# Ask the former ice cream truck driver! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 18, 2014, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-former-ice-cream-truck-driver/686391 "2014-04-18T05:05:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Richard\_North](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b782af/32.png) [@Richard\_North](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_North)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2014, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-former-ice-cream-truck-driver/686391/1 "2014-04-18T05:05:20Z")
I used to drive an ice cream truck a few years ago. It was a crazy gig. Do you have any questions for me? I would be glad to answer them! ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2014, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-former-ice-cream-truck-driver/686391/2 "2014-04-18T05:10:27Z")
What was so crazy about it? ---
**Author:** ![Doctor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Doctor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2014, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-former-ice-cream-truck-driver/686391/3 "2014-04-18T05:13:18Z")
I did that one summer. By the end of the summer I was heartily sick and tired of children who wanted ice cream. Started wanting to run down the little brats. I decided that I probably was not cut out for the business. ---
**Author:** ![DChord568](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@DChord568](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DChord568)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2014, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-former-ice-cream-truck-driver/686391/4 "2014-04-18T05:13:31Z")
Assuming your truck was the same as the ones we have around here…how did you listen to the same song playing over and over and over and over again every working day of your life without losing your mind? ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2014, 6:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-former-ice-cream-truck-driver/686391/5 "2014-04-18T06:07:40Z")
stripes or solid? ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2014, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-former-ice-cream-truck-driver/686391/6 "2014-04-18T06:18:55Z")
> [@DChord568](#): > > Assuming your truck was the same as the ones we have around here…how did you listen to the same song playing over and over and over and over again every working day of your life without losing your mind? Good question. I’ve always wondered about that myself. ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2014, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-former-ice-cream-truck-driver/686391/7 "2014-04-18T06:34:46Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Good question. I’ve always wondered about that myself. And did you have the one that says, “Hello?” at the end? What’s up with that? ---
**Author:** ![RobDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f07891/32.png) [@RobDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RobDog)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2014, 6:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-former-ice-cream-truck-driver/686391/8 "2014-04-18T06:44:42Z")
Did you sell single cigarettes and matches like the ice-cream van that used to park outside my school? ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_North](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b782af/32.png) [@Richard\_North](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_North)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2014, 10:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-former-ice-cream-truck-driver/686391/9 "2014-04-18T10:59:35Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > What was so crazy about it? Well: -Half of the people had criminal records. -One guy dropped his crackpipe in the break room -Manager would greet me every morning smoking like a chimney -Secretary at the depot was about 400 pounds -Trucks were in really bad shape. Old jacked up personal vans donated to us. In some trucks, doors would get stuck closed. Others, the doors would fly open in mid-drive. -If only one kid could afford a snack, other kids would fight him/her for it. -I once ran to my car because it was raining, a co-worker walking in front of me drawed his fists, because he thought I was a random mugger. -Had a co-worker named Poo Poo -Guard dogs would get lose on a semi regular basis. > [@DChord568](#): > > Assuming your truck was the same as the ones we have around here…how did you listen to the same song playing over and over and over and over again every working day of your life without losing your mind? It didn’t bother me, in fact I would catch myself humming the tune when I was off the clock. > [@johnpost](#): > > stripes or solid? Huh? > [@guizot](#): > > And did you have the one that says, “Hello?” at the end? What’s up with that? Yes! > [@RobDog](#): > > Did you sell single cigarettes and matches like the ice-cream van that used to park outside my school? LOL. No. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2014, 11:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-former-ice-cream-truck-driver/686391/10 "2014-04-18T11:15:09Z")
Did you wear one of those coin dispensers on your belt? How much money would it hold? How long did it take to learn to operate it smoothly (if you wore one)? ---
**Author:** ![hotflungwok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/edb3f5/32.png) [@hotflungwok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hotflungwok)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2014, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-former-ice-cream-truck-driver/686391/11 "2014-04-18T12:51:54Z")
Is it true that ice cream trucks only play music when they’re out of ice cream? ---
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2014, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-former-ice-cream-truck-driver/686391/12 "2014-04-18T14:24:40Z")
How many adults without kids would run up to buy ice cream? Was this a rare occurrence? If I ran up to an ice cream truck, would you make fun of me later? ---
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2014, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-former-ice-cream-truck-driver/686391/13 "2014-04-18T14:26:02Z")
Yeah… Why the hell did you drive down my street at 8:00 on a school night, ringing your bell and playing that annoying music? ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2014, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-former-ice-cream-truck-driver/686391/14 "2014-04-18T15:08:08Z")
> [@johnpost](#): > > stripes or solid? > [@Richard\_North](#): > > Huh? the shirt. for lots of companies it was a uniform part. ---
**Author:** ![Dave\_Enn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dave_enn/32/426_2.png) [@Dave\_Enn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dave_Enn)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2014, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-former-ice-cream-truck-driver/686391/15 "2014-04-18T15:30:09Z")
Why do you guys have to play the same tune over and over while you’re parked (breaking the law)? Do you ever get ticketed? ---
**Author:** ![Incubus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c68b51/32.png) [@Incubus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Incubus)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2014, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-former-ice-cream-truck-driver/686391/16 "2014-04-18T15:39:49Z")
Do you have to fight other ice cream truck drivers over turf rights? I used to see trucks parked across the street from schools right before the kids got out just waiting for that sweet payday. I’d like to imagine there were some way to establish heirarchy among the ice cream men. Also, I dont think I’ve ever seen white guy under 80 selling ice cream from a van whose face wasnt on Megan’s Law website 😛 Where I live, we have the paletero men hawking Mexican ice cream. I feel bad for them; they have to do their job on foot and seem more vulnerable to being robbed. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2014, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-former-ice-cream-truck-driver/686391/17 "2014-04-18T16:56:45Z")
I’m short 5 cents, can I bring it tomorrow? ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2014, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-former-ice-cream-truck-driver/686391/18 "2014-04-18T17:08:20Z")
> [@Richard\_North](#): > > Well: > -Half of the people had criminal records. > -One guy dropped his crackpipe in the break room > -Manager would greet me every morning smoking like a chimney > -Secretary at the depot was about 400 pounds > -Trucks were in really bad shape. Old jacked up personal vans donated to us. In some trucks, doors would get stuck closed. Others, the doors would fly open in mid-drive. > -If only one kid could afford a snack, other kids would fight him/her for it. > -I once ran to my car because it was raining, a co-worker walking in front of me drawed his fists, because he thought I was a random mugger. > -Had a co-worker named Poo Poo > -Guard dogs would get lose on a semi regular basis. None of this really surprises me, however, I’m curious about local regulations, licensing, inspections, etc. I mean, in your city, can anyone just get a truck with a freezer and go around selling ice cream? Also: > [@guizot](#): > > And did you have the one that says, “Hello?” at the end? What’s up with that? > [@Richard\_North](#): > > Yes! You didn’t really answer the question. What’s up with the demonic “Hello?” at the end? ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2014, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-former-ice-cream-truck-driver/686391/19 "2014-04-18T17:15:50Z")
> [@hotflungwok](#): > > Is it true that ice cream trucks only play music when they’re out of ice cream? For several years we got away with telling our kids “It’s just the Music Truck driving by” before they got wise. ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2014, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-former-ice-cream-truck-driver/686391/20 "2014-04-18T17:19:45Z")
Wait a second, there’s a some kind of an office for ice cream truck drivers? I thought they are individual private sellers who park their trucks at home every night? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-former-ice-cream-truck-driver/686391.md?page=2)