(1971) Coles Express: Maine's Uncommon Carrier trucking film 

My dad took me for a day trip with him in the summer of 1966. I turned 11 that September. He wasn't even supposed to have a rider along, but I'm glad he broke the rule for my sake. He was white collar and this was just a summer job. That first truck was a 1958 cornbinder gasser with a 5 speed, 2 speed electric rear end. The next summer he was given a 1962 White conventional with a Cummins diesel and a 10 speed Fuller road ranger. A few yrs latter he went full time with the company he drove for. He took me with him on an overnight. He had a 69 Cab OVER Freight shaker, sleeper with a Fuller 16 speed Quadra shift. I was 18 now and he asked me if I wanted to learn to drive it? I was like Auggy Doggy, ya, ya,yah! So I ran it with an empty flat bed. 2 weeks later the same thing. Took a load of sheet steel to a GM stamping plant in Gary, Indiana. He went in to see if we were at the right over head door. We were. The door started going up and dad stepped out motioning me to bring it in, so I did. The first spotter set me up to far in, so I had to back it up one full length. After the off load, dad drove it to the on ramp to the freeway, then he let me drive it home. I was so glad dad let me have some of the icesing on that cake. Never drove one again until CDL school in 2007, been driving ever since. Thanks Dad! I miss you. He's been gone since November of 07, 84 yrs young he was. Infantry WW2 came home, went to college on the GI Bill became a teacher.

My father worked at Coles for around 35 years, was friends with other drivers like Harold “Sib” Sibley, Vince Boardman and Johnny Turner.They had a great bunch of guys there.

These vintage commercials infomercials company stories are all really cool from back in the day

Thanks for posting this.My dad drove for Cole's in the early 80's before the strike.Sad to think of Galen saying at the end of the video that Cole's was going to be around for a long time and yet a little more than 10 years later they were gone.

Delightful old film. We have a Bangor in North Wales, UK.

If you’re anywhere near Bangor. Check out the Coles land transportation museum. It’s well worth the trip!

This is a great historical video back when truckers where still looked at as heros.....thank u to coles and the driver's that helped build our industry so I in 2022 can drive for a maine company

@Turbo231 Billy (Harold Sibley jr) is actually my grandfather, Harold Sibley being my great grandfather and he now lives in Florida with 1 daughter and 4 grandchildren

Thanks for posting, very interesting and priceless history.

I worked for Coles Express in Portland for 15 years. It was a great place to work.

Living far from home in old Mexico it was nice to see some scenes from years gone by . Left Bangor in 1960 for California on the Greyhound at age 17 and never looked back. Be home next summer for a lobster and a plate of steamers and a piece of blueberry pie.

Love the sound of that Detroit diesel!

I drove over the road for Coles. Had a green freightliner and it was a nice truck . I was selected by Gary Cole to do a six month job hauling a shrimp factory machinery from just south of Halifax NS to Raymond Wash. After unloading I worked the load boards to get home. Always made them good money doing that. It wasn't to long after that things were going down hill so I left. As another driver mentioned Don Clayton was one of my main dispatchers at Coles and Carlen transport.

Thank you for posting the video. Brought back memories of chatting with my great uncle. Who started out driving for hunniwell. Until coles express bought them out. Then he drive for coles up until he retires in 1993. The reason he retired then is do to the fact that and I think it was because Galen abolished the union. Not sure so don't hold me to it. Shortly after that road way bought them out. Yet the only thing left is the coles express museum in Bangor. Which none Galens kids want nothing to so with. Granted I'm going by what I've been told by my great uncle and cousin. 😊😊

Thank you very much. I figure its better to get films like these where people can see them than just let them sit on a shelf. I've been given the OK to release another Coles film from 1970, although it is more of a mixture of operations like loading, dispatch, and what people do. I should be releasing that in youtube form in about 2 weeks.

Drove for Coles For many years Saint John NB to Bangor Maine. They were a great company to drive for.

Billy is proud of his dad I know the feeling this was 1971 well me and billy got to be about same age I’m 54 now in 2020 my dad was a driver also my dad put 38 years under his belt my career got cut short due to illness in 2004 I had 17 years when I had to put my trucking gloves in the desk drawer billies dad looks older then my dad did at that time maybe a WW1 or2 vet my dad is 87 now billy forgot to take his hat off in the presidents office

Boy, Do I miss those days!

had many trips through Maine from Nova Scotia, down route 9 to Bangor, Dysarts, down 95 to bean town and NY, most with an 8/92.

They did a great service, second to none.

I picked up many a load of potatoes from up near houltin back in the 70 s what a back breaker.

I think Billy just likes the sound of those screamin' Jimmies...

Somewhere i have a set of Coles Express Safety Wings that belonged to a Coles Express Driver named Beecher Hardecker who drove for Coles in the 50s and 60s.

The Detroit 2 cycle diesel. I drove them back in the 70s, we called them “Converters “ they converted diesel fuel to noise.

One thing for sure, Coles didn’t loose any money on those Detroit’s. Not like the problems trying to keep these newer trucks running. Sure they are better when everything is working right, but dread the day they aren’t.

I remember seeing Cole's trucks, when I was a kid in MA. Then again, when I was in the USAF, stationed at Loring AFB, in the 80's.

Loved the Crackerboxes, DReos...cool trucks. Got any more like this? Share with our Porter Productions site?....We love trucks at our house. I have 2 boys and Trucking runs in my family all the way back to 1920s or so. Porters Transfer is where it started.

One of the dispatchers I worked for at Carlen Transport in Bangor, Don Clayton, got his start at Coles. .

Crackerbox Jimmies & Diamond Reos awesome

I worked for Coles express back in 1985 before they closed down operation out of Elizabeth, New Jersey good company to work for

Cool Film! Enjoyed it! John

Saw those trucks my whole childhood. Even got our kitchen appliances delivered by them.

Excessive regulations, Eld's, and lawyers have made trucking a tuff business to be in now days.

Boy, Cole's used to be the best trucking company around in my opinion! I'm a driver myself, and my dad used to drive for them and now he works at Freightliner of Maine where the Cole's Bangor teminal was! Sad day when they went out of business...........

Love the sound of those old Detroit diesels

This was fantastic. Such pride.

First truck I drove,White 4000 powered by 8v71 Detroit diesel.

That's a good kid right there.

Fantástico tempo em que os caminhões da GMC eram os fortes das estradas!🆙️👏👏 Ituiutaba-MG,Brasil 🇧🇷,as 16:23,em 15/11/22.🙌

This sure was a pleasure to watch!

It actually looked like a decent career back then. I swear I live in the wrong generation

I just Hate to see all them businesses go man the world has become a crule place, and almost all the business are no longer with us what a shame...

Thanx for the Video Have a Great Day 👍

Yup...it was based on Route 2 between Lincoln ME and Houlton ME, which was Coles Express territory at the time.

I remember Cole's Express towards th end of its years they were a big fleet!

The first 5 seconds, dude is on a mission

Billy is now 59.

Love it!

My dad worked for coles and then freight liner for 36 years as a mechanic

I Love this Video !!! AMERICA at it's Best !!🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲

those old Detroit's was a high rpm engine and you could hear it a mile away

Back n the day when cabovers were common use here n 🇺🇸 before the law increased the length limit.

yeah it is pretty cool...........been to that museum quite a few times actually

Wow how things have changed

3:27 Holy, crap I-95 looks the exact same.

Not sure why this was suggested to me but I watched the entire video so..🤷🏻‍♂️

Those old crackerbox Jimmy's with 6-71 Detroit's

Great stuff.. So did young billy end up at Coles ?? like his dad.

Looks like the parot delivery was free!!

Wonder if Billy ever followed his old man and drove for Cole's

I wonder if this was Steven King's inspiration for Orinco trucks in Pet Sematary

Cool

😎👍

what a smal cabin

En ese camión el chófer dormía parado😂😂

Motorson Detroit saludos desde Veracruz México en 2020

@nachos1990 It was shut down a few years after the family sold it.

2 stroke engines move the nation :-)

Great video . Is that the road Dick Curless sing about in his song : A Tombstone Every Mile ? 5 * and fav

Love me a Crackerbox Jimmy!

@LTLtrkrlife Technically True. However, Roadway Services did run Coles into the ground, expanding too fast, operating a pooring business plan. The magic of the family run company was Galen Cole, while a wise business man was also extremely "frugal" to say it nicely, running trucks into the ground and such. That was pretty much the only business model that would keep Coles alive so when the family sold it, it was pretty much doomed to die.

Love It!

@aussiebigbangers I think he did as a teenager but ultimately went to college and out of state I've heard.

of course its "Billy". Also good luck in 2020 letting your son get anywhere near a yard - thanks lawyers

Trucks look neglected and 420 miles in 8 hours you would have to average 52 miles per hour and taking in your breaks I would think that would take some doing.

Now thats a Detroit song

Why remove scenic views and customer inteviews

Do they make you work the dock as a driver

I like what everyone else likes about this video! Two demographics I notice … particular for 1971 maybe: 1) A very high proportion of citizens of Maine wore glasses. 2) People of color were invisible in Maine then.

I love how propaganda films only talk about the things they consider positives & never mention nor allude to the negatives so people can have a balanced understanding of the subject.

@Turbo231 ok thanks for the reply.. must have seen the light and stayed out of the road transport industry LOL.

Back when Detroits ruled the highways!!!

fascinating seeing somebody who doesnot know social media. lol

Didn't millinocket burn down few years ago

So I take it you must live in Maine, huh? I live in Oakfield

@Turbo231 why did Coles express go out or did they just retire?

cool

I certainly do. :)

Coles might have delivered goods in Maine but Detroit powered it

I never hauled a zebra, shucks

Screaming. Jimmy 8

Because they do not publish more movies of complete truckers in parts not that they are complete much better in Spanish occupied to have my collection

Listen to those Detroits wind up.

Big Mon ting 686

I would imagine that everybody in this video is dead by now.

Looks a just your average LTL carrier why are they making a big deal.

Horrible Screaming Jimmies. For those who don't know Jimmies definition GMC !! The worst Loud and dirty. My Dad use to say you drive a Jimmie Hard like you hate it. That's " Normal " 😄

Back then truckers were thought of as low class nobodies. Uneducated ex cons working a dead end job. Today they are professional drivers that are more educated than most out in the working world.

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A bunch of Detroit Diesels