Trucking History – August/September 2024
Aug. 26, 1939
“Truck Driver’s Blues,” which is considered the first original song about the trucking industry, was recorded by Cliff Bruner and His Boys. Written by Ted Daffan, the song became one of Bruner’s biggest hits. The inspiration came from a stop at a roadside diner by Daffan, who noticed every trucker who entered the diner put a coin in the jukebox before even placing an order. The song reportedly sold more than 100,000 copies.
Aug. 3, 1940
“They Drive By Night” starring Humphrey Bogart was released. The plot centers on two truck-driving brothers, one of whom loses an arm. According to Warner Bros., the movie earned more than $1 million domestically and more than $500,000 internationally during its initial run. More than six decades later, it was released on DVD by Warner Bros.
Sept. 11, 2001
OOIDA members flooded the phone lines at Association headquarters in Grain Valley, Mo., trying to find how to help in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks. Other members called to alert OOIDA about sudden jumps in diesel prices in the hours after the attacks.
OOIDA and Land Line personnel made calls to identify the profiteers, and the Association’s president at the time, the late Jim Johnston, exposed them in his September 2001 “Issues and Positions” column.
“I want to assure the American people that America’s truck drivers are ready, willing and able to provide assistance anywhere and everywhere needed. And, despite reports from members of fuel price gouging, small-business professional truckers will continue to do their part to meet the transportation needs of the nation and to keep the American economy moving,” Johnston wrote.
Sept. 28, 2018
OOIDA’s 45th anniversary celebration was held in conjunction with the 10th annual Guilty By Association Truck Show in Joplin, Mo.
“It was an epic weekend,” GBATS organizer Bryan Martin told Land Line in 2018. “We had 693 trucks registered, parked and on site. It blows our old record out of the water. In 2017, we had just over 500 trucks. That’s an increase of nearly 200 trucks. That’s amazing.”
OOIDA Executive Vice President Lewie Pugh added, “It speaks volumes for the success of GBATS and the 45th anniversary celebration of OOIDA. We were proud to sponsor the show.”
The annual truck convoy held at the event for Special Olympics of Southwest Missouri had 522 trucks participate, generating more than $191,000 for the charity, an increase of nearly $75,000 from the previous convoy.
“The show exceeded our wildest expectations,” Martin said. LL