Truck This For A Living: Tales Of A UK Lorry Driver

by Gary Mottram

There are many books about driving trucks that always seem to glamourise the profession with a vision of gleaming chrome disappearing into the dusk on the wide open road, heading for freedom. This book doesn't. This is the true grit, dirty end of the industry where the work is hard and monotonous, the food is crap, the showers are unbelievably filthy, the lay-bys stink, fellow motorists abuse you on a daily basis, the police and authorities try to catch you out at every turn, and the boss is always on the phone asking where you are and what time will you be there and what the hell have you been doing all this time? This is the multi-drop deliveries during rush hour in an unknown town without a map. This is the disapproving looks in the service station shop when you've been on the road for 5 days straight without a shower. This is the crinkly sound of a turd desperately exited into a carrier bag when there are no public toilets for 30 miles. This is the thumping headache of a disturbed nights' sleep when a refrigerated lorry parks next to you at the truck stop. This is the UK transport industry. These are the words of a UK trucker.

226 pages, Paperback

First published July 19, 2014

Reviews

[Stephen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mottram hand-crafted woodwind instruments for thirteen years before being laid off. So naturally, he started driving. The leap isn't enormous -- he starts off in vans, schlepping around with boxes to do his own unloading -- but progresses in stages. After getting comfortable behind the wheel, he takes on his Class 2 license, and that work consumes most of the book. The Class 1 license allows him to take on fully-articulated tractor trailers, and he fully details his difficulties in getting the hang of maneuvering trailers with minds of their own. Coming from a family of drivers -- though not being one myself -- I enjoyed absorbing the British lingo here. Mottram is a vegetarian who fusses about the environment, so he's definitely atypical from any other driver I've ever met, or heard of, or can imagine meeting. The aggravations of the job -- jumping through hoops for the company and the government, for instance -- seem much the same from the US to the UK. Mottram's is an interesting story with very serviceable writing.

[Mark Ayling · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very enjoyable book about the life of a commercial driver. From starting out as a multi-drop van driver, to gaining his Class 1 licence, Gary gives the reader an insight into this not-so-glamorous profession!

[Al Dickens · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this look into the real world of HGV driving. My only issue is that it just sort of stopped. Bit of a shame but other than that - a good read.

[Tedly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Been there.

As a retired truck driver there was nothing new in this book. I applaud his efforts but as I have been there , done it I can't honestly give it a high rating.