The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Trucks: A Guide to Classic and Contemporary Trucks Around the World, Including 700 Photographs

This wonderfully illustrated book begins with a history of the truck, covering its origins, evolution, and the early pioneers of truck design and engineering. A wide variety of trucks are featured, with more than 700 photographs, from general load carriers such as box vans and furniture- removal vans, to specialized vehicles such as fire trucks, military trucks and mobile cranes. Trucks from Europe, North America and many other countries are discussed, highlighting differences in design and the manufacturers who made them. Each vehicle is put into historical context, showing its uses, how it reached its current position in the market, or how production resulted in its demise. A history of the truck spans its origins and evolution, from the early pioneers to today’s modern load carriers. This is followed by a comprehensive reference to every type of truck: general load carriers, box vans, curtainsiders and tankers, the book features a range of specialized trucks such as concrete mixers, self-loading trucks, furniture-removal vans, refuse trucks, fire trucks, recovery trucks, logging trucks, heavy-haulage trucks, military trucks and mobile cranes. This newly updated photographic A-Z directory of over 280 makes includes all the most successful manufacturers as well as many lesser-known brands.

Peter J. Davies worked for Bedford, General Motors’ UK truck division, before contributing to transport magazines, and writing several books on trucks. He is president of the Commercial Vehicle and Road Transport Club and he founded the annual Classic Commercial Motor Show.