Gurinderjit Singh poses with a copy of his fifth book, “Amereki Trucknama,” propped up on his Peterbilt truck in a yard in Fresno. The book’s name translates to “American Truck Saga.”
Gagandeep Singh
gagandeep.singh@fresnobee.com
For nearly three decades, the highways have served as Gurinderjit Singh’s workplace.
Now the Fresno-based Punjabi trucker has distilled those experiences into a 136-page nonfiction book titled “Ameriki Trucknama,” which translates to “American Truck Saga.”
It’s the fifth book he’s written.
Singh, 51, recently talked to The Fresno Bee about “American Truck Saga” at his Fresno home.
“The idea of the book was floating in my mind for the last 15 years,” Singh told the Bee as he organized copies of the book recently shipped from India. “I have a wish that whatever I had witnessed on the American roads while driving the truck across the country, including the challenges faced by drivers and the life of drivers, should be documented for the people.”
Singh said his 27-chapter book, which was written in the Punjabi language and published by Chetna Parkashan publications, of India, will provide a clear picture of the American trucking industry.
Gurinderjit Singh poses with his Peterbilt truck and a copy of his book in a yard in Fresno. GAGANDEEP SINGH gagandeep.singh@fresnobee.com How did Fresno man join trucking industry?
Singh, whose nickname is “Neeta Machike,” has lived in the United States for 35 years and has been driving trucks for the last 30.
Singh had just completed high school in the northern Indian state Punjab in 1991 when his hand accidentally got caught in the fodder cutting machine. As a result, the 16-year-old’s left hand was amputated.
Singh immigrated to the United States in later that year.
He began his trucking journey at the Port of Oakland in 1994.
He decided to pursue trucking after several young men from the Punjabi community died due to gun violence while working in convenience stores or driving taxis in West Oakland and Richmond.
Singh said a friend of his was working at a 7-Eleven store in West Oakland when a customer approached him to purchase cigarettes.
“As he turned away to retrieve the cigarettes for the customer, he was stabbed and died at the scene,” Singh said.
“I found trucking a safe place where a person hardly deals with the public,” Singh said. “That’s why I chose it.”
Initially, Singh only drove trucks commercially in California. He was unable to obtain a long-haul license due to his status as an amputee.
Then Singh learned about a skill performance evaluation certificate by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration for amputee drivers.
“Once that hurdle was cleared, I started riding across the country,” he said.
Punjabi truckers like Singh play a significant role in California’s logistics industry.
According to the North American Punjabi Trucking Association, Sikhs contribute to approximately 35% of the state’s trucking industry.
Gurinderjit Singh takes a selfie with trucks during his travels across the United States. Gurinderjit Singh gagandeep.singh@fresnobee.com What is new book ‘American Truck Saga’ about?
“American Truck Saga” details the evolution of the trucking industry, starting in the 1990s at the Port of Oakland, where drivers often waited eight to nine hours for pickups.
The book also chronicles Singh’s first trip to New York City in 2002, where he struggled to navigate low bridges and complex urban routes.
Singh writes about the physical dangers of the road, including steep grades in Colorado, snowfalls in Oregon, and high winds in Wyoming.
He also writes about financial and personal setbacks.
In 2016, Singh attempted to expand his business by purchasing three new trucks, but the venture failed.
He said the drivers he hired ignored instructions and hid violation tickets from him. After two years, he sold the trucks at a $70,000 loss.
In 2004, Singh’s truck broke down in rural Texas in an area without cell service. He waited several hours before a police officer arrived to call a mechanic, who charged him $1,400 for a 10-mile tow.
In addition, Singh highlights the social isolation of working as a commercial truck driver.
He recalls missing his children’s birthdays and family dinners due to technical delays. In 2016, for instance, he was stranded in Colorado due to a broker’s mistake.
One of the most poignant chapters of “American Truck Saga” is dedicated to his mother, who died of cancer in Sept. 2016.
Singh was unloading freight in Tracy when he received the call that his mother was near death. He rushed home to Fresno and spent just three hours with her before she passed away.
“American Truck Saga” also addresses systemic issues, such as discrimination and poor working conditions.
Singh noted that many shippers and receivers refuse to let truckers use their restrooms, forcing them to use unhygienic portable facilities.
Gurinderjit Singh presents a copy of his newest book to his father, Dalbara Singh Dhaliwal, at their Fresno home on Monday, Aug. 17, 2026. GAGANDEEP SINGH gagandeep.singh@fresnobee.com Why did Central Valley resident write trucking book?
Singh wrote “American Truck Saga” to serve as a guide for new drivers entering the field from the Punjabi community
Writing the book was a labor of mobile technology and patience, Singh said.
Singh wrote the initial 450-page draft on his iPhone’s notes app between January and June. He worked on the book during loading and unloading times, breaks and long waits for freight.
Following the advice of his publisher, he split his manuscript into two parts. His book “American Truck Saga” was released on Aug. 12.
The second volume, ‘Punjabi American Trucking Encyclopedia,” is scheduled for release next year. It will also be in Punjabi.
What is trucker’s connection to Fresno?
Singh permanently moved to Fresno in 2009.
He feels a deep connection to the Central Valley city, noting its similarities to his home state Punjab in India.
“Fresno has similar weather to Punjab, and a significant population of the Punjabi community,” Singh said. “Importantly, it is a trucking hub.”
Despite its hardships, trucking allowed Singh to build his dream home in Fresno and helped his son open a local truck repair business, Cencal Diesel Doctors.
Singh is a well-known figure in Fresno’s Punjabi community, hosting a weekly TV show on Punjab politics and maintaining a professional Facebook page with 19,000 followers.
“The truckers are unsung heroes in the American economy,” Singh said.
How can I buy ‘American Trucker Saga’?
“American Trucker Saga” is available for sale on Amazon.
You can call Gurinderjit Singh at 559-333-5776 or Satish Gulati at +91 98152 98459 to order the book by phone.
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Gagandeep Singh is a service journalism reporter for The Fresno Bee. He holds a master’s degree in politics and global affairs from Columbia University. Prior to working at The Bee, he worked as a freelancer for CalMatters, BBC News and the Los Angeles Times. He focuses on migration, education, criminal justice and the South Asian diaspora in California.