The Brockway Truck Factory: How Mack Trucks Destroyed Cortland's 65-Year Trucking Empire

Comments · 75

• ST

  @StevenWhite-c2m · 3 months ago

  After my grandfather retired from driving for 33 years for UPS in NY City in 1962 he moved to upstate NY and drove a late 50’s/early 60’s Brockway dump truck for the Town of Guilford Highway Department.  I was in 4th grade and got to ride in the cab with him once in a while in the summer.  A big thrill for a little kid 😊

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• TH

  @TheSkeewiz · 3 months ago

  I lived in Cortland and worked as a jr engineer for the Cortland County Highway Department.  Most of the time I worked in the office or out in the field doing construction surveying.  During down times out in the field we always needed more drivers so I got my permit and learned on one of the last Brockways in 1977.  It had a Cat diesel engine.  I loved that truck.  When I got my license I drove Brockways from 1968s to 1977s.

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• RO

  @RoadRunnergarage8570 · 3 months ago

  Brockway.... The pride of Homer/Cortland NY....

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• DA

  @damnyankeex1 · 3 months ago (edited)

  Thanks for this. Always wanted to know more about Brockway. Always a truck fan, never a driver. Today I watched the Brockway and Craftsman tool stories. Two iconic brands that built America.

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• LI

  @Lifestyletrucking · 3 months ago

  I remember in 1978 my Father had a Fleet of the Brockway Cabovers. This was actually the first Truck I ever drove.. I started just driving them from the yard in and out of the shop. Because then I was on 10 years old. By the time I was 14 I was taking just the trucks with no trailers. Around town and between the two shops and yards that we had in the Detroit Michigan area. Right next to the Airport. We had White Cabovers and Brockway and a few steel cabover Fords at the time. Watching this video sure took me back to those days. Now I’m 58 and still in the trucking industry trying to make a difference. Thank you for sharing this video and the True story and heart felt feelings from the Legends that made such a great impact making such and wonderful peace of machinery. That not only help the industry grown. But also help the USA defend its country..  And one last thing. Besides my Family being in the trucking industry and that is how I grew up and I am still in. The Brockway started my trucking career and it was the first truck I ever started in my life time. And it was the actual first truck I ever drove. It was truck number 457 Steel blue color with tan interior. Thanks for the Memories 😅. Detroit Michigan.

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• AT

  @atomv9793 · 4 months ago

  Our Fire Department still has their Brockway 700 Series tanker.

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• NE

  @nelsonmattoon150 · 4 months ago

  I grew up near there.  In Preble NY

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• HA

  @Habib666A · 3 months ago

  Prayers for the Crocco family

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• ST

  @stevevanwiedvm1311 · 4 months ago

  Thankyou for this. Im from Cortland and remember the shut down. Still have a sentimental Brockway Huskie hood ornament.

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• 26

  @26ydtibbs39 · 4 months ago

  Mack didn't kill anything. Those were tough times. I was a truck owner and a union driver throughout my career. Teamsters local 170 out of Worcester Mass. I consider Mack components to be the toughest that I've ever put through a New England mud season and winter. I don't know anything about the UAW but have sat through many Teamster contracts. Money doesn't grow on trees. When contracts with customers disappear. Tough decisions must be made. Its sad, but it was Brockways time. Lucky for me that I live in N E and there are so many restored beautiful Brockways and Macks preserved here.

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• WI

  @wildman318 · 3 months ago

  This was a very interesting story. Back in 1978 I hung around with a kid who had a stepfather that had a Brockway  truck;  it was a twin screw axle with no sleeper. We used to enjoy getting rides in that to get fuel  ⛽️

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• JA

  @jaydemo5792 · 3 months ago

  My family has been in the demolition business here in New York City for three generations and I remember in the mid-1970s my dad on a long-nosed brockway with a V12 Detroit in it pulling a 75 cubic yard dump trailer... Man you could hear that truck coming from over a mile away....

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