What do People Think of Truck Drivers?
It often seems like media portrayal of truck drivers is completely negative. At a time when video is easily captured by truck-cams or passing motorists, most of us can recall more than one clip we’ve seen of a driver getting into an accident, or having a near-miss. It’s nice to know, however, that these unfortunate instances haven’t tarnished the reputation of our occupation or our industry—and that most people realize those don’t represent the majority of drivers. With the demand for freight and qualified drivers growing, and with more families having a member in the driving industry, public perception of trucking is overwhelmingly good. Apparently people know that we’re mostly skilled, safe drivers who strictly follow traffic laws to keep our workplace safe for us and other drivers.
After surveying over 800 respondents, a recent survey found 57% said the safety record of the trucking industry in the United States is good or excellent, and the majority of people (71%) think the safety record has held steady or improved over the last twenty years.
According to Truckers Report, “When asked how they viewed the trucking industry, 65% of the respondents answered that perceive it favorably, with only 9% saying they perceive it unfavorably. The remainder had no opinion.” Most people even admitted that they believe passenger vehicles are actually the worst drivers on the road.
What do you think? Do you encounter people who are appreciative of the job truck drivers do and think we do it well, or do you hear more negative comments from people outside of the profession?