Driver Ambassador: November Post-Trip Inspection

by Kellylynn McLaughlin, on Nov 30, 2020 2:40:46 PM

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Take a listen below!


As those in the trucking industry know, the Post-Trip Inspection is a time to check and see if anything has changed with your equipment since you began your trip and if there are any items that need to be addressed before continuing on down the road. It’s a time to reflect, assess, and plan what’s next.
 

REFLECT

 

At Thanksgiving, I have a personal tradition of acknowledging the important and influential people in my life by sending them a handwritten note of thanks. Many years ago I was talking with a friend about a key moment in my life of which she played a huge part…she had absolutely no recollection of that interaction that was so meaningful to me. I realized that just because someone was an influencer in my life, it did not necessarily correlate into their awareness of their effect on my life.


ASSESS

This year has been chock full of key moments! 

I have watched two people battle cancer with grace and positivity. I am so thankful of their reminder that each day is a gift and that we each have many people that care about and love us. Life may be hard but it is good!

My co-workers and I have “punted and kicked’ professionally this year as COVID-19 started its rampage. As I was traveling the country delivering loads in the spring on desolate and empty highways, it became even more evident to me that the role I was performing as a professional driver was truly “essential.” Trucking is the circulatory system of our country and I’m even more passionate and in love with this industry than ever before. 

I miss the truck shows, hanging with my trucking community, being able to interact with my customers, shaking someone’s hand when I introduce myself, visiting with people as I travel the country, and being able to share a smile. This will all return. In the meantime, thankfully the truck stops stepped up hygiene standards to keep drivers healthy, folks from across the country brought us food and PPEs, and the public finally “saw” us.

I am so very thankful for the ability to transition in the face of uncertainty among the teams that I work with.  While I was driving, they were able to help keep me safe and rolling. As an additional bonus I am working with a driver manager this year who is not only an amazing multitasker, has an uplifting sense of humor which makes a frustrating moment less irritating, but also has many years experience behind the wheel as well…it’s a trifecta of great traits that make for a great working relationship!

Additionally, I had to make the transition from an in-person to a virtual WIT Driver Ambassador. Just as we were getting underway with this initiative our events vanished. This meant it was time to me to get friendly with social media. Prior to COVID, I had limited experience with vlogging and am basically a very camera shy and private person. Thank goodness for the creative feedback, speaker training, leadership mentoring, editorial support, words of encouragement, and the millennial on my team or I am sure I would have just been video static in this virtual environment! The WIT and Schneider leadership have been remarkably resilient, visionary and professional. I am so proud to be able to call myself a member of both their teams.  I sincerely appreciate the trust they have in me to tackle new experiences with professionalism and tact while fulfilling my role as the WIT Driver Ambassador.

 

PLAN

 

How 2021 will play out is yet to be determined. I am looking forward to those pivotal moments that fill my book of life’s learning experiences. I am optimistic that I’ll have soo many thank you notes to write next year that I’ll get writer cramps as I continue to let key people in my life know the positive impact they have on me.   

In the meantime I’m just going to keep on smiling behind my mask, learn from those on my leadership team, work to raise up those around me, appreciate each day, keep up my glass is half-full attitude, treat people with respect, listen, spend as much time with my super duper amazing mom, and continue the conversation by ‘talking truck’ to anyone that will listen. 

Happy Thanksgiving and we’ll see you on the road!

Topics:LeadershipProfessional DevelopmentDriver AmbassadorDriver Perspective

About Women In Trucking

The Women In Trucking Association is a non-profit organization with the mission to encourage the employment of women in the trucking industry, promote their accomplishments, and minimize obstacles faced by women working in the industry.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in articles within the WIT Blog are those of the authors/submitters and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of the Women In Trucking Association.

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