True Crime
Long Haul: Hunting the Highway Serial Killers is former FBI agent Frank Figliuzzi’s second non fiction work, and an in depth dive into the prevalence of serial killers in long haul trucking. Though not an examination of any one individual, or any one case, the book covers the culture of trucking. That includes not only the drivers themselves, but the prostitution rampant at truck lots, and the kind of trafficking that leads to an unfortunately thriving industry. Truckers are primarily men alone for weeks at a time, isolated and often unaccounted for, and combined with vulnerable and often intoxicated women, this doesn’t lead to good things.
Of course, most truckers are not killers. Figliuzzi is careful to make sure to be clear on that point. Most truckers are merely people working a difficult job. However, there is a proven statistical prevalence in this field, and many have never been caught. Many victims are still left unidentified.
For anyone interested in what it’s really like to be a long haul trucker, this is a great book for understanding the lifestyle. The author rides with a trucker and observes everything he does for a whole week, and he tells the reader about it. Mike, the trucker in question, seems like a decent person. He has plans after life on the road, and he has never taken part in the sex trade aspect of the lifestyle. For the most part, he serves as a good counterbalance to the killers whose stories are peppered throughout the book.
With interviews on every side of the issue, including law enforcement, Figliuzzi’s is a nuanced take on a serious issue. Though he manages to cover a lot of information, he does take care to parse all of it. Sometimes, especially in the individual stories of victims who were able to escape, the reader is left with wanting more details. These are all people and they don’t always feel like much more than a piece of a puzzle.
That being said, this is an interesting read. This is a larger issue than likely most realize. Figliuzzi also provides enough names and information for someone curious to do further reading on the topic. For anyone looking for a true crime book that is a little different, and a good overview of this subject, pick it up. – Margaret Agnew