Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/740514
58 November 2016 BestDriverJOBS www.bestdriverjobs.com Women In Trucking R ecently I was traveling along an interstate within a con- struc on area and realized I was merely inches from a driver pulling a set of doubles next to me. As I watched those huge res along- side my conver ble, I recalled an el- ementary school class about trust. Our teacher asked us to define the word "trust" and how it related to our own young lives. She pointed to the chairs we were sitting on and asked us if the act of sitting involved trust. In other words, did we trust the legs of the chair to hold us up? Did we trust the chair to give us the accommodations we expected? Until that point, I hadn't thought about trust in that way, but as I slowed through the construction zone with a combina- tion tractor-trailer next to me, it became clearer. I looked at that rig and realized I had placed my trust (and my life) in the driver, the carrier and the equipment. One dictionary's definition of trust, as a verb, was "believe in the reliability, truth, ability, or strength of." This was exactly the thought I had as I shared the (narrow) roadway with a commercial truck and driver. I had to trust that driver to be well rested and physically fit to drive the tractor-trailer. Since I am well aware of the regulations affecting the industry, I knew the driver had to hold a current commercial driver's license and had to have a current DOT medical certificate. I also knew the operator was subject to random drug and alcohol checks through the carrier. My thoughts turned to training and the proper amount of education and instruc- tion the driver had completed to under- stand highway rules, as well as those regulations pertaining to the trucking industry, like parking restrictions, weigh stations and idling laws. In reality, I felt confident the person operating the combination tractor-trailer only inches away from my vehicle was qualified and skilled in the role. I also trusted the driver to refrain from texting while driving and to not be using a hand-held mobile phone on the road. Although we've all heard horror stories of drivers who watch videos or other instances of distracted driving, I felt confident the person next to me was focused on driving. I also needed to be assured that he or she was in compliance with the hours of service and the logbooks were up-to- date, factual and in compliance. I didn't notice if there was a sticker saying the driver was using e-logs, but I felt as- sured there were no violations because I trusted the driver and the carrier. Remember, trust means to believe in the reliability, truth, ability or strength of something. By Ellen Voie Trust: An Integral Part of Trucks On The Road