Trucking is a profession. People make judgments about you within the first seven seconds. What do people think when they see you? Hopefully you show others how you are a professional driver. Unfortunately, some of the general public has a negative view of truck drivers and are on the lookout for those who fit their negative stereotype.
Many drivers have come to me to discuss how they feel badly about their profession. Usually this downfall is attributed to a lack of dress code. Drivers often reminisce about “the good ole days” where all drivers wore uniforms; now many are dressed poorly and even in potentially unsafe clothing such as sandals. Hygiene is another topic that comes up, unfortunately. The majority of truckers would agree that finding a place to shower can be a challenge. However, many purposely pass up showers in an effort to save money. Don’t forget that a good shower can leave you feeling refreshed and convey a neat and tidy professional image.
Not only are looks important, but how you speak says a lot about you. Those drivers who are polite and keep a gentle tone of voice get so much further in their career. Of course, you need to stand up for yourself in a confrontation. However, the trucker who cusses more than [insert profession here] does not win people over, nor does he or she have more success or help the image of the trucking industry. I often hear very inappropriate name-calling and yelling on CH 19. If I did not know truckers personally, I would likely have a negative view of the trucking profession because of a few drivers who are not polite to one another in a semipublic setting.
Stand up for your profession. When you see a driver acting in an unprofessional manner, gently point it out. One important part of a profession is to give feedback to your peers. Often, peers would rather hear constructive criticism from another peer than be written up by a boss. If you point out a problem with the best of intent and do so in a professional manner, this helps everyone.
Remember how I started this article about how people judge truckers? It is also important for you to trust your own instincts about others. A best-selling book, “The Gift of Fear” is based upon this idea. Keep yourself safe on the road by trusting your instincts whenever you feel threatened. Listen to that nagging thought that tells you to avoid parking at a particular truck stop or that you should keep your distance from that other driver who is not acting professional. This could very well save your life.
Things to Remember:
- When you conduct yourself in a positive and professional manner, you help others to have a positive image of the trucking industry.
- When dressed for success, you are more likely to feel better about yourself.
- Using a professional and polite tone will help you to complete your job in a more efficient manner, help you feel better about yourself, and promote the professionalism of the trucking industry.
- Ask yourself if your dress, behavior, and the way in which you conducted business helped your profession today.
- Compliment other drivers on professionalism and gently point out what could be improved.
- Trust your own instincts and avoid certain people or situations if you feel that it may cause you harm.