Professionalism

the SHORT answer to this is.....
treat others the way YOU want to be treated.
treat other peoples property (terminl, truck, truckstop, shippers) like you would treat your own property

 

Not a strange question at all. I asked pretty much the same thing in this thread and got some good answers.

You're on the right track with that for sure.

 

The basic rules of professionalism apply to all careers, i.e. keep yourself and your workspace neat and clean, show respect and understanding to others, keep personal business out of the workplace, etc.

I would add a special rule for truckers, though, and that is never let yourself give in to road rage. Other drivers will do stupid things. It's a fact of life for us. Shrug it off, let them go on their ignorant way, and relax. Don't ever try to get revenge. It's just not worth it, and can make a bad situation worse.

 

Be a safe relaxed driver and treat others with the same respect you want them to treat you. Let the truck work for you and not the other way around. Learn all you can and never stop. Keep you ears,and eyes open, and ask all the questions you can about what you're doing when training. When you're training take notes and you might even keep that practice later on. Like where to stop,best roads,grades, and so forth. I spent moths looking for this fish and chips dinner because I forgot where it was and I never did find it. Even how to load and items about the truck is best kept on record and not to memory.

Keep yourself clean and well groomed because you represent the company and yourself. Be courteous to everybody. You want them to remember you as being a nice person. No matter what always show respect to the bosses and authorities because they are doing a job too and your job does not take priority over theirs. And everyone has a right to use the highway and as a truck driver you must be a good defensive driver. There's more, alot more, but these are just a few to get you started.

 

All very good advice! Especially hygiene and representing the company you are with. Representing your company as best you can is really all you can do. Even if you work for one like mine which seems to get a lot of negative attention, I respect my job, other drivers, my company, and can safely say I'm in a coveted position at this point with the company, and I'm proud to be there. The way I got there was networking with the right people and selling myself and my ability and strong work ethic. I work hard and I am rewarded for it.

 

GasHauler summed it up really nice.

Basically, you are a diplomat/representative for your company. I drive for a smaller company (10 trucks) and we all do our best to create a good image for the company. If you show up to the dock in rolling garbage, and you jump out of the truck looking like garbage, smelling like garbage, talking like garbage, then the shippers/receivers are going to think you and your company are garbage and that will probably be the last time you ever go there again. ESPECIALLY when things are cut throat like they are now. We often wash our trucks prior to unloading/loading just so we show up with extra clean equipment. Every bit helps.

There is nothing stopping a company from going with another trucking outfit. If you make a positive impression on them, you'll increase the chance that you'll get to drive there again. Your boss will be happy because you're staying in business, and you'll be happy because you will still have plenty of miles. Some of the places we haul to even requested specific drivers to come to them because they really liked them. They had good conversations with them and were overall pleased with those drivers. One person can make a difference!!

 

I always show up to customers well groomed, look professional, Clean truck.
Remember never get upset at a customers dock even if its the customers fault.

Be easy going, its worked in my favor many times. (getting unloaded early and stuff like that)

 

Lots of excellent points here -- I'd like to add one -- Smile. I smile and say hi to everyone and try to be as pleasant as possible. I have been to shippers and receivers who had really bad attitudes (can't say I blame them seeing how some drivers treat them) and even when I'm met with a bad attitude, I smile, say hi and handle my business. Usually, when I see them again, they are nicer to me. I also make it a point to acknowledge people who I may not have to deal with, lumpers, custodians, other miscellaneous people who work around there. There have been several times that I have been unloaded early, unloaded for free or just had a nice quick conversation. I don't do it for any reason other than I'm doing my job, they're doing their job, we might as well be pleasant to each other. And, you never have any idea what a smile and friendly hello might mean to someone who may be having a lousy day -- I know it can pick up my day. OK, I'm starting to feel like one of those really perky airheads and need to stop it now. So I'll smile and say goodbye

 

that is an excellent point. I myself try my best to always smile and show some common courtesy.