Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.

Albert Einstein


As I was standing in line to be checked out at a Flying J, I moved in behind a driver that reeked of body odor. The saying “would not touch him with a 10 foot pole” applied! I backed off about 10 feet, only to let a customer slide in front of me to see his reaction. He turned back and looked at me and rolled his eyes, then proceeded to get behind me.


Like it or not, we (truck drivers) are the face of our company. First impressions happen within 15 seconds of meeting someone for the first time.



This is how I see it!


Things to remember before pulling into a customer…



1. Make sure you don’t stink! Shower, sponge bath, put on lots of deodorant, or do whatever it takes to make you normal.



2. Put on your Sunday best (trucker’s style) when meeting customers. Nothing is worse that dirty, stinking, wrinkled clothes. You would not enter an office like that, and the truck is our office.


3. Always greet customers with a smile and a likable tone in your voice. You will get a lot further in your short relationship with the customer than if you go in grumpy. Honey is always more pleasant than vinegar.



4. When leaving a customer, smile and ALWAYS thank them for their business.




These four steps will make you feel good about your day, but more importantly, the customer will look back at his or her day and not remember you. They’ll only remember the bad apples that they have to deal with on a daily bases. And, if we are lucky, a positive thought about your company.


Smart Driving!


Mark Maple