Trucking And Temperaments

Pat M. has hit a point that I was kinda looking at touching on myself, but have been too lazy to post on. I'm making this post so as not to hijack his (https://www.truckingtruth.com/truckers-forum/Topic-12497/Page-1/single-most-important-trait).

When looking at the temperaments (http://fourtemperaments.com/Description.htm);

The Choleric is an extroverted, hot-tempered, quick thinking, active, practical, strong-willed and easily annoyed person. Cholerics are self-confident, self-sufficient and very independent minded. They are decisive and opinionated and find it easy to make decisions for themselves as well as others. Cholerics tend to leave little room for negotiating. The Choleric is a visionary and seems to never run out of ideas, plans and goals, which are usually very practical. The Choleric does not require as much sleep as the other temperaments so their activity seems endless. Their activity almost always has a purpose because they are by nature result-oriented. They usually do not give in to the pressure of what others think unless they see that they cannot get the desired results. Cholerics can be crusaders against social injustice as they love to fight for a cause. Cholerics are both direct and firm when responding to others. They are slow to build relationships because results tend to be more important than people. They do not easily empathize with the feelings of others or show compassion. Cholerics think big and seek positions of authority.

The Sanguine is an extroverted, fun-loving, activity-prone, impulsive, entertaining, persuasive, easily amused and optimistic person. Sanguines are receptive and open to others and build relationships quickly. They are animated, excited and accepting of others. They will smile and talk easily and often. It is not unusual to feel as if you have known the Sanguine person for years after only a few minutes. Sanguines are so people-oriented that they easily forget about time and are often late arriving at their destination. Sanguines get bored easily because of their orientation to social involvement, activity and general dislike for solitude. The Sanguine never lacks for friends. Their attention span is based on whether or not they are interested in the person or event. The Sanguine can change their focus or interest in an instant. Sanguines are competitive and tend to be disorganized. Unless very disciplined, the Sanguine will have difficulty controlling their emotions. They usually like sports of any kind because of the activity and involvement with other people. Their voice will show excitement and friendliness. Sanguines usually dress according to current fashion. The Sanguine fears rejection or not making a favorable impression. They also fear others viewing them as unsuccessful. Sanguines are very effective working with people.

The Phlegmatic is an introverted, calm, unemotional, easygoing, never-get-upset, person. Phlegmatics are both slow and indirect when responding to others. They are also slow to warm-up but will be accommodating in the process. Phlegmatics are by far the easiest person with which to get along. They live a quiet, routine, life, free of the normal anxieties and stresses of the other temperaments. The Phlegmatic will avoid getting too involved with people and life in general. Phlegmatics seldom exert themselves with others or push their way along in their career, they just let it happen. The Phlegmatic communicates a warm, sincere interest in others preferring to have just a few close friends. They will be very loyal to their friends and find it difficult to break long standing relationships regardless of what the other person does. The Phlegmatic tends to resist change of any kind without reason, other than they just do not want the change to occur. Phlegmatics show little emotion and are prone to be a grudge holder. Phlegmatics tend to avoid conflict and making decisions of any kind. They are practical, concrete and traditional thinkers. Their stoic expression often hides their true feelings. The Phlegmatic may be patient to the point of paralysis. Phlegmatics are persistent and consistent at whatever they undertake.

The Melancholy is an introverted, logical, analytical, factual, private, lets-do-it-right person. Melancholies respond to others in a slow, cautious and indirect manner. Melancholies are reserved and suspicious until sure of your intentions. The Melancholy probe for the "hidden meaning" behind your words. They are timid and may appear unsure and have a serious expression. They are self-sacrificing, gifted and they tend to be a perfectionist. Melancholies are very sensitive to what others think about their work. The Melancholy is well organized; on occasion you may find a Melancholy that keeps things cluttered, however, they know what’s in the piles. The Melancholy is determined to make the right and best decision. Melancholies will ask specific questions and sometimes they will ask the same question again and again. The Melancholy needs reassurance, feedback and reasons why they should do something. They need information, time to think and a plan. The Melancholy fears taking a risk, making a wrong decision and being viewed as incompetent. Melancholies tend to have a negative attitude toward something new until they have had time to think it over. Melancholies are skeptical about most everything but they are creative and capable people. Melancholies tend to get bored with something once they get it figured out.

Which temperament overall do you think lends itself better to this industry, which quality(ies) would you maybe have to take from another temperament to augment your own, and which qualities would you take from each temperament and combine to make the Super Trucker temperament"?

I myself am a combination Melancholic-Phlegmatic. As Pat M. states in his thread, I need to work on my patience. I too think I would benefit from worrying less about what others think of me, or if I'm inconveniencing them, and focus more on the task at hand and getting it done, but done well and properly.

Interesting post James P. --- I myself feel that I am a melancholic/phlegmatic type but lean more towards the melancholic as I get upset too easily with people, but find that I have patience for things. That is one of the reasons I want to give trucking a try, it is a challenge to me, I just hope I won't get bored with it.

Not sure what type is best suited to the industry.

Hey James:

Thanks for starting this one.

I'm not sure which personality type is the best for trucking.

I can say that I am also a mixture of Phlegmatic/Melancholic in that I get along well by myself but also do like people and the few close people I do allow in my life I really treasure. I am OK reading or writing books in the downtime and love audiobooks when cruising for hours down the highways. The solitude of the open road never bothered me. So, for me trucking was not a bad way to make a living.

Now, was I as hard-driving as the Choleric? No Way. I wouldn't want to be either. To me that's the path to burnout.

The Sanguine type would seem to need people around them too much to be happy as a trucker.

But that's just my opinion.

I don't know what type of person makes the best trucker.

It's probably a combination of all of them.

Bad Bob

Almost all my male friends are melancholic/phlegmatic (as am I), and almost all our wives are choleric/sanguine (as is my wife). Makes for some really interesting conversations at parties! Well actually, the women mostly stand around and talk like chipmunks, and the guys sit down and talk like the trees from Lord of the Rings.

Anyway, I don't think anyone is totally one temperament, everyone has a little of all of them and there is usually one that is dominant.

It's hard to say which temperament would make the "best trucker," because there are so many different situations in trucking that would require a different approach/reaction. The best trucker would probably be somebody who was exactly 25% of each temperament.

It would appear that I'm a mishmash of all those....does that make me a "complicated" personality?

Eh I'm a little of 3 of those yet not so much any of "The Sanguine" type lol Went thru and picked out what fits me best & closest of those 3 Those are the parts i fit pretty much lol And I try 99% of the time to keep my "get over it, move forward" approach to life

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The Choleric; quick thinking, active, practical, strong-willed ,self-confident, self-sufficient and very independent minded. decisive and opinionated and find it easy to make decisions ,visionary and seems to never run out of ideas does not require as much sleep,do not give in to pressure what others think. I am ME, PERIOD! lol crusaders against social injustice as they love to fight for a cause. direct and firm when responding to others.

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The Phlegmatic; calm, unemotional, easygoing, never-get-upset, person. slow to warm-up but will be accommodating in the process. the easiest to get along.quiet, routine, life, free of the normal anxieties and stresses of other temperaments. preferring to have just a few close friends. They will be very loyal to their friends, find it difficult to break long standing relationships regardless. patient ,persistent and consistent

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The Melancholy; logical, analytical, factual, private, lets-do-it-right person. self-sacrificing, gifted and they tend to be a perfectionist. well organized; on occasion you may things cluttered, however, they know what’s in the piles. !! (hahaha 4-5 engines tore down at once) determined to make the right and best decision.will ask specific questions