the trucker stereotype

It's really none of my business what they think about me as a trucker. Why stress? We all know the country doesn't survive without us. So whether you're fat, you smoke, wear Calvin's or get pedicures, who gives a rats ###, lol. We make the world go 'round.

 

Who are the idiots who keep saying "forty-two" at the end of each radio transmission?

Or, "I heard you I did".

 

Better yet, why is it that truckers think they have a bad image?

Before getting into this industry I didn't realize we have a bad image. I don't know anyone who thinks of the truckers in the way I see described by truckers so often. Sure, some people have misconceptions based on isolated experiences, as we all do with some things, but for the most part I don't think our image is nearly as bad as some of the posts here would suggest.

Be careful of self-fulfilling prophecies.

 

I may not be clean shaven (I prefer to shave every two to three weeks), I may be a few lbs overweight, but my teeth are straight and clean, I shower daily, I wear clean clothes daily and I use deodorant (and it's not an air freshener I shoved somewhere to make you think I do). Oh, and I don't cut my own hair or go to a half ###'ed barber shop, I go to a high dollar Men's salon, where I rub elbow's with athletes, executives, lawyers, etc., I get a perfect haircut, and a neck/shoulder massage, I even let them do stuff to me that might be considered "poofy", I get a brow wax and my ears waxed. I've had a manicure (not something I would normally do but the stylist talked me into it). I'm #### proud of how I look when I leave there and I get complimented on it, on the website for the place, the even mention trucking (which AFAIK I'm the only trucker who goes there) in their headline for their clientelle: You may be a celebrity, athlete, truck driver, lawyer, executive, or plain ol' Joe. Doesn't matter, we're gonna take care of you. www.gquarters.com

I have co-workers who are on both sides of this topic, there are 10 of us, our one O/O always wears clean jeans and a polo shirt, he's clean shaven, and while he's originally from Mexico but been here in the US for 30+ yrs, he speaks ENGLISH 90% of the time and I've heard him ##### out others who should do the same.

Of my 9 fellow company drivers, I have one who attempts to look clean and decent, but his pack a day habit makes him fail. Another one who if he would just wear a decent shirt he's be alright, the rest of us, for the most part make a concerted effort to look clean and decent everyday. Depending on the day, we might encounter 6 to 15 customers, so we have to make an effort to look decent.

 

when I dropped out of college after 1 semester, in 98 i had no idea what the hell I was going to do, I had no discipline for studying so going to school for 4 years wasnt for me. my father told me he had talked to a driver of coca cola where i could obtain a cdl from them...my first thought was "trucker???!!!" and i had the same image in my head....the stereotype. but once i got in and started to drive and meet other drivers i was wrong about my thoughts on truckers and i was wrong on how i felt about their driving. once i got to see it from the truckers point of view i respected the truckers when they are on the road.

 

I think as a whole the image of the trucker has really cleaned up in the last ten years or so.

 

yes and no, the small percentage of bad drivers and accidents that get put on the news still slams the industry, you never hear the good about drivers, but from what i am seeing though as a positive is the economy being bad for corporations more white collar people are out of jobs and are getting into the industry to provide for their families.

 

Get that slow truck out of the way. Ever think the SPEEDING / TAILGATING truck does not give a negative image