It's a Team's Life

Thumbs Up!

By Linda Caffee
Posted Jun 30th 2021 7:29AM

It is nice when making a difficult right-hand turn or backing into a tight spot and an unknown stranger gives you a thumbs up! 

There have been times when I have taken the time to approach another driver and say “Awesome Job”.  One that really sticks out in my mind was many years ago in Pennsylvania watching a guy back doubles a pretty good distance into a parking spot.  Having pulled doubles, I wouldn’t try to back them up one inch much less across the parking lot.  It was impressive to watch and after he parked Bob and I waited for him to say that was really cool to see. He said it took him years to be able to back that far and somedays he could back at all.  I think he was pleased though that someone noticed. 

Too often as women truck drivers, we demean ourselves as we are not perfect every time instead of shrugging it off.  It took me a long time to back into a dock as I knew Bob could do it better and I just KNEW the dockworkers would laugh at my unsuccessful attempts.  As a solo, I would have had to get over that quickly but as a team driver, we lean on each other’s strengths. With practice, I got over the fear of not backing perfect and not really caring if the dockworkers had time to stop and laugh at me.  Not many dockworkers have the time to stand around and laugh at women or men who are backing into a dock. 

It is fun though to make a hard right-hand turn and see a woman with her thumbs up as I negotiate with an inch to spare from the curb and several inches to spare from the vehicle making a left turn. 

This simple thumbs up reminds me to say thank you more often and to acknowledge a courteous driver.  When a truck or car slows and flashes me to come over as I have my turn signal on to out from behind a slow-moving vehicle I like having the ability to use my marker lights to thank them. 

The more we thank people for performing the act of a good job or going above and beyond such as flashing their lights for you to come over the more they will do this.  You get more with a carrot than you do with a stick.

Say thank you more often for a kind act or give a thumbs up for a great job and see how much better you feel. 

Bob & Linda Caffee

TeamCaffee

Saint Louis MO

Expediters since January 2005

[email protected]

 

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