Books About Trucking to Help You Fall Asleep
When it comes to book genres, the lifestyle of a trucker is probably not the first thing that comes to mind. Believe it or not, there is actually a surprising number of great reads about trucking. From extensive biographies to thrilling pieces of fiction, there are some standout truck driving stories to read at home or while hitting the open road on those long hauls. There is no doubt that every driver has his or her own great stories to share. Still, we have compiled a short list of great reads to explore if you are looking to explore a different side of the lifestyle that comes with truck driving.
The Long Haul: A Trucker's Tales of Life on the Road, by Finn Murphy
We are starting with “The Long Haul,” where Finn Murphy offers a trucker’s-eye view of America on the move. Murphy charmingly and honestly recounts the America he has seen change over the decades, from the hollowing-out of small towns, to changing tastes in culture and even home furnishings. Anybody with a 24/7 job will appreciate Finn Murphy's auto-biography as a long-haul trucker, as it gives a thoughtful view of America from ten feet up in a Freightliner, hauling furniture cross-country. Murphy tells many fascinating stories about shippers, other fascinating truck drivers he meets on the road, as well as all the mundane and not so mundane aspects of what it means to be a truck driver on the open road in the United States.
Trucking Life: An Entertaining, Yet Informative Guide to Becoming and Being a Truck Driver
Though a bit less of an extensive biography, “Trucking Life” is great read for anyone interested in the world of trucking, whether you simply have a passing interest or you are someone considering truck driving as a full-time career. This book offers many entertainingly answered questions that a new truck driver might have about the profession. From useful safety tips to insights about what it is actually like to drive on the open road, “Trucking Life” is a great resource for all of the nitty gritty details of truck driving for an enthusiast or professional alike.
Mother Trucker: An Urban Couple Downshifts to Life on the Road
“Mother Trucker” is a true story of how a middle-aged couple abandoned their lucrative white-collar professional careers to become long-haul truck drivers for Schneider National in Green Bay, WI. David Hamel, a mechanical engineer, and Shelley Hamel, former Director of Product Development for the American Girl doll company, decide to completely ditch their urban life and go to truck-driving school. While David finds truck driving school to be a piece of cake, Shelley has quite the opposite experience.
Shelley successfully faces her demons of double-clutching and ten nasty gears after nearly flunking out of truck driving school, and with her talented mechanical engineer husband, launches a 3-year experiment in alternative living before retirement.
This book might be great for those who long to quit their office jobs, or those seeking a less traditional way of living. This how-to guide examines life on the open road by looking at the upsides, the danger and the many day-to-day details of what the trucking lifestyle entails. Driving on the open road coast to coast gives a unique view of America like no other, and this book will bring comfort right into the sleeper cab with the Hamels who share fascinating stories, tips, and invaluable firsthand experience.
“Duel” by Richard Matheson
If you are more interested in the exciting world of fiction, you might consider “Duel” by Richard Matheson. With this short story having also been adapted into a film, it marks the first feature length film by Steven Spielberg. Starkly different from the other reads on this list, this story entails an ordinary man, aptly named Mann, who is a salesperson driving along the highway and is suddenly challenged by a truck driver in a “duel of machines”. At first, he casually passes the truck driver trying. Soon after, the truck driver passes him. Mann passes the truck driver once more, as does the truck driver. This quickly escalates into a tense situation of road rage. Mann, at one point, progresses far ahead of the truck driver and thinks the situation is over, but soon realizes the truck driver has other plans. The story progresses into what becomes an ongoing battle of drivers with various turning points, and for some, a thrill ride that explores the dangerous possibilities of driving on the open road.
If you have been looking for enjoyable reads about trucking, we highly recommend the publications listed above.
