The Smell of Diesel: A personal account of the working life of a lorry driver from the 1960`s onwards

I recently re-read "two years before the mast" in which the author shipped around Cape Horn to the coast of California and was there in 1836. He met a retired sea captain there and he, looking over the ship, remarked on how much sailing ships had changed since he retired some 20 years earlier. I got the same feeling reading this book. As an HGV driver riding around in a modern rig, this author's reminiscences of his days on the road - starting in 1960 - made fascinating reading. He doesn't mention the transition from log books to tachographs (in 1981), but he was there as rigid lorries gave way to artics and flatbeds were gradually superseded by 'taut liners': which these days we call 'curtain-siders'. In the sixties, drivers needing a night out stayed at a truckstop: parking space, cafe and bunkhouse. As bunkhouses, they are all gone now: lorries have sleeper cabs and truck stops survive by being parking spaces, shower facilities and good food. Anecdote after anecdote relates both how much things have changed - and how much they stay the same: if anything goes wrong, it's always the driver's fault! He writes the way he probably talks, so it's a relaxed, conversational style which makes for both entertaining and easy reading. It means a lot more to me than it might to readers who don't know much about lorries beyond trying to keep out of their way, but think of Samuel Pepys: what everyone likes about his diaries is the minutiae - and that's what you get in the book. The small details about heavy goods lorries and work patterns through the 1960s into the 1980s. This will find its place in social history reading lists. As to the changes since he retired - too many to mention here - someone else will have to write about them. Maybe I should.

This is a great read that gives you a real insight into the life of lorry drivers and just life itself. You can imagine the characters in the book even though you've nothing to do with lorries. It's a much harder and tougher job than you'd think and surprising how long drivers could be on the road on top of loading, sheeting, and unloading in all weathers and sleeping in lay-bys. It's a no holds barred account and you can decide whether you think the life decisions of David are good or bad. In the end it seems job well done.

A very good personal story which will be beyond the understanding of local government ,clerks, and general not a real job, people. Very good but believe me ,some drivers had lt a lot worse.

An excellent recount of having diesel running through your veins. Many of the haulage firms mentioned and the places we had to squeeze into , I remember myself.Pulling a fly sheet off a 40 foot on a winter’s morning, and it just standing there, frozen into the load’s shape, was usually the start of a long day.A good read, and yes, if I had a time machine, I’d do it all again!

Not a bad read but let down by poor spelling , which makes you wonder if it was ever proof read

A really enjoyable book which is well written and the stories are brought to life in a down to earth manner, this book takes you back to a time when haulage was probably at it best, at least the drivers were. Drivers who got on with it and sorted their problems out themselves without all the communications technology we have today which seems to have made drivers too reliant on base to sort even the smallest problem. This was the golden era, the trucks were beautifully turned out not like the plastic rubbish today and the drivers took pride in their wagons. A nostalgic trip down the old roads in roar of dust and diesel, the passion the pain the tears the laughs and most of all the atmosphere, this wee book has it all. Well done to the author for sharing a working mans life, ahh take me back.........

Having been a long distance loŕry driver myself for 16 years this book brought back a lot of memories for me, but the subject matter is a bit specialised so I think a person would have to have an interest in trucks and trucking to enjoy it.

My life also what a good read i would do it all again if we could go back to the 60s.

I like the name of it, i havent read it yet but my father was a truck driver and we went on a lot of adventures when i was a kid so im cruious.But im givin it 4 cause it came with one page a bit crambled.