Honey Before Vinegar

By Dave Elniski, Transportation Safety Professional

Things can quickly get personal during a commercial motor vehicle inspection. I know many commercial motor vehicle drivers who feel like law enforcement is simply out to hassle them while they are trying to make a living. Such a driver is unlikely to approach an inspection with a positive attitude.

Is it up to law enforcement to change this type of attitude in a driver or other member of a private trucking company? No, not really.

No one has the right to operate a commercial truck; rather, such a vocation is a privilege. Since roadways are public spaces, commercial truck owners and drivers must adhere to safety regulations so that their profits do not come at the expense of public safety. If operators ignore the rules, law enforcement is there to do what it takes to create compliance.

However, an aggressive and accusatory stance toward a commercial driver can create feelings of contempt and distrust within the driver which can become barriers for future interactions with law enforcement. This is human nature: You can tell me I’m wrong constructively, but offend me in the process and our future interactions may become strained if the negative feelings are not addressed. There are times when protecting someone’s feelings must be a lower priority than other actions. Impaired drivers need to be removed from the road immediately. Trucks with outof-service defects must be stopped and repairs made before the vehicle proceeds. The public must be protected and served.

When a violation on a vehicle is less dramatic though, a kinder approach can be taken. After all, many commercial drivers are unaware of every single type of minor violation that may be present on their vehicle. Or perhaps a defect developed en route. Either way, these are situations where some compassion and understanding need to be communicated to the driver.

This goes both ways. Law enforcement makes mistakes too. Carriers and drivers who are starting the dispute process need to demonstrate professionalism and appreciate the human factors that may have resulted in the error.

There should be little to no adversarial relationships between carriers and law enforcement in day-to-day commercial motor vehicle law enforcement. If there is, these feelings need to be examined to understand where they come from. No one should be feuding over an ABS light violation.

Unfortunately, the trucking industry is full of needless negativity which can drag law enforcement and carrier relationships down into bitter and egotistically motivated disputes. And unfortunately, bitterness has a long shelf life. Fortunately, however, opting for honey instead of vinegar, whenever possible, can draw out the best in people. Through a positive and professional approach, I have witnessed many emotionally charged interactions end on a better note than the one on which they started.

Professionalism and positivity should never be equated with weakness or passivity, nor should aggressiveness and steam-rollering be equated with good leadership. Public safety and efficient logistics can coexist, and carriers and enforcement alike must always remember that these are the goals. n