Proper Driver Attire For The Trucking Industry

I do hate a tie. Haven't worn one since I got married. Plan on getting cremated, so not then either

 

I'm a slip on sneaker guy. I have steel-toes redwings in the ready. Put em on when it's snowing. But flip flops are a bad look. Each pair should come with a toilet water bottle

 

Sweat pants are one thing I've never worn. Not even at home, in bed, or the gym.

Never have even owned a pair

 

I like the guys who wear the flip flops even when it's raining out so they can get that truck stop parking lot juice all up in the cracks of their toes.

 

You know what I really hate? Crocs. They should be outlawed. Every time I see someone in them, they're ALWAYS filthy looking. Like they pulled them out out a septic tank or something. I can't imagine sticking my feet in something so disgusting. And usually those wearing them don't look much better.

Maybe I'll run for President so I can outlaw them

 

For most of my career I wore a company uniform, and liked it. Company gave me a yearly allowance to spend I would rotate what I bought. 1 year I would buy pants and button-down shirts. Next year I would buy coat/boots. They were good quality and slightly cheaper than what similar items I could buy in a store.

When I didn't have a company uniform I made my own, usually a button-down shirt, cargo pants, steel-toe work shoes/boots. Several times during Covid years I got let inside the building (remember when customers kept everyone outside because they were afraid of getting our cooties?) several times because an employee thought I was another employee or manager, etc. It never caused me a problem looking like I might be at a customer to fix the copy machine, fire an employee, or make next week's schedule. I don't understand the people that think their job is to dress like a hobo BUT STILL DEMAND 200% RESPECT. Why make your life harder or make it easier for other people to make your life harder? Half my family was affluent and prominent and the other half was not. I saw how the world treated people differently based on how people presented themselves. Everyone is going to wear clothes, why not wear clothes that make your day easier and not harder?

 

I saw most of them wearing formerly white socks with their flip-flops and socks were wet from the rain and the puddles in the parking lot and mostly brown from the filth of using cotton socks rater than shoes. Who would have ever thought that wearing shoes would be too much to ask of adults in 2025? I bet when we went to the moon nobody foresaw 50 years later the US would be like a slum in Mexico or India. I sure didn't.

 

I read there's health benefits to walking around barefoot. Something about grounding your body to the Earth or something. Maybe walking around barefoot, or in flip flops and dirty socks in a truck stop parking lot on a rainy day has the benefit of strengthening one's immune system.

 

I used to wear moccasins, I bought whilst traveling through Injun Territory( N.Wis/UP, der hey) hoping for a Native American epiphany,( nothing yet), but if I went on a dock, I always had my safety shoes. Not only were safety shoes required in most places, ever since a friend got his big toe chopped off from a dock plate, (had boots, but not safety toe), just common sense.

 

It’s probably no secret that I dislike having to use pilot cars. Most of them are too stupid to drive a truck. HOWEVER, I had this one pilot car, George from Minnesota, that was the absolute best I’ve ever had to work with. He was my steerman on a wind project. George drive this minivan that had been converted into a camper. He had, hanging in the back, 20 pair of the same shirts and same pants, ironed. His uniform. Not only was he good at the job, but he LOOKED professional.

I took a page from George’s playbook and created my own uniform. Black tees and dark denims. Plain black shirts. Plain black hoodie for when it gets frigid. The only thing that changes are the shoes. I have steel toes for working, biker boots for the motorcycle, grey suede pointed toe cowboy boots for more formal settings.
These are what I wear for driving and to the gym.