Into the Distance: The Long Lost World of Long-haul Trucking

Into the Distance is a first-hand account of the world of truck driving in the 1970s and 1980s, which required skill, resourcefulness, and diplomacy. It describes breakdowns, break-neck schedules, brushes with smugglers, and how truck drivers saw other countries from a unique perspective.

Format: Hardback
Length: 280 pages
Publication date: 28 October 2023
Publisher: Troubador Publishing

Into the Distance is a captivating firsthand account of a world of truck driving that has long since vanished. In the 1970s and early 80s, drivers had to be independent and resourceful, operating in a world without the convenience of mobile phones (and often even reliable landlines). Truck driving was a thrilling and sometimes hazardous profession that ultimately provided immense satisfaction.

The book begins with a breakdown in Saudi Arabia, during Bennetts first trip to the Middle East, where he had to navigate his way out of a challenging situation without external assistance. It then takes us back in time, recounting how Bennetts journey in the trucking industry began after graduating from university. He worked his way up from local work in Britain to long-haul journeys to Italy, communist Romania, and the Persian Gulf.

Throughout the book, the author delves into the complexities of crossing borders, highlighting the importance of diplomacy in navigating the various customs regulations. It sheds light on the routine practice of petty bribes to customs officials in countries like France, as truck drivers encountered unique perspectives of different countries while mingling with working people on their home turf.

The book also explores the delicate balance between being a loner behind the wheel and experiencing loneliness, particularly during long-haul trucking trips that kept drivers away from their families for extended periods. It sheds light on the damaging effects of such separations on family relationships.

The author vividly describes breakdowns, breakneck schedules, brushes with smugglers, and the unexpected challenges that truck drivers encountered on their journeys. Bennetts experiences include being stranded in Iraq following the signing of the Israel-Egyptian peace treaty in 1979, caught up in two French lorry driver strikes, one of which resulted in a blockade of the port of Dover, and actively participating as an interpreter between the drivers and British officialdom during these strikes.

These experiences are all part of the job for truck drivers, who must be prepared to face a wide range of unpredictable circumstances while on the road. Into the Distance provides a fascinating glimpse into a bygone era of truck driving, offering a unique perspective on the challenges, rewards, and experiences of those who drove the highways of the world in a time before modern technology and communication made their jobs easier.

Weight: 608g
Dimension: 165 x 242 x 30 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781803137155