Stories from the Road

I went into *Stories from the Road* expecting another dry recitation of kilo-meters logged and regulations memorized. What I got was a high-octane ride through the underbelly of the transportation industry, narrated with such authenticity that I found myself gripping my phone like it was a steering wheel. Robert Restivo’s performance is the star here—each phrase lands with the weight of a load dropping into the trailer, and his ability to pivot from deadpan humor to outright tension in a single sentence had me rewinding constantly just to relive the moment. The chapter where Taylor describes outmaneuvering a rogue ice storm on I-80 is pure white-knuckle listening, and Restivo’s rendition of the driver’s exhausted but triumphant muttering was so spot-on I could practically smell the coffee. That said, the audiobook isn’t without its rough patches. The production occasionally leans too hard into the CB radio interjections, which start to feel gimmicky after the 10th time. And while Taylor’s stories are vivid, the lack of a clear chronological thread means the narrative sometimes meanders—like a cross-country haul with no final destination. Still, these are minor quibbles for a listen that’s as entertaining as it is educational. If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to spend your life behind the wheel of a vehicle that could flatten a small car like a soda can, this is the audiobook you need. Just don’t listen while you’re driving—you’ll end up white-knuckling the wheel of your own car.