Customer Reviews

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

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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!

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 srric@hotmail.com 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

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.

Clearly this is a tremendous book that covers a huge amount of ground, if you are interested in learning about your potential life as a big rig operator. This is a life that not everyone can deal with, but if you have ever even thought about it, you need to read this book. After you get through this, you will definitely know if you can cut it. There is nothing really hard about driving a big truck. I've been doing it for many years. The hardest part is being able to commit to a different lifestyle. As the author says, it is really about "getting your mind right" and "getting started." As he says, "jump."

This is a mentally stimulating and very positive look at what you will be getting into. There really isn't anything that you need to know, that isn't covered in here, including some really funny stuff about truck stop encounters and such. As someone mentioned previously about "meat and potatoes," I hate to tell you bud, there is no way you will ever learn to drive a truck, shift gears, hook up trailers, deal with bad weather and weigh stations, or most of all back up a rig by reading a book. It doesn't work that way. Someone has to physically teach you how to get through the basics, and then you have to get licensed, and then you have to go out and live it yourself on the highway. The hardest part of it all is the commitment to try something different. It is a very personal choice and it requires some thought. Read this book and you will be able to make the decision. It will make you think about what you are getting into before you actually do it.

This book is written in a narrative form, so you actually get to see everything you will be going through. As this guy states, he has been at this for seven years so far, so this is someone who has probably been through the gamut. Just look at the damn cover of the book and get a glimpse of what you might run into. Having the nerve and presence of mind to stop and take pictures of something like that coming at you is very real and very eye opening. Looks like fun to me. Hell yes!

You will also be able to avoid problems down the road, because you will know what is coming. They won't tell you about all these things in truck school, or at any company you might hook up to. This is a very clear perspective on exactly what you will be getting into, as well as a look at some very different trucking jobs, that most people don't even realize are out there for the taking.

I think there are several million people out there driving the big rigs today, and yet it is still one of the few remaining places that are wide open with tons of unfilled jobs. Some people are born to be truck drivers. They have nowhere else to go. Others do it because they enjoy the crap out of seeing the rest of the country and collecting paychecks for doing it. This book is obviously for the curious and the adventurous, and not just because you have no other choices. If you've been thinking about trying big trucks and if this is for you, you need to read this book. An excellent choice!!!!!

When I was a kid I often romanticized driving a big rig. Then I went to college, got a desk job, and followed the normal course of life. The author of this book is a free spirit who has worked many different careers (including desk jobs) and has now found trucking to be a good career. He is forthright, humorous, and very good at describing the life of a trucker. I found myself laughing and enjoying the book as if I had rode along with him. He is also very honest and explains why trucking may not be for everyone. The one area I wish he would have expanded upon was the pay rates and the financial details of trucking. This would be very useful information for someone thinking about becoming a trucker. All in all it was a very good introduction to the career of trucking for someone interested in that profession.

After seeing this advertised on the Internet, I actually went down to the local book store & ordered one(saved on postage). Because I have been thinking about driving trucks, I wanted to check this out. This book is filled with humorous and very real stories about trucking life, along with the more serious side of things that can go wrong. It covers everything you can imagine in detail. Highly recommended to anyone even remotely thinking about getting into trucking.

This is a good all-purpose read on trucking. As a retired state trooper, I can attest to the authentic and straight talk ahout trucking within these pages.

Entertaining and informative stuff here. Get one!

Truckers and Troopers

I'm not sure I agree with the statement "EVERYTHING You Need To Know...".

The book was okay, but seemed to focus more on the driver than the business. For example, he talks at length about his car and a lot of filler that I could do without. However, he WAS a driver and has a lot of varied experiences to impart... and some good information!

I enjoyed the read, though I'd hoped for more "meat and potatos" in the book. It is interesting and different from other books, though the author is obviously not "into" trucking so much as this is a simple point in his life that he shares and moves on.

He details some of his driving experiences, and I especially enjoyed the section called, "The Best Driving Job Of All". This is about driving "show" trucks and the life. I know of someone who actually does this and it is indeed the dream job. So, I was very "into" that section.

He also makes points talking about being able to see stuff many people never will (his photo on the cover of a tornado coming right at him is an example). I enjoy travel and "the road" (I got hooked driving between California and NC with a friend).

I recommend this book, but you should expect an easy read and lots of fun sharing his experiences, rather than "Everything You Will Every Need To Know..." BTW, a number of interesting B&W photos in the book!

Yeah, I might read more trucking stuff from this guy... if he writes it.

I found this book extremely helpful and want to put a thank you out to the author. His use of light hearted humor and real life experiences made this book fun and inviting, yet helpful and full of invaluable information. One thing that scared me about the trucking industry in the seeming lack of brain power among truck drivers. However, Steve has quite a way with words and makes an excellent author, giving me hope that someone in this industry can carry a conversation. The book focuses on real world, hands on experiences and lessons. There is very little theory in this book, making it easy to read and great to highlight and take notes in for later. The author gives tips on how to get with the right company, how to recognize a poor company just by the type of hotel they put you in, and whether they require you to board with another student. Before I get carried away and start summarizing the entire book, let me just say this book is worth every penny for the prospective truck driver. Thanks Steve!

I feel this is a well written book. I learned the every day life of the truck driver and looking forward in reading his next book. Thanks for such a well written book. Tom