Yanno... Nothing is stopping people from being a gentleman or a lady just because you are a truck driver. Id say anymore that more people are rude and obnoxious. I act like a lady, I talk like a lady, and I dress like a lady (only on days I dont load/unload). Why? Because it makes me feel good. I dont go around sounding like a drunk sailor either. Just because you are a truck driver doesnt mean you have to look like a slob either. You do not have to live up to the perception that the motoring public has of us. At shippers and receivers, I dress accordingly to my job. Steel toe shoes/boots, long sleeve shirt when required (I also have high visibility t-shirts, both long and short sleeve), I go inside either with the paperwork or the information on the load that I am picking up, and I always have my gloves in hand. I do this to let them know, without them realizing it, that I am ready to get my work on. There are many things we can do to change the perception that we have of ourselves, our co-workers, our bosses, our customers, our families, our friends, and the motoring public. It is up to you to make that personal choice. There are people who may disagree with me, but it is the truth. When I step out of this truck, Im doing much more than representing my company to the public, I am representing every truck driver in the industry. I get complimented, although it is unnecessary, I do it because I am working to change that perception. Just tonight, I was speaking with the waitress who was surprised to find out that I was a truck driver. I have had other drivers come up to me and thank me because I take care of myself. Im not ashamed to be a truck driver, but I am ashamed of all those other drivers out there that dont take care of themselves intentionally. I take care of my truck too. I like my truck to look good. I have only what is necessary on my dash. I have my Bible and GPS. I get the truck washed as often as I can unless its bad weather where it makes no sense in getting it washed. I also get the small stuff taken care of on the truck too... I make sure that my services are done at regular intervals. When Im loading, tarping and securing the load, I make my straps and tarps look as nice as possible. Why do I do all of this? Because Im not just representing my company, I am representing just who I am, a hardworking individual out here, who gets the job done, doesnt put up a whole lot of fuss. I am representing my family and friends. I represent my community. I represent all that is good in this country, not because I have to, but because I want to. Ultimately, it is your choice. No one can force you to do the things I do, but I hope you take a moment to reflect on these words tonight, and ask yourself what you could do better to change the perception of the public. These are my words, I put my face to them because I believe in them, and hopefully you do too.
Posted on: Tue, 13 Jan 2015 03:12:13 +0000
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