we are all known as professional drivers, but do our employers actually allow us to live up to this title? are we updated as a matter of course by our employers to changes in legislation of do we have to take ‘pot luck’. any solutions anyone? :
I’ve only been in my job 2 weeks now,been out of the game 19yrs,but my employer appears to be good at keeping me up to speed…so far 
So yes they treat me as a professional and have already backed me up on a couple of things.
Simon 
all i can say is no.
had discussions with drivers and people higher up about why i use twice as many straps on my load, and arguments about why i would have to strap the same load on a curtain sider.
nothing at the last few places made me feel professional. attitude from customers - being shouted at to move here and do that; being told that my hi-vis trousers are unacceptable as high visibility clothing, and the lady then talking through me to the next person.
i have never been updated on anything, and had to update the transport manager on a few new things.
i’m glad for this place as i get all the important information that i need.
I’m curious as to how many drivers are treated as pro’s. most of us have done an ‘apprenticeship’ so why not be treated as the professional people we are.
I class myself as a pro.
Oh sorry,that’s something for another site… 
Ken.
were only called professionals when were in court , that way they can double the fine 
agreed templar, how many times have we heard that story!!!
perhaps its time we had someone on our side for a change! <img%20src=“{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_twisted.gif”%20alt=“:twisted:”%20title=“Twisted%20Evil”%20/>%20%20<img%20src=“{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_eek.gif”%20alt=“:shock:”%20title=“Shocked”%20/>
My rigid was loaded up on a new scissor-lift (for no other reason than lack of space) and not having had training on it & asked one of the dock staff if they could open the gates etc so I could check my load.
Why do you want to check your load - they asked, obviously bemused!
Cos I’m a PROFESSIONAL driver I said (in front of the boss) ! 
If we drive for a living…we are professional. Its what professional means.
Koop:
If we drive for a living…we are professional. Its what professional means.
I suppose it comes down to what defines ‘professional’
Is a rookie cop on his first day on the beat a professional 
or is the professional the cop who has been on the beat long enough to have see this and done that They are both in the same profession and one is more ‘experienced’ than the other but are they both professional
What defines a professional TM - the college lad with all the right boxes ticked or the guy who worked his way up into the job
Maybe ‘professional’ just means ‘to do the job right’
lol Rog , what the hell are u talking about , has it been a long day ?
THE TEMPLAR:
lol Rog , what the hell are u talking about , has it been a long day ?
YEP - see grandad ROG post
stay strong Rog your the teacher if you lose it were all doomed , 
"what defines ‘professional’ "
Thesaurus: He say,
[ Skilled, Experienced, Proficient, Expert, Learned, Trained, Able, Adept, Capable, Competent, Licensed ] 
reading the replies makes me wonder…who is ROG? got some good ‘toys’ and who is the walking dictionary!!! professional to me means doing the job and not letting managers/owners make their money by putting my lisence and livelyhood at risk! i’ve been trained to do a job WITHIN the remit of the law and that’s what i will do. Breaking it only puts money in the bosses pokey’s.
blueisland:
reading the replies makes me wonder…who is ROG?..
I think that is me…
blueisland:
professional to me means doing the job and not letting managers/owners make their money by putting my lisence and livelyhood at risk! i’ve been trained to do a job WITHIN the remit of the law and that’s what i will do. Breaking it only puts money in the bosses pokey’s.
Deos that mean that Professionalism is just sticking to the law/rules Would that apply to most jobs
By the way, I like your thinking
blueisland:
I’m curious as to how many drivers are treated as pro’s. most of us have done an ‘apprenticeship’ so why not be treated as the professional people we are.
i dont remember a five year traing period, i must have slept through that bit.
you’re a manual worker (labourer) with a license to drive an hgv
i’d never thought of myself as a professional until i came on the internet and everyone was telling me i was one
biggusdickusgb:
blueisland:
I’m curious as to how many drivers are treated as pro’s. most of us have done an ‘apprenticeship’ so why not be treated as the professional people we are.i dont remember a five year traing period, i must have slept through that bit.
you’re a manual worker (labourer) with a license to drive an hgv
i’d never thought of myself as a professional until i came on the internet and everyone was telling me i was one
How long should the training be if someone is to call themselves a professional
i’ve had 30 odd years training rog, but so do the “professional” class.
i thought engineers, lawyers, doctors etc etc, do a 5 to 7 year training period and then keep learning just the same as us.