Sailors of the Concrete Sea: A Portrait of Truck Drivers' Work and Lives [Paperback]

Dale Belman (Author), Kristen A. Monaco (Author), Taggert J. Brooks (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 31, 2004

Sailors of the Concrete Sea summarizes data collected from 573 interviews with truck drivers conducted by the Sloan Foundation Trucking Industry Program in 1997 and 1998. This data, unique in its depth and scope, provides a finely textured picture of the work and work life of over-the-road truck drivers in the United States. Presented with supporting data, the book provides information on widely ranging topics, including drivers’ hours of work and rest, use of truck-borne technology, form and generosity of pay and benefits, employer retention, sources of training and job experience, use of log books and violations of hours of service regulations, and views of their jobs.
     The driver survey is a unique source of data on drivers, both in the range of subjects covered in the survey and in the reliability of the information. The survey questionnaire instrument included more than 250 questions. While some of these questions were designed to facilitate comparison between the Driver Survey and national labor market surveys such as the Current Population Survey, most were designed to explore the characteristics of truck drivers’ work. As such, they provide a rich portrait of drivers’ work and lives. 
 
 

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Dale L. Belman is Associate Professor of Industrial Relations at Michigan State University. He recently published How New is the "New Employment Contract."

Kristen A. Monaco is Assistant Professor of Economics at California State University at Long Beach.

Taggert J. Brooks is Assistant Professor of Economics at University of Wisconsin, La Crosse.

Product Details

• Paperback: 209 pages
• Publisher: Michigan State University Press (December 31, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0870136860
• ISBN-13: 978-0870136863
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,566,957 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.