How does this pertain to the professionalism and Positive Image of the men and women in trucking? We attract and recruit new people to our industry from this same pool of potential talent. This talent pool contains a diversity of family units, including those adopted family groups. One of the most important things we should understand if we want a good professional image, is that we can teach behavior and thus change our negative image to a positive image if we demonstrate behaviors that are positive and professional.

In the early 1900s the general public had a positive image of most truck drivers. The general public understood how important trucking was to their lifestyles. This image began to change in the middle 1900s because those with a negative image started to do a better job of marketing their behavior than those with a positive image. At one time, the CB Radio was the latest in technology and many households had CB radios in their personal homes as well as their personal cars. This was a good communications tool and served as a means of getting directions and emergency aid on the highways for all motorists.

However those with a negative agenda and those seeking to dominate the CB with vulgar and disrespect, overpowered the positive image people. Hollywood picked up on this negative image and reinforced the image to multitudes. Freedom of speech is a great privilege we all have in a democratic country, but, did it go too far in the case of no governance over the language on CB radio. We certainly govern TV, Radio, News Print, and most who control these media have self-governing ethics in their professions. This vulgar and disrespectful behavior is not heard on Air, Water, and Rail communication systems. We need our own self-governing ethics code of conduct to guide us daily in Ground Transportation.

But behavior is not governed by any technology or tool. It is the people and their desire to govern themselves, and thus their behavior, that rules. So, how do we get back on to the positive image track? Here is a starting point.

It starts with YOU and me. Use this acronym as a daily affirmation of your professional behavior. D-R-I-V-E-N . D is for Demonstrate; R is for your Responsibility; I is for your Integrity; V is for knowing your value; E is for performing with excellence; and N is for Nobility of your character and elevating your self esteem.

Make a commitment every day for 30 days to use this acronym every day to guide your behavior and you will start to see positive results. You will treat others differently and they will treat you differently. The treatment will be POSITIVE and PROFESSIONAL.
Here is a starting point.