What has happened?

Couple weeks ago I was chatting with the driver behind me. We saw a guy up the street a bit starting to tarp. We both looked at each other and shrugged and started walking over. It's just second nature. Made his day too to have had a hand.

Pay it forward, hand.

Now maybe not it he had a Volvo and was wearing flip flops. He was an older white dude wearing work boots, pants and a button up shirt.

 

I think there is a lot involved in what has been happening. It's really a wide open subject with thousands of legitimate answers. One thing I think is the companies that are running the drivers into the ground. Another is the new "BootCamp" companies with rules of how you must act and how you must proceed and what you can and can't do while driving our truck and wearing our uniform. Sure there's some seriously non professional drivers out there as well who work for very excellent companies, but I think there is few and far between. I take pride in my work. I don't own the truck I drive but I do all I can to keep it looking nice and properly working including putting my own time and money into it. When I'm tooling down the road, if my tarp comes loose or doesn't look good, I pull over and fix it. Some drivers get into a bad company where they sign paperwork that don't allow them to just move on, that's another problem with the industry now a days. And let's not forget about the stresses of actually being on the road with ignorant "4Wheeler" drivers. How many times can you get cut off and break checked in a day and still keep a professional attitude? For me I try real hard not to bash skulls in with winch bars, but I'm getting burnt out.

 

Professionalism is trained. And no one trains for professionalism anymore. Not schools, not companies, not parents, NO ONE!

Its sickening, really. No one takes pride in themselves or their jobs. Or homes, families or anything else that doesn't happen in some virtual world stored on a server somewhere.

 

What happened...

40 years ago, they took the last old school Man, father figure off television. Ever since, on any family sitcom, Dad is trying not to upset his kids, and he is afraid of his wife. So, you have people now, that are 4 decades old, that have never seen the way a Man is supposed to conduct himself. You're a greybeard, all you saw in your youth were Men.

So, everywhere in every walk of life in North America, you see fewer and fewer Men each day. So women are dating these guys who think they are men but believe that the woman should take care of them and slave at 2 jobs while they smoke weed and play video games. Lots of these guys are adults living on their momma or in their grandma's house because they dont want to work. Straight losers. Well, apparently, these losers are coming into the trucking industry in droves. They may look like Men, but they are not. No self respect, no work ethic, no honor.

All these years, the NRA was thinking that they were going to try to take the guns. Instead, they took the ManCards and the cajones and the spines. If you're looking for change, too late...there arent enough Men in America.

What can we do to make a difference? The best thing, actually the only thing we can do is lead by example. Be that Man that you want others to be. Speak to others even though others are afraid to speak to you. Speak softly and carry a big stick (bad intentions) in the spirit of Teddy Roosevelt. Show women dignity and respect in public. Stand out as a Man. When you go to work, bring that A Game. As a Man, you are obligated to do so. If you agree to do a job, you go full tilt and do your absolute best every single day. When the time comes where you do not want to bring the A Game, quit. Dont ever start slacking or riding the clock or looking for ways to cheat your employer to "get even."

Speak as a Man. Say only what you mean. Act as a Man. Do what you say you're going to do. At the end of the day, reward yourself with food and drink. When enjoying the food and drink, say aloud, "Today was a GOOD day."

Luck in battle.

 

Amen

 

Check!

 

Let me say this while it's not my mind. Lots of talk about racism nowadays so let's simplify things. If he conducts himself as a Man, give him the respect of a Man. Race, nationality, age...whatever...it is all irrelevant if his conduct says that he is carry a ManCard.

Respect the Man. Respect his house. Respect his Lady.

 

Amen. Do these things and you could very well be the LAST man standing. And that is a good way to die.