacs311
    @tmacs311 Рік тому +5

    Great video Thor 👍👍

  • @nzsaltflatsracer8054
    @nzsaltflatsracer8054 Рік тому +4

    So many really cool trucks lost to the history books, what a shame.

  • @jks3849
    @jks3849 Рік тому +1

    Man sleepers have come a long way

  • @frankpalermo3882
    @frankpalermo3882 Рік тому +2

    This was interesting rare footage

  • @benjaminlorenz2181
    @benjaminlorenz2181 Рік тому +1

    So sad most of them are metal cans today. Would love to see any of them driving here in germany on classic car shows too.

  • @centralwestern
    @centralwestern Рік тому +3

    The music is fantastic, does anyone know who it is? Great trucks as well.

  • @henryblanton6992
    @henryblanton6992 Рік тому +3

    Any photos of Sleepers that were under slung below the cabs?

  • @barkingmouse8152
    @barkingmouse8152 Рік тому +1

    How many of these beasts are still around?

  • @jorgeb9715
    @jorgeb9715 9 місяців тому

    Wow Carolina lines and Roadway Express long gone,,was JB Hunt back in the he 1950'?

  • @doct0rnic
    @doct0rnic Рік тому +2

    Trucking before DOT regulations, I imagine when they slept, they slept hard

  • @csxns
    @csxns Рік тому +2

    Good old Carolina Freight and Johnson motor lines.

  • @robertjames6640
    @robertjames6640 8 місяців тому +1

    Back in the Fifties a friend of my father owned a trucking business. Part of it was providing dump trucks mostly built on military trucks left behind by the American military after WW2.
    For a summer I drove a Dodge fitted with a crude British tipping gear and it would carry 24 yards of material. Heavy steering, car like hood and lousy brakes made this truck a nightmare to drive and there were many of them working to rebuild Britain. Later in life my job as a mechanical engineer gave me access to many modern trucks, some almost car like compared to that evil,old Dodge.

  • @seamusburke9101
    @seamusburke9101 Рік тому +4

    I bet there wasn't much in the way of heating in them old cabs.

    • @bertgrau3934
      @bertgrau3934 Рік тому +3

      I agree, the oldest truck I ever drove was a 66 GMC Crackerbox, going down the road wasn't too bad but as soon as you got into traffic and going slow the engine would cool down quick and it got cold fast. Many times even running down the road, the heater wasn't enough and had to wear your coat while driving. Today's trucks will keep you much more comfortable, hot or cold weather.

    • @Torsee
      @Torsee Рік тому +1

      2:54
      Ice berg with duct tape on the vents!

  • @Torsee
    @Torsee Рік тому +3

    5:05
    He got it one piece at a time!

    • @captainmorgan1107
      @captainmorgan1107 Рік тому +1

      Definitely a Frankentruck, but it actually doesn't look bad compared to some I've seen!

  • @ВладимирСергеев-р4я

    Прекрасная автомобильная история!

  • @amyjojinkerson5668
    @amyjojinkerson5668 Рік тому +1

    the older ones had class

  • @Retired88M
    @Retired88M Рік тому +3

    That’s all it was
    A place to sleep
    No refrigerator
    No microwave
    No tv
    No storage
    No A/C
    No room to stand up
    And hopefully the driver sleeping in the upper rack doesn’t roll out and land on the steering wheel

    • @straybullitt
      @straybullitt Рік тому

      I don't understand why they were both sleeping at the same time???
      Isn't the whole point of having two drivers is so that one drives while the other sleeps? And vice versa?
      Gotta keep that freight train movin' baby!
      If the wheels ain't turnin' it ain't earnin'....

    • @Retired88M
      @Retired88M Рік тому +1

      @@straybullitt they didn’t have the smooth roads like we have today
      And look how the upper guy was just sleeping on a plank
      Probably like cry he could get to sleep like that never mind if the truck was moving
      By the way that was one of the hardest things to do in the middle of my trucking career…trying to sleep in a moving truck

  • @Torsee
    @Torsee Рік тому +2

    8:31
    Wow!
    Personal space? Where?

  • @omarzarate8674
    @omarzarate8674 Рік тому +1

    An old timer once told me trucks made of wood,men of steel ?

  • @daleyhanson5889
    @daleyhanson5889 Рік тому +2

    Them bunks" wasn't made for " fat boys, that's for sure,,Lol ! Great show, Thanks 😊

  • @slinginlead6647
    @slinginlead6647 Рік тому +5

    👍👍

  • @Torsee
    @Torsee Рік тому +2

    2:54
    Rig from hell!
    Iceberg cold!
    Makeshift winter front!
    Gaffers tape over the coul vents…
    Not like the motorhomes of today!

  • @Torsee
    @Torsee Рік тому +2

    4:13
    Wow!
    Another iceberg on wheels!

  • @ronaldroach1259
    @ronaldroach1259 Рік тому +1

    I came from the old school truck drivering to day all you have is steering wheel holders

  • @charlesroer972
    @charlesroer972 Рік тому +2

    lot of these trucks were still on the roads in early 50s

  • @kelseywedge7167
    @kelseywedge7167 10 місяців тому

    Sleeper trucks came a long way

  • @Retired88M
    @Retired88M Рік тому

    That last one looks like an old pup tent half modified

  • @bobvaladez
    @bobvaladez Рік тому

    Was really hoping for some interior shots! What a shame!

  • @ЮрийВаснов
    @ЮрийВаснов Рік тому +1

    Да тогда, это была профессия.

  • @GABYDOW
    @GABYDOW Рік тому +1

    Name of instrumemtal ???

  • @kenb8859
    @kenb8859 Рік тому +1

    😊4:50