The public's perception of truck drivers is harmful to the industry, agree the UK's top-three young drivers. William Herron insists that the image would be the one thing he would change about the industry. "We're treated as scum of the earth and it's not like that!" he says, adding that the industry needs to get the public on its side.
Agency driver John Glacken - who came second in the UK final - and CEVA driver Darren Taylor -who took third place at the UK event - agree. Taylor says:
"We [drivers] do have a bad reputation." But Glacken says: "Things like this [contest] prove that's not true."
Taylor is enthusiastic about the prospect of his sons going on the road - when asked about the lack of young people enter-ing the industry, he says: "They've got two more on the way!" But he says young people may be discouraged from joining because of over-regulation.
Scania's senior vice-president Hasse Johansson adds: "[The competition] boosts the drivers and the status of truck driving. I really hope the perception of truck driving will go up."
Reed Business Information Limited.©2009
