As a truck driver, your appearance says a lot about what kind of person you are, and not only that, it also says what kind of driver you are. They say don’t judge a book by its cover but guess what, the reality is, we all judge everybody that we come across. From the time we wake up to the time we go back to sleep, subconsciously we have criticized and analyzed everybody that we have met for the first time.
Our eyeballs do more than just see, they make decisions, they think and use information on and off the road, not like all the other senses. The broad explanation for why looks matter so much is that certain appearances have benefited humans since the beginning of time. By looking at someone you can tell if they seem sick or healthy and you can also tell if they seem aggressive or approachable.
Whether it’s at the truck stop, restaurants, at the shippers office, we all have our first thoughts when we look at another person. We only get a first impression, one chance, one opportunity before we get judged on our appearances. That’s just human nature, to critique what we see. Every time we look at another truck driver, we tend to give a quick 3 second evaluation about them. How they dress, how they stand, how they carry themselves. We do it every single time at the fuel island. I probably do it way more than other drivers since I now do it consciously but I remember doing it not thinking anything about it, I would just carry on with fueling.
When we see a truck parked at the truck stop, or anywhere for that matter, we pick out what we like and what we don’t like about that truck. We try to change the appearance of it. The make and model, The color of it, the wheels, or maybe we even try to envision how it would look with different sets of stacks. The way we look at an international lt625 is way different than how we look at a white peterbilt 389. Both are useful for their purposes but one is more appealing to the eye than the other one. It’s not that different how we look at other drivers. We truck drivers are all part of the driving force that moves America forward but are looked at differently in the micro point of view. Whether you like it or not, we judge and get judged every single day. consciously we don’t know it but subconsciously, it’s there. First impressions are everything to me. You can tell a lot about a person from purely the first interaction. Whether the first interaction is physically (looking at their appearance) or verbally (talking to someone over the phone).
One of the most important things you have to do when going for a job interview is what? Look presentable. If you look like you’ve been through the mud, and they still hire you, that tells you a lot about the company you’re going to work for. I can think of several companies that as long as you have a pulse, you’re going to get hired, but that is not where you want to work at. Is it a good or bad thing that we are like that? Idk but the fact of the matter is that we are. It is not until we have familiarized ourselves with the other person that our opinions might start to change about them.
When we first meet somebody new, We start to have thoughts in the back of our heads like, does this person have good or bad intentions, why do they smell like, that’s a nice lookin shirt or he got some cool shoes. Look I know it might seem like I’m going a little too far on the deep on appearance but we have thought like that since the beginning of time. Back when there weren’t any cities, only villages, you had to be on high alert when it came to meeting a stranger. It is in our biological genes to have the same tendencies in the current age as we did back then. Just because we are more civilized doesn’t mean we have a completely new set of DNA. Most first impressions from truck drivers are not good ones. Just look around you. You don’t have to go searching for it. Next time you’re anywhere with truck drivers around, just think to yourself. How well do they carry and present themselves?
The thing about wearing uniforms, is that it’s a little bit harder to give an accurate first assessment of how someone really is, and even then, somehow people manage to screw that one up. But since 95% of truck drivers don’t wear uniforms, their self trueness shows through their appearance. And I like to live by “how you do anything is how you do everything” – Martha Beck.
So the question is does your appearance matter as a truck driver? I say yes but my guess is with most newer drivers, the answer would be no. According to a poll done by me in my head, new truck drivers have the following to say. “as long as we are completing the load in a timely manner, what does appearance have to do with anything?” good question and my response is “When you appear well dressed and groomed, and look more appropriate for the job, you tend to act more secure about yourself, get along better with other drivers, especially while driving on the interstate, you’ll start to make more competent decisions that can either alter your life or the life of others, and naturally your going to want to do your best overall”.
When I used to work in the oilfield, they always used to tell us, “the roads are the most dangerous part of the job”. It’s not that different over the road. Can your appearance really make you a better, enhanced observant driver while being on the highway? Run my foot over if I’m wrong but I truly do believe so. Let’s put it to the test real quick. Let’s use our brain. Something truck drivers don’t generally use so I know it might be a little hard for you. Close your eyes if you’re not driving, keep them open if you are. I want you to visually picture a truck driver having road rage on the interstate. What are your first thoughts that come to mind about the driver? Is he overweight? Is he groomed? Is he well dressed? What does the inside of his truck look like? Are there piss bottles everywhere? Trash under the seats? Try to imagine what the inside of the cab smells like.
Whatever came to mind, I can almost guarantee you didn’t think of a truck driver that cares about his appearance. Does that mean you have to look like Chad out here on the road? Does that mean you have to Be dressed like you work for corporate america? no, but what that does mean is, a little bit of selfcare goes a long way.
“We do not see people as they are, but as they appear to us” Robert Green
“Appearances are a glimpse of the unseen” Anaxagoras