Just a side-note: My step-dad was a long-hauler when I was a kid, before any of the "maximum hours" regulations. The stories he used to tell me are terrifying.

Just a side-note: My step-dad was a long-hauler when I was a kid, before any of the "maximum hours" regulations. The stories he used to tell me are terrifying. Basically, back then, all the long-haulers were alcoholics who drank coffee and popped pills to stay awake and driving for as long as they could. Dudes used to have contests to see who could drive the longest. Driving coast-to-coast on a straight shot was totally common. There were union rules around "maximum hours", but dudes wanted to get paid, so they just kept driving. Drunk, and on pills.