The full name of the book is “Trucking Life: An Entertaining, Yet Informative Guide to Becoming and Being a Trucker” originally written by Todd McCann in 2008 and updated in 2014 and again prior to publishng.
If you are considering a truck driving career and looking for information, I highly recommend this book for you. The ebook is available for $8.99 on Amazon, iBooks, Barnes & Noble, or anywhere else you find ebooks.
It is 208 pages packed with information written in an easy to read and entertaining format. Trucking Life was written for people interested in becoming truck drivers, but it was also designed for those who just have a passing interest in truckers and their lifestyle.
I’ve been driving for about 35 years and found it entertaining enough to read all the way through, so you don’t have to be a “newbie” to enjoy it.
If you are just thinking about getting into the industry, there is a lot of information out there for you to explore thanks to the internet. However, not all you read on the internet is true, so be wary of hidden agendas. Todd is a straight shooter and gives you the unbiased facts. I highly stress that you do your homework first before you jump into this lifestyle. It’s not for everybody, but for some, it’s a career that you can thrive in and make good money if you figure it out. With the exception of my first year “learning” the business and hauling around “piggyback” containers, I’ve always made pretty decent money and am in a pretty good place as I am now closing in on retirement. You’re not going to make top dollar right away, you have to demonstrate your ability for a while through safe driving and maintaining a good work record.
One of the big things Todd cautions new drivers about is resisting any temptation to buy a truck and set out on your own. I am in complete agreement with him. The reasons he gives in the book are accurate, I’ve seen way too many drivers go into it and ruin their financial life going broke. There are successful Owner Operators out there, but you have to know what you’re doing and be skilled in the fundamentals of running a business and bookkeeping practices. As you are first experiencing and learning the trucking industry, it is definitely not the time to take the huge financial risk. Trucking companies have a great need for company drivers and the good ones offer a valuable benefits package, good pay, paid vacations and retirement plans. You're on your own if you buy a truck, beware! When the wheels aren't turning, your fixed expenses don't stop.
Todd and his wife started driving in 1997 and the book contains many entertaining stories of their experiences. I started driving in 1980 and wrote a seven part series in this blog about my experiences becoming a truck driver. You can link to Part I here: http://dbridgerhot.blogspot.com/2012/03/deciding-on-trucking-career.html
It’s fun to compare the differences and similarities of the two time periods that are about 17 years apart.
Todd has been doing some great work, he has more good stuff and links at his website: http://abouttruckdriving.com/
Enjoy!
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