LOL i dont think even back then there would be to many that could lift a 44 head high.   In fact im not sure how the hell it could even be done.  If you have ever felt the wieght of 44 gallon drum full of oil its extreamly heavy.   Shees thats one mean feat. I no many oil delivery drivers from the old days when the 44 was dropped from the back of the truck on to a couple of tyres to get em off,  Even they after working with these there entire life can not pick them up never alone put them on the back of a truck. Oil depo,s use to have platforms same hieght as the tray to put them on with sack trucks.

OH and your 100 percent correct about the unions they are tying the country up in red tape and **bleep**ising everything, they are no longer for the worker but like all minorities working to there own agenda for there own cause. And it does not include the worker he is just the prop.