maga:
its like water off a ducks back for me.they think I’m a [zb], i think they’re a [zb]. The world keeps spinning regardless and i just carry on and go about my day
+1
Silver_Surfer:
It’s not just drivers, people talk to everyone like crap if they think they can get away with it. No style.
+1
I’m so used to it now I nearly burst into tears when someone is genuinely nice to me:mrgreen:
I don’t get spoken to like crap because I don’t give people reason to. A lot of folk seem to be taken aback by a polite, courteous, well turned-out driver who doesn’t rant, swear, and moan about everything under the sun but I can honestly say that most people are like putty in my hands. It might be because I have a tendency to open a conversation with “Good morning Sir”, rather than “eyup mate”. Yes, even security guards get the “Sir” treatment. You may laugh or think “I’m forked if I’m calling some jumped- up little Hitler Sir”, but try it sometime, it works for me.
Try being nice to people,it works wonders for both parties. And in my case, it generally gets me a pot of tea as well! And what’s nicer, leaving a drop smiling after having had a great craic, numerous thank you’s and a handshake, or driving away muttering oaths under your breath with steam coming out of your ears vowing never to tip there again?? I know which I prefer…
Olog Hai:
Having seen how some drivers speak to security guards as a matter of routine it’s little surprise that the favour is returned in spades when the time comes. If I was sat in a shack all day and got verbal/bad attitude off drivers for no reason I’d probably adopt the same attitude that some of them do and regard all drivers as idiots. The number of socially inept cavemen driving trucks who are unable to complete a sentence without swearing is unbelievable.
Unfortunateley, i find this to be true. But i’ve generally found, thoughout life not just driving a truck, that when someome speaks off hand to you in a rude/abrupt manner that you don’t need to be all macho etc… in response. I’d usually just say (in a polite manner), “sorry can you just say that again” ? The only time i’ve ever had something short and abrupt repeated to me after that has been by a nightclub doorman, not a security guard or goods in office 
I know when to give up !!!
When stopped by the Police in Europe,i would open the cab door and greet them in their language,then a firm handshake.
A few times,they would not bother with a tacho check and say on your way.
I heard tales of UK drivers being fined huge amounts.
Did they fail the “attitude test” ?
Complete rubbish rumours of how they pinned armed Police against their trailer were rife.
In France,you get escorted off a motorway by two motorbikes with blue lights flashing.
They are Douanes or Customs.
They take you in to an area where they have a mobile X ray scanner lorry.
Sniffer dogs and a multi agency check point.
The trailer load is examined and the cab searched.
You learn fast to keep quiet.
Your route is asked.Anything unusual in the journey?Did anyone ask to use the vehicle,were you present while loading?
I’ve met plenty security guards who are on a power trip. There was one particular one in Edinburgh I called Signal as he was a tube with stripes. All were treated politely and courteously, I may not have liked doing it, but it made it really difficult for them to complain about me. 
LeedsChris:
Don’t get a job night trunking into Palletways at Fradley Park.Shocking the way they talk to drivers there.
If you go in during the day you can have the “pleasure” firstly of a jumped up ■■■■ of a security guard in the gate who thinks he is “mr palletways” and has a manner that can make you go from placid to murderous in 5 seconds.
This is quickly followed by a vile scouse witch in the office who cannot comprehend that you don’t know which shed every depot in the whole network load from so when you ask it’s as though you have just slapped her child.
It’s a delightful experience that I look forward too with a smile and a skip in my step.
Olog Hai:
Having seen how some drivers speak to security guards as a matter of routine it’s little surprise that the favour is returned in spades when the time comes. If I was sat in a shack all day and got verbal/bad attitude off drivers for no reason I’d probably adopt the same attitude that some of them do and regard all drivers as idiots. The number of socially inept cavemen driving trucks who are unable to complete a sentence without swearing is unbelievable.
This:
I used to do a fairly regular run. Most of the people I dealt with along the way were OK, give or take the miserable git at Sainsbury’s. I came back off holiday and met the driver who had been doing most of my work while I was away. “How’d you get on,” I ask.
I get back a long rant about all the miserable rude and unhelpful people he had met, and how did I put up with them. He also complained that I, the laziest driver in the company, was “cutting the job up”.
It would be nice if the only time we were talked to badly was something like:
“You ■■■■■■ coming here for £20 an hour…”
I think that would be my definition of “water off a duck’s back”.
Had some terminally sour-faced old boot glower at me through her bulletproof window only yesterday when for no reason, I said “cod and chips twice please”. She still didn`t smile.
Pimpdaddy:
maga:
its like water off a ducks back for me.they think I’m a [zb], i think they’re a [zb]. The world keeps spinning regardless and i just carry on and go about my day
+1
Silver_Surfer:
It’s not just drivers, people talk to everyone like crap if they think they can get away with it. No style.+1
I’m do used to it now I nearly burst into tears when someone is genuinely nice to me:mrgreen:
Amen, it is weird when you turn up & they’re nice to you, freaks me out.
Own Account Driver:
Not wearing this hat to work may help.
Gotta get me one of those. Think i`ll try searching for “turd hat” on e-bay!
threewheelsonmywagon:
I don’t get spoken to like crap because I don’t give people reason to. A lot of folk seem to be taken aback by a polite, courteous, well turned-out driver who doesn’t rant, swear, and moan about everything under the sun but I can honestly say that most people are like putty in my hands. It might be because I have a tendency to open a conversation with “Good morning Sir”, rather than “eyup mate”. Yes, even security guards get the “Sir” treatment. You may laugh or think “I’m forked if I’m calling some jumped- up little Hitler Sir”, but try it sometime, it works for me.Try being nice to people,it works wonders for both parties. And in my case, it generally gets me a pot of tea as well! And what’s nicer, leaving a drop smiling after having had a great craic, numerous thank you’s and a handshake, or driving away muttering oaths under your breath with steam coming out of your ears vowing never to tip there again?? I know which I prefer…
Well I do that as well but some people don’t respond to it.
threewheelsonmywagon:
I don’t get spoken to like crap because I don’t give people reason to. A lot of folk seem to be taken aback by a polite, courteous, well turned-out driver who doesn’t rant, swear, and moan about everything under the sun but I can honestly say that most people are like putty in my hands. It might be because I have a tendency to open a conversation with “Good morning Sir”, rather than “eyup mate”. Yes, even security guards get the “Sir” treatment. You may laugh or think “I’m forked if I’m calling some jumped- up little Hitler Sir”, but try it sometime, it works for me.Try being nice to people,it works wonders for both parties. And in my case, it generally gets me a pot of tea as well! And what’s nicer, leaving a drop smiling after having had a great craic, numerous thank you’s and a handshake, or driving away muttering oaths under your breath with steam coming out of your ears vowing never to tip there again?? I know which I prefer…
+1
I went to a customer everyone said was a moaner but I saw his Yamaha R6 in the garage and found common ground. He’s a reet decent bloke it turns out…
A clue to what kind of reception you will get is the “We will not tolerate verbal or physical abuse of our staff” sign.
I always greet people with a smile and a cheery hello, and 99% of the time I get a decent response, maybe not cheery but friendly enough. Nowadays if anyone really talks to me like crap, ie starts shouting at me or moaning at me for no reason, I say something. They usually back down. My stock answer to them is ‘look, I’m just doing my job and don’t deserve to be spoken to like this and I don’t have to take it’ and depending on their response accept an apology or walk away. My pet hate is being shouted at and will walk away at that point. Talk to me like an adult not shout at me like a kid and I’ll do what you say. Shout and I’m going back to my lorry to sulk like a kid and you can swing for whatever you wanted me to do.
Oh and ask how people are, at one customer the other week I did my usual ‘Good afternoon, how are you?’ And she said ‘oh, you’re the first person to ask today’. You get out what you put in. Life is a lot easier once you realise being nice is the answer.
You don’t have to look very far to encounter ill-mannered people, the wording of some of the replies on this forum leave lot to be desired. If you can’t be civil to fellow drivers then why expect anyone to be civil to you.
politeness works both ways.
turn up and grunt “how long’s it gonna be mate?”. They hear that crap all day long.
There’s loads of knuckle draggers in the job.
What’s wrong with “good morning, it looks like you’ve got a lot on, do you want me to leave it 10 minutes? i’ll put the kettle on”.
LIBERTY_GUY:
I think it all to do with ■■■■■ envy. Everyone knows driving a forklift all day or being sat in a transport office makes their appendages shrivel up to the size of a pencil. Obviously when they see a driver in the toilets standing well back and holding it with both hands they are bound to get a little ratty and volatile.Just remember these words of wisdom when you are wondering why folks are being unpleasant to you - it’s just envy…
Very good!! Made me laugh.
■■■■■■■:
Own Account Driver:
Not wearing this hat to work may help.
Is there one available with a big dent in the top?
After all, I’m always crapped on from a great height or not at all… 
