Each day it seems, I get asked the question, are you a driver? or, some drivers will say to me ” does your carrier make you wear a tie”? My response is simply that I choose to dress in a professional manner.
I feel it’s very important to make a good first impression. Most people judge you by your appearance the first time they meet you. I am an independent owner operator. Therefore, I consider myself a business person first.
Years ago, I learned that drivers wore a tie, Eisenhower jacket and neatly pressed pants & shirt. I had the opportunity to view this uniform in a museum. Years ago, drivers were respected and looked upon as professionals. Many of them had salaries just short of doctors and lawyers.
I decided to put together my own uniform which reflects that time period. Over the years, the customer reaction has been nothing short of “amazing”. How many customers see “flatbed” drivers wearing a uniform which includes a tie? I can tell you, not many. Office personnel would come out on the shipping yard to talk with me. One customer actually came outside his office to take picture of me. He explained that he never saw a driver dressed as nice. Word of my dress and professional attitude seem to make its way back to my shipper every time. I have been offered countless cups of coffee inside plush offices. Throughout the years, providing excellent service along with a professional appearance has created many new opportunities . I have gained a respect in an industry that often times looks down upon a “truck driver”. This proves to me that a little effort can change ones perception of who we are.
Driver reactions to my uniform vary in opinion. Some drivers think it’s “great” while others seem to find much” humor” in my appearance. To those who laugh, I explain my reason for wearing a tie. After they have time to think, some pause and admit there ’s probably benefits to such attire. I ’ve had great discussions with other fellow drivers regarding my uniform. On many occasions, drivers assumed I was a manager of the carrier. They thought I was responsible for firing a driver and was there to pick up the company truck. Other times, I have been dubbed upper management. The most funny event I remember, was when one day I went to a shipper to pick up my load. When I came from out behind my trailer, many of their workers started running into the open fields. These illegal workers thought I was ”Immigration Services”. On another day, a driver mistook me for a DOT officer. He kept apologizing for his illegally parked truck. Many times I’ll have drivers come to me with questions or answers thinking that I am a manager of the plant or facility. These situations have brought me many laughs throughout the years.
The public reaction to my uniform has been very positive. Upon stopping at a rest area or convenience store, I get asked “are you a truck driver”? Many reply that I don’t look like a driver. I always use those opportunities to enlighten the public about the good drivers out on the road.
In closing, here is something to think about. A friend just shared this thought with me the other day: One can put a large number of crabs in a bucket. If one crab tries to climb out to free itself , the other crabs will pull it back down with them. I know there are drivers out there who have made it out of the bucket. I would like to hear your story and how you are changing the image of trucking. I share my story in hopes that it will help others as much as it has helped me. Little efforts equal big results. I wish each of you the best of luck!
Henry
