Professional Career Development Report: Truck Driver Skills and Goals

This report details a professional truck driver's career development, beginning with a role-play scenario exploring driving experience, challenges, and required skills. The report then uses the Gibbs reflective model to analyze the experience, focusing on strengths, weaknesses, and areas for impr...Read More

Professional Career
Development

Table of content
Contents
Task 1: Role play...............................................................................................................................3
Task 2:...............................................................................................................................................4
Introduction.......................................................................................................................................4
Reflection using Gibbs model............................................................................................................4
SWOT Analysis...................................................................................................................................6
Personal development plan................................................................................................................7
Appendix.............................................................................................................................................11
References.......................................................................................................................................12

Task 1: Role play
Q1. Describe your professional driving experience?
I have been working as a professional driver since 3 years and have high experience with
different companies throughout my career. Excel in providing safe and secure delivery
according to the needs and requirements of the customers. Apart from this, as a professional
truck driver I use to perform routine maintained, cleaning the interior of the vehicle and
ensure to offer better and timely services. In addition to this, I use to follow all kind of rules
and regulation while operating vehicle as it is my duty to be well aware about guidelines to
become professional truck driver.
Q2. Have you experience any major problem during shipment of goods?
Tracking and scheduling are the major problems which occur during truck driving as there
has lack of communication among the two parties. Trip scheduling is about lining up the
transportation and make sure to provide timely services to its respective customers. These
problems occur due to multiple destinations of goods which create confusion. Apart from
this, paper work is the crucial problem which often occurs during shipment of goods as there
many invoices and dispatch notes which need to carried during the time of shipment. In this
situation, I usely take help of technology to handle problem effectively.
Q3. What skills are required for becoming better truck driver?
Communication and leadership skills are important to become effective truck driver as this
requires constant information regarding shipment to the respective owner. There are different
activities and responsibilities like making bills of goods, keeping time track and ensuring
about the deadlines. In order to manage such activities, truck driver need to have effective
communication skills to provide clear message regarding the situation. Apart from this,
maintain record of various activities during driving is important as this help in becoming
professional driver. Being effective leadership skill is crucial as this improve decision making
skills which helps in increasing performance and become better truck driver.
Q4. How much experience do you have in truck driving?
I have 3 years of experience as a truck driver and I have worked with various organizations.
Apart from this, I am well aware about the different situation occur during the shipment and
able to manage all kind of issue in a professional manner. I have well maintained record of

my driving career which will able me to become successful truck driver in future. Beside this,
I have effective communication and interpersonal skills which is the important as truck driver
to sustain in the respective job.
Q5. How important is safety to you while driving?
Safety is the priority for me while driving as many accidents occur during while driving truck
for any company. I always follow each law and regulation while driving as this provides
safety for me as well as for my company. Apart from this, I always wear seat belt as it is
consider important for the any person who is driving. In addition to this, I used to avoid cell
phones while driving as it is the major cause of accidents occurs while driving. It is also
crucial to be aware about speed limits as this ensures the safety of truck driver.
Task 2:
Introduction
I usually work as truck driver for past 3 years and become professional driver through my
hard work and skills. I get to learn from different situation and able to get information as
much as possible to improve my job performance (Doo and et., al., 2020). I am able to
increase my communication skills which help to convey message with my senior which focus
to managing job effectively. Furthermore, I have CDL degree which adds value in my job
profile as this is most required certificate to become professional truck driver. Beside this, I
have constantly work with many organization as this help me to manage effectively in
different situation and able to perform better as truck driver.
Reflection using Gibbs model
Apart from this, it encourage me to become professional truck driver and able to compete in
the market. The reflection is explained briefly by using Gibbs model:
Description: I came across various legal requirements to be professional truck driver is that
earn CDL by attending driving school. It include drug and alcohol test which is essential to
get truck job and also help in providing professional degree. Many organizations look after
different skills which need to be improved to become better driver. Through role play I get to
know about my major strength and weakness which need to be improvised to achieve desire
aim and objective. Hence, there is different kind of safety measure which I came across like
having proper paper work and should indulge in safe driving (Ji-Hyland and Allen, 2020).

Feelings:I get to know from the role play that, I need to improve my skills as there are
various jobs which need to be managed by the truck driver. There are different situation
which occur during role play like where my experience plays a crucial role as a truck driver. I
get to know that, every person has different perspective regarding driving job and it needs to
be managed effectively (Esquirol and et., al., 2020). Hence, I get frustrated during the job,
where my skills help me to manage the work respectively. I have analysed that, most of the
candidate have CDL in there resume but forget to mention different skills which are required
for the respective job.
Evaluation: I have analysed from the role play that, having experience is important to
become a professional truck driver. There are different kinds of safety rules like wearing
seatbelts and avoiding alcohol during driving are prohibited while driving. Hence it is
essential for me to follow such rules and need to be well aware about regulation to become
professional driver. I have identified that, having team work skills is essential in truck driving
as it require coordination team work. I have figured out during role play that, it need to work
upon my leadership skills as this help me to influence my colleagues to perform better.
Analysis: It is the step where I figure out positive aspect from the role play and able to
identify my flaws regarding respective job role. I need to focus on different skills and manage
to fill gaps by availing proper training and development programme (O’Brien and et., al.,
2020). During the interview I was aware about the certain goal like getting job and talking
about my driving experience. Later, I get to know that, there are certain skills like problem
solving skills and leadership skills needs to be improved in order to get the job. Most of the
company look for such skills as this improves efficiency as well as performance of the
employees.
Conclusion: I have reached to the conclusion that, having communication and problem
solving skills helps me to achieve desire aim and objective. During the role play, I get to
know that, there are different situation like importance on safety need to be improved as it is
considered most important aspect of driving (Morris and et., al., 2021). If I ever faced the
similar situation I will ensure about the safety measure like wearing seat belt and avoiding
any phone calls. Hence, these steps will help to me become more professional truck driver in
future.
Action plan: This is a last step in which appropriate steps are taken to improve as well as
develop skills for better job. I get to know that, there are various aspects which need to be

managed like filling skill gaps by taking proper training. Apart from this, I need to work
upon interpersonal skills which make me more professional in truck driving. Hence, this is
essential to manage all kind of aspect and improve certain management skills for
development and growth. Beside this, it also important for me to be well aware about all
kinds of driving laws ensures safe driving in future. Hence, all these steps will help me to
become professional driver and able to perform better in future.
SWOT Analysis
SWOT Analysis is considered as simple but helpful framework. Moreover, this is the
effective tool for determining individuals for planning their career. In addition to this, may
perform for a person in pursuit of its career objectives. Additionally, it facilitates insights
depends upon their personality strengths as well as weakness. Also, what are the challenges
they monitor to see ahead as well as opportunities are present around them in future time
duration.
Strength Weakness
 My key strength is driving skill that
assists me to accomplish my
accountabilities as well as enhance
productivity of firm (Stambulova,
Ryba, and Henriksen, 2020). Also,
with aids of respective skill I would
become competent to do the
transportation work in much efficient.
 Along with this, I also have CDL
license which is my other major
strength that boost me to perform this
role in much efficient way.
 I also have all knowledge about
several driving and traffic rules so
that I am able to perform the various
tasks such as observe and refuel oil
into truck when required. Also,
accumulate confirmation from their
 Leadership skills are my weaknesses
that develop problems for me while
performing my given task effectively
and efficiently (Newnam and et., al.,
2020). With respective weakness I
would not able to guide and lead
others in appropriate way as well as
accomplish those works well
developed way.
 Moreover, my other weakness is
communication skills due to which I
am unable to communicate with my
colleagues and supervisors efficient.
Also, it creates problems for me to
communicate any ideas and plans.

clients and many more.
Opportunity Threats
 Also, I would have various
opportunities as at present time due to
having CDL license. Also, this helps
me to gain opportunities into several
known transportation firms that
develop my career.
 There are various other options like
getting professional degree from
driving school will increase my
opportunity to work with effective
organization. It will help to me to
gain better job and able to gain better
future.
 The biggest threat faced by me is
huge competitions. As there are
various individuals who are focused
towards this professions (Reiman,
andVäyrynen, 2020). In addition to
this, the other threat for me is that
there are more chances of accident
hazards, physical hazards and others.
 Apart from this, there are different
other threats like lack of reliability
and unaware of driving laws cause
major problem. Rise in demand of
professional drivers has increase the
competition in the market. Hence, it is
essential to work upon skills as per
the requirement which assist in
making better future.
Personal development plan
Personal Development Plan
Short-Term Time
Frame
What do I want to
accomplish in the
next
Three to six months?
Mid-Term Time
Frame
What do I want to
accomplish in the
next
Six months to two
years?
Long-Term Time
Frame
What do I want to
accomplish in the
next
Two to three years?

Section 1 - My
Goals
What are my overall
goals that I want to
accomplish in this
time period?
Example: become a
Student Affairs
Officer; learn
computer graphics
My objective is to
become professional
truck driver in future.
In order to achieve
such objective I have
to set certain criteria
like working upon
my communication
and leadership skills.
In order to achieve
this goal the time
limit for this
respective aim is
from three to six
month.
I have to indulge in
different training and
development
programme as this
improve the current
performance and able
to achieve desire aim
and objective within
the given time frame.
Apart from this, I
have to work upon
small objective like
getting professional
degree like CDL to
achieve success.
To develop long term
goal proper planning
is essential as this
help in clearing the
objective
respectively. In order
to achieve the desire
aim and objective I
have to create blue
print and work
constantly.
Section 2 - Skills
and Knowledge to
be
Learned
What specifically do
I need to learn? What
project do I need to
work on?
Example: Student
advising;
Banner;
Dreamweaver;
There are different
skills which need to
be learned like
leadership and
problem solving
skills (Kim,
Dominguez, and
Diaz, 2020). Apart
from this, it is vital
for the truck driver to
be aware about all
kind traffic rules
which help in
avoiding any kind of
violation.
For midterm skills
and knowledge I
have to focus on
different training
session like having
leadership quality
which is considered
essential requirement
for most of the
organization. Hence
this increase overall
performance and I
can able to work
effectively on my
skills.
In the case of long
term skills and
knowledge to be
learned is about the
different safety
measure which is
taken by truck
drivers during the
job. In order to
gather such
information I can
avail data from
government
websites. Through
such planning I can
increase my skills

develop a procedures
manual
and knowledge
respectively.
Section 3 - Next
Steps
How am I going to
acquire the skills and
knowledge? How am
I going to do this
project?
Example: take
Dreamweaver class;
do an
informational
interview; set up a
project outline
I am going to acquire
such knowledge by
different government
websites as they have
vast information
regarding different
rules and regulation.
Apart from this, I can
improve my skills
which improving
flaws and drawback
in the given time
frame.
In this, I can take
classes which
provide me training
to become profession
truck driver. Apart
from this, I can
indulge in role play
as this provides clear
insight about the
particular situation in
real life.
In long term I have
to learn from my
experience which
helps in increasing
my knowledge
respectively
(Mumphrey, 2020).
In addition to this, I
can acquire skills by
analysing the
situation and try to
acquire such skill in
my professional life.
Section 4 - Resources
What resources do I
need?
The resources which
I required are time
and small amount of
money.
I require and training
as well as mentor to
increase my skills.
In this case, I
required time
management and
larger amount of
capital to achieve
long term vision.

Example: free time;
funding
Section 5 - Time
Schedule
What is my time
schedule?
For this the time
requires is three to
six month.
In this the time
required is six to two
year.
For long term the
time requires is from
two to three years to
achieve my desire
aim and objective.
When will I start? I will start from
1stApril
For midterm I
required time from
1stJuly
In the case of long
term I required at
least three year to
increase my skills
and knowledge.
When do I expect to
finish?
End of June To next year. It require at least
three year.

Appendix

References
Book and Journals
Doo and et., al., 2020. MOOC instructor motivation and career development. Distance
Education, 41(1), pp.26-47.

Esquirol and et., al., 2020. Professional drivers and cardiovascular risk: APPTIV
cohort. European Heart Journal, 41(Supplement_2), pp.ehaa946-3078.
Ji-Hyland, C. and Allen, D., 2020. What do professional drivers think about their profession?
An examination of factors contributing to the driver shortage. International Journal of
Logistics Research and Applications, pp.1-16.
Kim, J.J., Dominguez, S. and Diaz, L., 2020.Freight Demand Model for Southern California
Freeways with Owner–Operator Truck Drivers.
Morris and et., al., 2021. A taxonomy of dual career development environments in European
countries. European Sport Management Quarterly, 21(1), pp.134-151.
MumphreyJr, J., 2020. Strategies Road Freight Transport Leaders Use to Increase Driver
Retention (Doctoral dissertation, Walden University).
Newnam and et., al., 2020. Older truck drivers: how can we keep them in the workforce for
as long as safely possible?. Safety science, 121, pp.589-593.
O’Brien and et., al., 2020. Critical Issues in Trucking Workforce Development.
Reiman, A. and Väyrynen, S., 2020. Occupational Health and Safety in the Trucking
Industry–Current Trends and Future Challenges. In Engineering Assets and Public
Infrastructures in the Age of Digitalization (pp. 431-438). Springer, Cham.
Stambulova, N.B., Ryba, T.V. and Henriksen, K., 2020. Career development and transitions
of athletes: The international society of sport psychology position stand
revisited. International Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, pp.1-27.