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Images n representation or likeness of a person or thing. Impression people have of an organisation.
Attitudes n way of thinking and behaving.
It's the backbone of our industry.
How does the public see us?
How do we see the public?
How does the customer see us?
How do we see the customer?
How do owners see drivers?
How do drivers see owners?
The list is endless and won't be completed here, anyone of the above will break a business, and it takes all of the above to make a business.
And you thought moving other peoples stuff for a living was a "piece of cake"
Always, the answer is somewhere in between the extremes, the trick is to keep the balance. Our attitudes play a vital role in how these images are perceived.
Picture the old man standing on the side of the road shaking his fist at the B-train as it sails on. His failing eyesight makes him terrified of these monsters and his pride won't let him admit it.
Now picture the young lad on the side of the road making air horn gestures to his hero "the Trucker" in this "future drivers" favorite rig.
Outside forces play their part, and my opinions on certain sections of the media and their agendas are documented, but no greater part, than our own actions while we go about our business.
The other day I had been training a young man who is about to enter the workforce on his restricted licence. As I was driving home, I had forgotten to take the L Plates down on my vehicle and a truck and trailer came up behind me at speed, and sat on my tail for three or four Kays, no matter how much room I gave him to be on his way, his intension I believe was to intimidate the learner driver. I wish I had got his rego; he would have been given a lesson on intimidation.
The actions of a minority will always do more damage to the industry in a few seconds, than the hours and hours of work carried out by the majority. One doggy deal, one daft operator can destroy the efforts of a hundred good men and women. If we treat the people who we come into contact with, with contempt, the image will be reflected in the attitude immediately.
It's the little things we do that leave lasting impressions. My lovely wife had a minor traffic accident some years ago, (she was shaken but not stirred) and rang the company I was working for, at the time, to see if I was handy. The company immediately sent a high-ranking employee to assist in anyway required.
Another time, I was overdue; I'd had a bad day on the West Coast delivering a truck and trailer load of hay and as I came into radio range I called my boss, he was still up waiting for me, even though it was very late.
It doesn't matter if the company is three hundred strong or six men working as a team the attitude was still the same, "what ever I can do to make this situation better."
And while the attitude of the vast majority of people involved with the New Zealand Transport industry remains the same, weather it is as a member of the public, a customer, an owner, a driver, or politician, the actions of a few will have little long term affect.
But then, this is "Just an old truckers point of view"
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