Trucker: A Portrait of the Last American Cowboy

by Jane Stern

A portrait of the last American cowboy [Jan 01, 1975] Stern, Jane

163 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 1975

Reviews

[Chris Cox · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quite a few memorable portraits here. Especially liked the poignant portrait of Nadine, a prostitute the author met who later died at 19 (actually cried after reading that one). But the generalities ("All gearjammers like to do this" and "All truckers like that") and the cowboy metaphor became wearing. Similar themes repeat too often, always coming back in a jumble, as if the copy were rushed to print.

Also, probably because it was written in the mid-70s, the sexism and racism seemed a jarring -- even more so because I couldn't tell if the author felt that way or if she was simply emulating the trucker's attitudes and speech (she used terms like Black Mammy, nigra, savage indians, etc)...since the terms weren't attributed it's hard to tell.

But if you're interested at all in the trucker's lifestyle and his/her history, this is a unique slice of Americana. And the photos, quite amazing at times, show a world long gone.

[Rory · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best and most definitive book about American trucking, and the only book there should ever be about it, unless Stern decides to write a sequel, bringing the trucking industry up to date with the inevitable changes that have happened. Through her words, this world is immensely vivid and would be once again. One can only hope that amidst all her interests that drive her to write, she'll return to this.

[Chad · Rating 4 out of 5]

Best. Thrift Store Find. Ever.

[Tim]

Talk about total flashback. Blast from the past. These are “real” drivers. I’m retiring next year. I started working for an owner/operator when I got back from Nam in ‘71. I was his lumper. We ran produce up and down the eastern seaboard. He taught me how to drive after awhile. There is one issue I take with the book title. Drivers referred to as “cowboys”. Don’t call us cowboys. You’re implying we’re reckless. These are the true drivers. There’s no real drivers left today. Most can’t even find their ass with both hands. They have everything handed to them. Go to school from a company like CRST . They’ll teach you how to drive. You do 6 months with a seasoned company driver and they cut you loose. Back in the time period of this book,bare minimum of 1 year OTR. All weather,all roads. After 2 1/2 years I left the guy I was working for. I got a job running produce on the east coast and the mid west states. I drove for J C Roberts out of Boston. All you have to do is read this book and look at the sad lot of drivers that are out there. These idiots choke if they have to take Wolf Creek or Donners Pass. They choke if they have to run Fancy Gap. I know one driver in this book. Roland (don’t recall his last name) . If you have access to back episodes of 60 minutes. Find the one where the 60 minutes reporter goes trucking with. There’s a scene in that particular story,where Roland gets into it with a scale tender in Kansas (I think). He got into it with him over a permit situation. There was some of us other drivers in there with him. I was one (yeah my 15 minutes of fame). This book goes into depth a great deal about Roland. You really want to see the Roland live and in person,try to find that 60 minutes episode. I’ve even been to the “naked city” truckstop that’s bought up in the book. Read the book if you haven’t . There’s no drivers left out there anymore. We saw someone broke down on the road,we’d pull over and help if our schedule wasn’t to tight. They don’t do that anymore. My fellow drivers in this book,are no longer nights of the highway. Shameful lot. Trucks are cookie cutter trucks now days. I’ve got a 78 352h pete I got about 8 years back. I had it completely restored. That’s what I’m retiring with. I’m leased to J H Rose out of Houston. To be honest,I don’t even recognize them anymore. Bottom line,get this book if you want to see what the now extinct OTR driver is all about.