They call the 1970s the golden age of trucking for a reason. Higher relative pay, better radio stations, and vastly superior trucker nightlife meant that long haulers didn't have to sacrifice their sanity for their paycheck.
And you have to admit, the trucks looked a lot cooler back then too.
Here are 21 photos of vintage big rigs and their pilots from the golden age of trucking.
1
A Brockway Semi
Florida, 1970s.
2
Trucker in the Cab
Cowboy hat cool in the 1970s.
3
Peterbilt 352
The iconic flat front.
4
“My Mom”
“Standing on my Dad’s truck.”
5
“My Dad”
"Next to his rig." Long haul trucker in the 1970s.
6
Dodgle LN-1000
That Mayflower could would kill the pilgrims.
7
A Convoy
From the 1978 movie, Convoy.
8
Kenworth W900a
A mean cab.
9
Girl From “Overdrive”
A trucker magazine, 1974.
10
Jobie Vaden
Known as the "Arkansas Motormouth."
11
Kenworth Truck and Trucker
Bakersfield, CA, 1979.
12
Dodge Bighorn
Iconic look.
13
Trucker Checks His Notes
Old school style.
14
Bill Kaat
Founder of the “The Blue & Chrome Fleet.” 1979.
15
Cowboys or Truckers?
A truck stop in the 1970s.
16
A Couple
And their big truck.
17
Mack F series
How many trucks can a truck, truck?
18
The Flat Front
A trucking look lost to time.
19
Kris Kristofferson
Looking like the perfect trucker in Convoy.
20
“The Troublemakers”
Truckers on protest in 1974.
21
The Golden Age
They don't make 'em like they used to.
22
Freightliner COE
Shipping on the West Coast.
