What is YOUR definition of a "steering wheel holder"

I try hard to not be a steering wheel holder, but can't seem to manage sharp turns with just my knees...

 

I've refined it a step further

Meat in the seat.............someone who aspires to be a steering wheel holder.

 

My def of steering wheel holder was all they know is to keep it in their lane on the interstate.Dont check fluids or pretrip(just check mark the boxes. DONT WANT TO handle any freight. No backing skills,panic every time they see a dock.BS on their phone most of the time. Hang out in Truck Stops till the last minute.Never even open the hood,much else attempt a minor repair,just call for mobile repair. P... off paycheck in the Casino soon as they get it. JM definition but this is the type I picture when somebody says "steering wheel holder".

 

My definition of a steering wheel holder is a driver with no professionalism. Someone who is just driving cause they had absolutely no other choice.

To be a truck driver you have to want to be out here. You have to wake up everyday and say yeah I'm a truck driver and I love it.
It's respect for the vehicle your controlling. 80k pounds is a lot of muscle to throw around them roads and can be a dangerous weapon in the wrong hands.
You can't do this job the right way if you don't want to be here. If you take no pride in your job that makes you a holder.
That includes dressing the part. No baggy jeans, no gold chains, no ball caps turned sideways, backwards or any other direction. No shirts 3 sizes too small or jeans so dirty you cant tell the original color of them. No wearing flip flops and shorts into a shipper/receiver.
It also includes helping out a fellow driver. Even if it's just offering a helping hand even if they tell you to F off.
Respect and professionalism and pride in your job make you a trucker. Without that your just a warm body taking up space behind the wheel of a very deadly weapon.

 

The problem with "Professionalism" is that drivers are told they are now Professionals because they are in school to drive a truck. That isn't something you just get because you are changing careers. It is something that a person aspires to become and works each and everyday to become a "Professional Person". Not just because they drive a truck. It's part of ones Character, like Integrity,,learned, not given.

pro·fes·sion·al·ism

noun\prə-ˈfesh-nə-ˌli-zəm, -ˈfe-shə-nə-ˌli-\: the skill, good judgment, and polite behavior that is expected from a person who is trained to do a job well

 

Drivers aren't the only ones that lack being a professional,so do companies.As long as the drivers and students pass the background check they're as good as in.Companies treat drivers like puppets,robots lack of pay lack lack of miles ect ect.So why should the drivers care about being a professional when companies don't care. My pay at kb wasn't the greatest.Probably one of the lowest paid local jobs there is right at kb.But I always did a pretrip because I didn't wanna wind up on the side of the road low on fluids ect.But most the drivers don't they just get in and drive and figures pretrip is done when its up for service.Seen a few on the side of the road just for that reason.

 

Just because the company you keep, or drive for, doesn't handle themselves with professionalism doesn't mean you shouldn't. That is just an excuse to act as you please. Should we all break the law since there are so many unprofessional LEO's out there? No, I have to sleep with a conscience every night and I can sleep with no problem because I know that "I" do the best I can, not because anyone else dictates how "I" am. No offence PattyJ, that is just a cop-out. I kind of took your statement as that is the way you feel so, that is the way you see it. I hope I am wrong and that is your opinion about how other drivers may feel instead? Your right though, many companies act unprofessional and that is a shame.

 

We are all steering wheel holders, as far as I am concerned calling someone a "steering wheel holder" due to lack of professionalism, knowledge, lack of mechanical knowledge, lack of drive to go further etc is just plan stupid... The person calling them the steering wheel holder might be a little more stupid then the person they are calling that term... If your not holding a steering wheel then what are we all holding?? Certainly not handle bars, I hope your not using your knees either... As far as I know we don't have the technology for hand's free driving... From my stand point this term is a moot point..

Now the only term I think we should be using is professional and non-professional... Saying steering wheel holder just makes you look dumb... We have lots of professionals out there and we also have a lot of non professionals as well... Now what makes you a professional and non-professional is a debatable argument.. I don't think someone who just wants to drive and not progress in the industry can be consider a non-professional who cares if you want to just be a van driver all your life and not move into super loads.... I think a professional driver is someone who lacks accidents, has paperwork in order, make sure the truck/trailer is safe, courteous to both fellow drivers (cars and trucks) and to shippers/receivers and anyone else you come into contact with as part of the job.. Although I think you should have some mechanical knowledge (like change a light bulb)...If you lack mechanical knowledge this doesn't make you unprofessional, your not a mechanic your a TRUCK DRIVER.

I don't think someone coming from school to truck is professional it's something I believe you gain with experience.. With that said it doesn't make you unprofessional either.. You are in limbo pretty much until you get your experience we have all been there and had to do the same.. I would be more willing to say they are a professional then not.. Innocent until proven guilty right... So unless you prove your unprofessional we can assume that you will be until you have proven us wrong...

I see lot's of drivers I would say are unprofessional and I would have to say that most of the a-holes (in my area anyhow) would be the dump truck drivers.. Now I know it's not good to clump everyone in a big pool like this because it's unfair to the ones who are good drivers (I for one drive a dump truck and dump trailer on occasion and don't like stupid).. It's just I would say 8/10 are idiots when it comes to dump trucks.. They are mostly paid by the load so they are in a rush to get as much loads in as possible.. This results in someone who becomes unprofessional about how they operate the truck. Cutting you off, speeding, weaving in and out of traffic etc...

Everyone has their own opinions but as far as I am concerned.. The term "Steering Wheel Holder" is a dumb term because we are all holders of a steering wheel.. If you were to go up to a non trucking person and say "those idiot steering wheel holders are crazy" they are gonna say well don't you hold a steering wheel.. Then you would have to explain to them that it means they are unprofessional.. Why don't we just use the term "unprofessional"

 

I hear what you are saying Gov't_trucker, regarding the term "Steering Wheel Holder". It is simply a term representing those you and I call unprofessional, meaning that is all they do, for the most part. Other than that, I feel you and I are on the same page.