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As I was traveling to Dallas to attend the Great American Truck Show, I observed many children who along with their parents were preparing for the new school year.  In some states, school has already begun and for others it will soon begin.

You probably remember what it was like to begin the new school year as a child.  Remember the new clothes and the new pencils, crayons, books, and new teacher.  Some of your friends would be in your class again this year and others will have moved on to different parts of the country.  Those years sure leave us with many memories, some good and some not so good.  

So, as I was listening and observing this back to school behavior, I repeatedly heard how important role models were to these young children.  Good Parents certainly are number one on the list.  But, I also heard a great deal about positive credit toward the teachers.  One thing that surprised me a little was how often the youngest of the children would see a big truck and identify this big truck to their parents.  Their parents would respond that yes indeed that is a big truck.   Big trucks have BIG impressions on our children.  What I did not hear were comments about the truck driver and how vitally important these men and women are to our children returning to school because they deliver all those school supplies.   I was hoping to hear that the men and women to drive and operate these big trucks think about the safety of these children when they are walking on sidewalks, riding their bicycles, riding in school buses or in personal family vehicles.  I was hoping to hear that when the children saw a big truck that they had experienced the big truck driver waving or blowing the air horn in a friendly acknowledgement to the children.  The children certainly are looking up at the driver whether they are walking, riding, or standing.  ShouldnÕt we give them reason to look up to us as role models and as image driven professionals?  After all, several professional drivers participate in the Truck Driver Buddy program and certainly have children and grandchildren of their own.  Their children should be able to walk proud of their parentsÕ professions.  The students and teachers who have corresponded with these professionals sing praises and have learned a great deal.  Kids are extremely impressionable-negatively or positively.  The choice is our societyÕs.  We can choose to bring about a positive outlook with daily affirmations and examples or continue to allow children to draw their own conclusion through experience; which leaves a lot up to chance.  As our future, I donÕt want to leave their experiences to chance.

Unfortunately, when one of these truck drivers operates their Big Truck in an unsafe manner like tailgating, unsafe lane changes, or unsafe passing of these other vehicles, the operator of that other vehicle will certainly make negative comments.  They will not comment about the BAD BIG TRUCK , but will comment about the BAD BIG TRUCK DRIVER and the children will hear, listen, and comprehend that maybe all of these people in the Big Trucks are BAD.   Children are impressionable, so shouldnÕt we impress upon them how important it is to be an operator driver of a BIG TRUCK.

As truck drivers and people in the trucking industry, we need to demonstrate our Professionalism by showing responsibility, integrity, value, excellence, and nobility so that the parents and the children will understand how important it is to be a BIG TRUCK DRIVER in the BIG TRUCK.   Please think about this daily as you perform your role and are observed by our children and their parents. What do you think?

Please send comment to jks@dnaofcommerce.com
Contributing Writer, Joseph Simons, President and Founder of the DNA of Commerce Com   He founded the organization to elevate the image of the men and women of trucking.  Listen to him on Sirius Satellite Radio each Monday morning as he talks and listens to drivers all over the US and Canada.  He studies our trucking industry and other industries for possible solutions to understand how the trucking industry can improve upon its image.  He knows that it must start with the people and some people programs in order to affect the positive change. 

His website address: www.dnaofcommerce.com and contact by email: jks@dnaofcommerce.com  with  comments or suggestions.