Recognize!
Posted by Karen Thomas on Sat, May 29, 2010 @ 12:44 AM
There are times, words speak louder than monetary denominations. In the transportation world - professionals focus on the numbers. Hours driven, hauls completed, money saved, money earned, accidents avoided. While a quantitative analysis are effective - and necessary - human capital can't always be regarded in the same manner. Enter - recognition. The transportation industry is one that recognizes its own - drivers, fleet owners, pilots, captains, and more. The trucking industry, one partition of the transportation industry as a whole, doles out accolades, rewards, and much more.
While recognition can be hard to come by, the trucking industry acknowledges its own and then some. Professional drivers know that driving a big rig is quite a different experience than driving a limousine. That beings said, the regulations and skills required to operate a given vehicle are different as well. As are the awards and recognitions for those that go above and beyond the call of duty.
Take for example the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association (NRMCA) Mixer Truck Driver of the Year award program. This particular program recognizes outstanding performers amongst many who must perform in the demanding profession of concrete distribution. The NRMCA wards the mixer truck drivers that can tackle the technical expertise to handle a perishable product amid variable conditions, but also a "can-do" attitude to withstand the pressures of operating heavy machinery - sometimes in the most congested traffic - and coordinating the many tasks required for a successful pour.
It's expected that a truck driver would be on the road more often than not, but like many professionals - once off duty - people head online. The internet is the go to resource for information and entertainment. It's a safe bet every existing industry is represented online to some degree. Trucker-dedicated websites run the gamut. There are trucker advocates though including Truckers Helper that monitor sites and recognize those that are a true benefit to the transportation industry. The Truckers Helper Award of Excellence awards web sites that meet its standards of quality and content needed to aid drivers. The rewards is a pendant that truck driving-oriented sites can then display on their own websites for marketing purposes and recognized industry credibility.
While many trucking organizations recognize their own, there are some that recognize people beyond the industry. The Port of Long Beach (POLB) presented six local high school and 17 college students with scholarships totaling $58,150 to assist them in studies aimed at careers related to world trade and goods transportation," (www.polb.com).
A simple pat on the back - sometimes that's all it takes. When it doesn't though - the advocates within the transportation industry are there for back up.