A Trucker's Tale: Wit, Wisdom, and True Stories from 60 Years on the Road

by Ed Miller

Wit, wisdom, adventure, and revelations from sixty years on the road.

They say that only truck drivers experience the true grandeur and landscape of the winding mountainsides at sunrise, the first frosts of winter descending on apple orchards, the call of the rising roosters. In A Trucker's Tale, Ed Miller gives an inside look at the allure of the work and the colorful characters who haul our goods on the open road. He shares what it was like to grow up in a boisterous trucking family, his experience as an equipment officer in Vietnam, the wide range of vehicles he's mounted, and the daily trials, tribulations, risks, and exploits that define life as a trucker.

Ed's vibrant, no-holds-barred tales are hilarious and heartwarming, sometimes cringeworthy or unbelievable—recollections of heroic feels as well as the “fishing stories” that have stretched and shifted from CB radio to CB radio. Many are the results of what he calls, “just plain stupidity.” Others bring to light the small acts of kindness and grand gestures that these Knights of the Highway perform each day, as well as the safety risks and continual danger that these essential workers endure. Together they paint a compelling portrait of one of the most important, but least-known industries, and reveal why Ed, and so many like him, just kept on truckin’.

Genres: Memoir, Audiobook, Biography, Nonfiction

193 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 14, 2020

Reviews

[Stefanie Robinson · Rating 2 out of 5]

This memoir was pretty entertaining. I hadn't ever really been interested in the world of trucking, but this book was free on Audible Plus and I enjoy memoirs. I thought I would give it a shot. Trucking life is definitely not a career for me, but it can certainly be an interesting one. This author gives some good life tips in this book that can apply to things other than trucking. Overall, a solid read.

[Heather(Gibby) · Rating 3 out of 5]

There were some amusing antidotes throughout the book, but the author's insistence that professional truck drivers were the best drivers on the road left a sour taste in my mouth. That may have been true 60 years ago, but the way the industry is spewing out drivers these days, I beg to differ.

The author's experiences in Vietnam were quite interesting, and his tales on the road and his quirky characterization of some of the other drivers on the road often made me chuckle.

The author also highlighted the headaches of long distance driving including bad drivers, and deliveries gone wrong, and interactions, both good and bad, with law enforcement.

[Rudy · Rating 2 out of 5]

A Trucker's Tale was entertaining enough at times to read through to the end, but I doubt I'll ever read it again. Aside from the chapter about the author's time in Vietnam, there weren't many stories that I found terribly interesting. Most folks already know that the average driver doesn't know what they're doing behind the wheel without Mr. Miller going on and on about it chapter after chapter. And while it's fascinating to hear some of the behind-the-scenes stories about warehouses, police officers, and dispatchers, very few of these tales are told in an engaging way. I've got a strong hunch that Ed Miller is a great storyteller while straddling a barstool and pouring a few pitchers of beer, but his writing left me hoping for more.

[Olivia Stewart · Rating 2 out of 5]

ehh....
Personally, I thought the writing was quite good, and I liked the general layout of the book. But.... it really wasn't that interesting. It was neat to catch a glimpse of a truckers life, and it did a great job of making me feel like I was directly looking back through someone's memories. Like your grandpa sitting you down to talk about his career.

I mean the whole book was kind of like "something TOTALLY crazy happened." ..... "a tire blew out".

So I'd say B for narrative, he's a decent writer. But for content, a solid C-. But can you really criticize someone's memoir for being boring? I don't know.

I liked the stories about his dog. That was cute.
And I guess I learned a bit about truck mechanics, but honestly without any prior knowledge it kind of went in one ear and out the other.

[Matt McLain · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved getting a glimpse into the life of a truck driver. There’s a lot more to it than just driving. And just like anything else, there’s good ones and there are bad ones.

I loved the idea of the old timer truckers considering themselves as Knights of the Highway looking for opportunities to help as they drive across the country. How much time truckers spend waiting on their truck to be loaded or unloaded would be frustrating. The ability to see new places across the country would be the best part.

[Matthew Bane · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 out of 5 stars

Meh.

I was expecting more honestly.

I would have thought that listening to a trucker with 60 years experience would be super entertaining throughout. I'm not saying that parts of this book aren't funny and informative, because there certainly are parts that fit the bill (Vietnam, childhood, some characters).

Most of this story amounted to, "Most of the truckers I remember were pieces of work".

[#moluminary · Rating 4 out of 5]

An average 3 Star rating? It’s a book about a real life experience of a trucker. This should be read when you are interested to learn about life from a Trucker’s point of view and nothing else. What were you expecting, typical self-help or investment advice? Or maybe poetry and prose of the level of Shakespeare? For those who are like me and just curious to learn about a life lived differently than their own, this a book for you, short, enjoyable and entertaining!

[Amy Lepore · Rating 5 out of 5]

My father worked as a truck dispatcher when I was young, and remembering the rides they gave me and how they allowed me to honk the horn in their rigs, I was intrigued by this title. It didn't disappoint. I enjoyed these stories, and they reminded me of stories my dad passed on from his drivers.

[Joe B · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent synopsis and cathartic story of one man’s journey as road knight. A trucker’s tale that certainly allows the reader to understand how one actually gets into this profession. His story is generational. He provides an actual biography of his entire life and 60 year career as an over the road master. An enjoyable book indeed.

[Carlie Duquette · Rating 4 out of 5]

I definitely didn’t have a biography about long haul trucking on my 2025 trading bingo card but I really enjoyed this one! I listened on audio and learnt a lot about logistics that go into trucking. I thoroughly enjoyed the chapter on Ed’s service in Vietnam as a driver!

Very well written and insightful! I’ll be sure to thank a trucker at least once this year.

[Maura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although the target audience are guys, I enjoyed the book well-enough. The story-telling and writing were good, and even if the reader isn't 100% into all the mechanics, and trucking and the Vietnam war period, the stories of the odd ducks and odd experiences keeps you reading to the end.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Everything you need know about trucking

Ed Miller tells great stories of his trucking days as well sharing insight of the truck driving industry. I found this book entertaining, educational, and a joy to read.

[Ann237 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not sure why I got this, but glad I did. The author was great in sharing his 60 years on the road. He shared the good, bad & even the ugly happenings being a trucker. Also his humor and his ability to laugh at himself was refreshing.

[Aurora Brant · Rating 5 out of 5]

I listened to the audiobook during a trip and it kept me entertained the entire time. I can see how reading it might be a bit dull at times, but listening to it was truly enjoyable, it had the same feeling of a grandfather telling you about his life. Would listen to again and definitely recommend!

[Bess · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐.
Better than I thought it would be. Definitely gives you a better appreciation of what truckers go through and makes you pause before giving in to road rage when you think about going head to head against Optimus Prime.

[Joseph D. Slater · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was not as enjoyable as I initially hoped. It felt like the last two or three chapters were the best ones because those were the tales I thought I’d hear through the whole book. I didn’t hate it, and it wasn’t written poorly. It just felt like the first 4 fifths were setup.

[Andrew Breza · Rating 4 out of 5]

An engaging and interesting collection of stories from a life spent in trucking. This book is like having your grandpa come over for a month of lunches.

[Dan · Rating 3 out of 5]

With this book, I was expecting more of an approach to life from a Truckers point of view.

The book does offer knowledge on trucks and how things were done, in comparison to today.

But, it was more of a story from someone who worked around the grandfather and the things he was taught, heard and saw.

[Gregg · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good effort but there are far more powerful memoirs with much better writing.

[Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ed Miller's stories are fantastic, and I sincerely appreciate them. I had a working-class upbringing, so I always respected truck drivers. They are a unique breed, yet they are essential to the functioning of our nation. That was amply illustrated by the recent Covid scare. Our great country would come to a halt without them. They deserve our respect, without a doubt.

[Kerry Murtagh Ramsay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audio.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! An interesting life, in an area I know very little about, well told. Great audio narrator too.

[Nidhi Desai · Rating 4 out of 5]

Remember, on the road three trucker is the professional!

[Wayne Fenlon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed this audiobook traveling to and from work.
Half an hour each way.

And no... I'm not a trucker.

[Josh · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an entertaining read, despite having been written by a company man.

[Jeremy Herrera · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book that gives a great insight into the trucking life and work.

[sequoia spirit · Rating 2 out of 5]

this was a free audible plus book & since i enjoy memoirs, i gave it a shot.. it is well written yet the stories are just okay.. the day in and day out of a trucker on the job..

[John the Ponderer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun listen, recommended for a road trip.

[Suz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great stories.

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

My dad drove a truck for many years. I relate to many of these stories.