Truckers’ Message For You: Chill Out, Stop Texting, And Have Respect

The New York Times just published another article about truck drivers:

Truckers’ Message for You: Chill Out, Stop Texting, and Have Respect

They asked truck drivers "...what they would say to drivers of four-wheeled vehicles if they got the chance."

They also published some funny and interesting pictures from inside the cab.

I replied to the author, Trip Gabriel, a National Correspondent for The New York Times, that I really appreciated the positivity in the comments he chose to publish. We all try hard here at TruckingTruth to be professionals and to promote a more positive and professional image for truck drivers, and it's very much appreciated that someone of the stature of the New York Times is choosing to do the same.

Who knows? With enough persistence maybe someday more carriers will begin expecting the same level of professionalism from their drivers that they would expect from their office personnel and our image will come full circle to what it was many decades ago - The Knights Of The Road.

We certainly have many Knights here at TruckingTruth. We're still outnumbered, but we'll keep pushing forward to change that!

Great follow up article to their last one. It's just a shame the people the commentary is directed at will completely disregard every syllable...if they read it at all.

Fatsquatch echos the sentiments of many...

Great follow up article to their last one. It's just a shame the people the commentary is directed at will completely disregard every syllable...if they read it at all.

I agree with that observation. The sense of entitlement has spilled-out onto the highways and byways, common sense and courtesy has given way to a behavior that is at times self-destructive and reckless, as if many 4-wheelers are in some sort of protective shield. "All about me". Most of us learn from our own mistakes and the mistakes of others. Can't say that is the case for the typical commuter...immune from any accountability as they routinely maintain 4' of following distance at 70 mph.

My favorite quote from the article is this one:

We would all like a little understanding and respect. I invite anybody willing to spend a few days on the road with me so I can show you what it’s like. — Garfield Cossey, 36, Orlando, Fla. Driving five years.

Amen. Walk a mile in another man or woman's shoes...

Who knows? With enough persistence maybe someday more carriers will begin expecting the same level of professionalism from their drivers that they would expect from their office personnel and our image will come full circle to what it was many decades ago - The Knights Of The Road.

I'm not trying to be an old man saying the world has gone to hell, but I think you might be overestimating the professionalism of office personnel. It certainly isn't as common as it was 30 years ago when I started working in professional office environments.

There are unfortunately many, many people in the workforce who have the attitude of "me first" and who work hard to optimize their situation at work without any regard to the common good or the goals of the company they work for. That is as true of folks working in office settings as it is anywhere else. There might be a veneer of politeness on the behavior, but scratch the surface and it quickly becomes evident that the attitude of serving customers first and providing real value are rare indeed. It is one of the reasons I became a truck driver. I can live those values even if no one else at my company wants to put in the effort.

We certainly have many Knights here at TruckingTruth. We're still outnumbered, but we'll keep pushing forward to change that!

Although I am a little salty from time to time, I absolutely believe in preserving and promoting this attitude. I was heartened the other day when I saw a driver who had pulled his rig off onto the shoulder to help a lady change a tire on her horse trailer. It was like I had been transported back to the '70s.

We all try hard here at TruckingTruth to be professionals and to promote a more positive and professional image for truck drivers, and it's very much appreciated that someone of the stature of the New York Times is choosing to do the same.

The New York Times has probably visited this site to learn the truth or for their research. As I have stated in posts before: This site is truly a GODSEND for ANY NEW DRIVER or ANY DRIVER in general to get the truth about trucking as a profession and a lifestyle. That is why I am SO HONORED to be a part of this site. Thanks so much to everyone here who takes time out of their busy schedules to contribute to this forum, Brett for starting this site and the other moderators who help you keep it going. Like I said in another post: I REALLY and TRULY wish I found this site BEFORE I got into trucking the first time. Brett: if you got that e-mail I sent you with my resume, you will see why that last statement is so true.

Bud wrote:

There might be a veneer of politeness on the behavior, but scratch the surface and it quickly becomes evident that the attitude of serving customers first and providing real value are rare indeed. It is one of the reasons I became a truck driver. I can live those values even if no one else at my company wants to put in the effort.

That about summarizes my rationale for becoming a truck driver. I am not "political", and have no desire to compromise ethics, integrity, and morals in order to gain a perceived advantage. True customer service and valuing a quality job are arguably and unfortunately fading fast. But like you Bud, those values are alive and well in my approach to this job and my life.

Bud and G-Town, I understand what you're saying completely.

Just a little FYI for you guys, Our fearless Governor in Texas finally signed the "texting while driving ban" it takes effect Sept 1st!!

Ive nearly been run over a few times on a motorcycle by someone with their nose buried in a phone not paying attention to where they are going.

I may be a pup in a world of big dogs right now but if I may say? It goes both ways for the texting thing.. I've only been on the road for a few weeks now bit I've seen alot, the amount of "professional" if they can be called that.... drivers driving semis down the road and texting is mind numbingly staggering and don't get me wrong I'm as attached to my phone as the next person but when I get behind the wheel of this 40 ton land yacth my phone is planted firmly in my pocket, not because "the company has eyes on you at all times" nor because it's my trainers truck but because it's the right and respectful thing to do... hell my misses and my mother run these roads too how many other people's wives, brothers sons mothers daughters and so on use these roads with us all it takes is one text, one second to look at a text and bam.. Someone's life is messed up or a group's lives are shattered... hell I was going down the big hills in West Virginia I think it was we passed this truck and there was a woman. Behind the wheel busy texting while going down the hills and navigating those tight turns.... I wasn't even driving those turns or hills and I was terrified of them why would someone add the distraction of a phone to that??

don't put all the blame on the 4 wheelers ..........do you know how many clients I go to and they want to show me what their 18 wheelers drivers text them as pictures? which is why I am so against 18 wheelers posting any pictures that my suggest they were taken while in motion leading to the smaller companies shutting down because of the effect on their insurance prices and the what you do not realize you the driver that did it gets blacklisted because companies see you as a liability

The New York Times just published another article about truck drivers:

Truckers’ Message for You: Chill Out, Stop Texting, and Have Respect

tart thinking that you a

They asked truck drivers "...what they would say to drivers of four-wheeled vehicles if they got the chance."

They also published some funny and interesting pictures from inside the cab.

I replied to the author, Trip Gabriel, a National Correspondent for The New York Times, that I really appreciated the positivity in the comments he chose to publish. We all try hard here at TruckingTruth to be professionals and to promote a more positive and professional image for truck drivers, and it's very much appreciated that someone of the stature of the New York Times is choosing to do the same.

Who knows? With enough persistence maybe someday more carriers will begin expecting the same level of professionalism from their drivers that they would expect from their office personnel and our image will come full circle to what it was many decades ago - The Knights Of The Road.

We certainly have many Knights here at TruckingTruth. We're still outnumbered, but we'll keep pushing forward to change that!