Everything You Will Ever Need To Know To Start Driving A Big Truck Or How I Became A Professional Tourist [Paperback]

Steve Richards (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 2, 2006

Have you ever thought about driving a big truck? Have you ever even just wondered what really goes on in the world of eighteen wheelers? Can you be a trucker? It looks interesting, but it must be complicated. How could anyone even begin to maneuver one of those huge monstrosities? Trust me, you can do this! Not only is it possible for almost anyone to successfully navigate into the world of transportation, but you will be helping out a necessary part of the economy and one that is constantly and even desperately in search of drivers. There is no unemployment for a big rig driver. Let me show you how to do it all! Everything you will ever need to know is right here in these pages including how to find some of the most incredible jobs, and many things that you are not supposed to know about. And there are MANY things you are not supposed to know about. So jump on it and learn what it takes to get paid to do what others are willing to pay for the privilege of doing. With me as your tour guide you will be able to get out & see the sights, be on a permanent vacation, & you will learn just what it takes to become happily involved as a "Professional Tourist."

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Steve Richards is a licensed real estate broker, Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE), former Denver radio announcer, guitarist & composer of many years, private investigator, published author, and even a professional tourist (truck driver). "Everything You Will Ever Need To Know To Start Driving A Big Truck Or How I Became A Professional Tourist" is a definitive compendium of survival and success over evidential adversity in the world of big trucks.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

If you pay attention it is astounding what you can observe. Not long ago, I ran head on into a tornado in the middle of Kansas. While not everyone would want this, I will say it was probably the most exhilarating moment I have ever had while driving.
I was on a two way, two lane highway out in the middle of nowhere when I observed this large funnel cloud drop right out of the sky. While it certainly raises your blood pressure a bit and may even rattle the nerves, I was never in any way in fear of my safety. I had the weather station on the radio, and the emergency voice came on and said, "Go immediately to your tornado shelter! Go immediately to your tornado shelter! Go immediately to your tornado shelter!" On and on it went. However, as I was already in my tornado shelter, there was nothing further for me to do.
I could not turn my 71 feet of tractor trailer around. So, I had the option of either pulling over on the side of the road, or I could keep going and hope to outrun it. No matter what I did, it just kept getting closer and closer. I began to think I was a tornado magnet.
I pulled over in back of a couple other local trucks, grabbed my camera, and hopped out onto the highway. The two drivers ran up to me and yelled in terror, "What do we do? What do we do?" Thinking quickly I held up my camera and said, "Here, take my picture in front of this thing." To my amazement these guys would not touch my happy little Nikon, and instead ran scurrilously down the highway to escape the oncoming peril and certain devastation.

Product Details

• Paperback: 228 pages
• Publisher: Outskirts Press (June 2, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1598006169
• ISBN-13: 978-1598006162
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #593,532 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Steve Richards is a licensed real estate broker, Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE), former Denver radio announcer, guitarist & composer of many years, private investigator, published author, and even a "Professional Tourist (truck driver)." His previous book, "Everything You Will Ever Need To Know To Start Driving A Big Truck, Or How I Became A Professional Tourist," has repeatedly reached #1 Best Seller status on Amazon.com in the "Trucks and Vans" category. The newest book, "Driving A Big Truck; The Adventure Continues From A Different Perspective," is a more compelling, introspective, and even an acrimoniously analytical tractate into the potentially arduous and inauspicious world of life as a "Professional Tourist."

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is the REAL WORLD OF TRUCKING!, August 3, 2006

By 

Carl Lee (Texas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Everything You Will Ever Need To Know To Start Driving A Big Truck Or How I Became A Professional Tourist (Paperback)

I've been driving trucks for a lot of years and the stuff in here is dead on accurate. If you want to avoid getting screwed over when you get into driving you need to read this. There are tons of books out there on just passing your CDL test. That stuff is FREE at your motor vehicle office. You don't have to pay for it.The things in this book are what you WILL have to deal with in starting out as a driver, and even more so once you are really out there all by yourself. It is reality and some of it is pretty incredible. On top of it all, there is some really funny stuff in here. Once you have been driving awhile, it will all make perfect sense. This is real world trucking dudes, plus you learn about some different jobs that you might not ordinarily associate with trucking, and it has the coolest cover of all. If you want to go trucking, this book kills! Check it out!

25 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ever thought you'd like to drive a big rig? Read this book., July 23, 2006

By 

K. Trout "Kaye" (Pagosa Springs, CO USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Everything You Will Ever Need To Know To Start Driving A Big Truck Or How I Became A Professional Tourist (Paperback)

Everything You Will Ever Need To Know To Start Driving

A Big Truck or How I Became A Professional Tourist

by Steve Richards

Here are revealed the mysteries of the eighteen-wheeler world!

If you have ever thought about driving the big trucks, then this is the book for you. Steve Richards tells it like it is with a strong voice, good judgment and sound advice, served up with a sharp sense of humor. He covers every aspect: company selection, driver training, learning how to drive, miles equal money, log books, weigh stations, CB's, cell phones, Qualcoms, directions, getting loaded/unloaded, wasting time, truck stops, mirrors, chains, hot brakes, DAC reports, protecting your CDL, big blowouts, time management, don't let them cheat you and the best reason to drive a big truck.

Let me give you a sample of Steve's writing from pages 136-137:

"While these tire explosions aren't going to happen often, they will always happen at the most inconvenient moments, that is when you are driving your truck. How unusual.

One of my first blowouts happened on Interstate 15 about fifty miles or so east of Las Vegas. It was summertime and the temperature was well over 100 degrees making the highway into a veritable frying pan on which you could possibly torch a nice T-bone. It was hot! On top of that I had a near capacity load on the order of about forty-five thousand pounds in the trailer. A heavy load and a hot road is a good recipe for a tire to explode. There we go with the poetry again.

As for having the correct tire pressure in my trailer tires I do in fact confess to a certain laziness in that department as I believe do the vast majority of drivers out there. This is clearly visible in the huge number of "gators" littering the highways. I have a reasonable degree of certainty that such practice or lack thereof is more than the norm in the transportation industry. . . .

You never really know what will happen to your tires. One time I actually found a seven inch long railroad spike sticking out of one of my drive tires. Fortunately I was in close proximity to my home terminal and got it fixed fast. Your tires are of great importance as they are your one connection between your tractor trailer and the highway. Do not take them for granted. Check them frequently and it will pay off. Ignoring them can provide you with dire consequences."

After you have read this book, you'll have a better understanding of the trucking world and if such a life would appeal to you. If you decide to become a truck driver, you can thank Steve Richards for sharing his knowledge and experiences with you by writing him at [e-mail] or PO Box 1111, Fallbrook, CA 92088.

Steve Richards is a busy guy into many things. He's a real estate broker, Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer, former Denver radio announcer, guitarist & composer, private investigator and published author.

I'm certain Everything You Will Ever Need to Know To Start Driving A Big Truck or How I Became A Professional Tourist will appeal to a wide range of readers-men and women fascinated by the powerful mystique for eighteen wheelers.

Reviewed by Kaye Trout - July 23, 2006 - Copyright

18 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars must have for person's considering this work, March 7, 2007

By 

Thomas P. Mcauliffe (Michigan) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Everything You Will Ever Need To Know To Start Driving A Big Truck Or How I Became A Professional Tourist (Paperback)

I bought this book with the fact in mind that I may like to do this job upon retirement, I recommend it to all who consider this job.Steve takes you out on the road, through the schooling to some extent, and deals with the negatives and positives of this type of job in which almost all things that will occur in this type of carreer, some disturbing, some humorous and some just plain informative.It should be read first before flinging yourself into truck driving over the road.I really makes you think and practically puts you in the drivers seat confronting all situations that you are likely to come across from the driving part of the job to the getting paid and dealing with the company you drive for.