Portrait Of The Modern Haulier

Throughout the decades since the haulage industry became a fixture of civilised society, the persona of a haulier has been associated with coarse ruggedness, sparse intelligence and rudimentary people skills. Like most stereotypes, this is an unfair portrayal of that particular professional class, but never more so than in the modern day.

In fact, the haulier of today has even more reason to feel slighted and offended by the way the media portray their class than their predecessors from one or two decades ago. The modern haulage professional has, in fact, morphed – partially out of necessity – into a multi-faceted and multi-talented figure. Explored below are just a few of the fields professionals of this class need to be adept in to survive in the modern-day haulage environment.

Geeking Out

The long-standing stereotype of the delivery man, with his flannel shirt and permanent scowl of confusion, would likely not last a day in the heavily technology-oriented logistics market of today. The introduction of computer systems has been one of the most significant and impactful measures to come about in recent years, where the field of haulage is concerned. It has forced professionals in this particular area to become something approaching 'technology geeks'.

In fact, lorry drivers of today need to be well attuned to new software and hardware solutions and equipment, which are fast becoming an integral part of their job. Aside from the ever-present GPS, which can become a haulier's best friend, professionals in the field now have at their disposal resources such as online exchange platforms and smartphone apps, which do take a bit of getting used to. As such, the modern delivery driver needs to be a man (or woman) of a certain intelligence, or at least resourcefulness, in order to deal with these new gadgets.

A Matter Of Courtesy

It’s a modern truth that delivery drivers have also been encouraged to improve their performance when it comes to customer courtesy. The rough-and-tumble lone wolf often portrayed cruising down an empty American highway is becoming increasingly rare, with his spot being taken up by a well-groomed, corporate employee, delivering goods and packages to people's doors with a smile and a pleasant turn of phrase. With expected standards of service increasing more and more frequently, and with more and more outlets being made available for customers to complain, delivery drivers have to mind their manners much more than they would have only a scant few years ago.

It is clear, then, that the modern-day haulier shares little resemblance to the rugged stereotype portrayed in the media and fiction. And as society progresses into the future, the tendency should be for the gap between the two to increase even further.

Norman Dulwich is a Correspondent for Haulage Exchange, the leading online trade network for the road transport industry across the UK and Europe. It provides services for matching work for a haulier with jobs and to buy and sell road transport and haulage work in the domestic and international markets.

Writer and Online Marketing Manager in London.