All About Trucking and Becoming a Driver Trainer [Paperback]

Gordon Knapp (Author), Gordon Knapp (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 21, 2000

The truth about long haul trucking...The purpose of this book is to pass on to those who are interested in making a career out of over the road trucking, the countless "little things" that together, can make this an enjoyable experience. This book explains in detail what long haul trucking is all about so that those who are interested in pursuing this as a career can make an intelligent decision whether or not they should spend the required time and money to make trucking a career.

There is far more to long haul trucking than most people realize and many have made the mistake of giving up their former jobs only to find that this type of work is simply not for them. This book presents the world of trucking in a realistic and understandable manner.

This is probably the only book of it's kind that gets into the many details of what happens in the daily activity of moving the nations goods from the manufacturer or producer to the distributer or final destination. There are many routines and special skills that must be developed to be a successful truck driver, whether he or she is going to be local or long haul. This book identifies many of these in detail so that the reader may understand that even though common sense plays a large part in trucking, there are many little things that make the difference between mediocrity and a job well done: success or failure.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

This book contains knowledge gained from interviews with a life-long trucker who spent over forty years in the transportation industry and has been involved in many different types of trucking. He was born into trucking since his father bought a small delivery company in the year of his birth. This was back in the early forties when the Teamsters Union dominated and controlled most drivers with a national master freight agreement.

The author operated and was involved with city delivery vans, dry freight vans, flatbed trailers, and refrigerated equipment of all sizes. He transported general commodities, foodstuffs, perishables, steel and hazardous material of various types. His first twenty years were spent doing city delivery, local and short haul, warehousing and distribution, and dealing with the Teamsters Union. After that, he spent the next twenty some years involved in long haul over the road trucking as an employee of several different companies pulling dry vans and temperature controlled equipment. During that time, he saw and experienced this type of trucking progress into what it is today, following deregulation in the early eighties. The changes have been dramatic.

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Trafford Publishing (December 21, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1552125408
• ISBN-13: 978-1552125403
• Product Dimensions: 10.6 x 8.1 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,399,606 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very informative and useful trucking information, July 29, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: All About Trucking and Becoming a Driver Trainer (Paperback)

I'm thrilled I bought this book! As a newly retired military member I'm interested in becoming a truck driver. This book taught me that I would actually make more money as a driver trainer-something I never thought about before. The author has written an incredibly comprehensive and informative book that really explains what life as a truck driver/ driver trainer is like. It has helped me gain insight into trucking that I never would've realized before reading this book. I highly recommend this to anyone considering a trucking career! It has been most helpful to me in my decision.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Not very good, July 7, 2006

By 

Paul St-yves (Westport, MA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: All About Trucking and Becoming a Driver Trainer (Paperback)

In this book only one view, that of driving a reefer, is highlighted. Almost no mention of flatbeds, car carriers, etc.

Urban myths are used as facts such as getting shot by gangs when flashing headlights at them and techniques are mixed up. Gordon recommends using the stab technique when going down mountains. The correct technique is snubbing the brakes, totally different from stabbing them.

The worst part is encouraging trainers to use students as a team to make more money for the trainer. This is a terrible way to teach. The trainer should never be in the sleeper when the student is operating the truck. The student gets a small salary for the week and the trainer gets paid for all the miles the truck runs. Very greedy IMO.

There is some good advice in the book but the bad out weighs the good.

5.0 out of 5 stars All About Trucking and Becoming a Driver Trainer, February 1, 2009

By 

sincitytom "Tom" (las vegas nv) - See all my reviews

This review is from: All About Trucking and Becoming a Driver Trainer (Paperback)

This is an excelent book for someone who is starting out in the business. Its good for trainer or trainee. It explaines the everyday daily activities you would encounter driving tractor trailer, the author gave good detail of every day life on the road. Trucking Companies, groceries wearhouses and more. Thanks Tom.