questions/observations of truckstop from a non-trucker

Yes, you are free to take your business elsewhere. Unfortunately we truckers are not, so we are forced to share TSs with these filthy animals.

 

We see the same thing, and it's quite disappointing.
I'll wash my arms and hands in the sink--nothing more. When wearing a short-sleeved shirt, I tend to get grease/rust/dirt all over my arms from the equipment.
Sleeping in a truck isn't always cool and many won't idle the truck overnight. Some people sweat at night, some the day before and are just too exhausted to wait 2+ hours for a shower.
I'll be the guy that looks drained and tired--I'm simply not a morning person. I like 10+ hours of sleep, and by the time I get to bed, it's usually more like 6-7. I'll be better once I get around or get working. Burned out? Often. Some of us are working 80+ hours in a week. Some just don't eat healthy and don't exercise. I've got about 3 months of facial hair on my face now, but I don't really bother shaving because 3 months of my hair growing is like 1 day to others.

Have you considered grabbing a 12V coffee maker from the truck stop? I think they even make those that'll brew a single cup.

Another important thing to remember is that when you're in there at 7am, I might just then be FINISHING my work day. We work a lot of hours, some of us do a lot of physical labor, and sometimes the truck stop showers make you feel like you'll go in cleaner than you'll come out. There's many reasons for everything you mentioned, I couldn't possible cover every scenario. I might drop-and-hook and secure a load at 2am, starting my day, and not be able to clean up until my day's over so I can make my appointment time.

The simplest two reasons:
-Hours of service regulations
-No concern with their image

 

Before I get into this. We all complain about this.

Some guys are just nasty...a lot are. But some guys have just put in a full day, are hot, tired, and sweaty. And they are standing in line in front of you...maybe to pay for a shower.

We have our share of nasty drivers, that's the truth. But, may I ask why you don't shower before you enter your home?

A truck stop is more or less, a home away from home for some. Allow them time to shower. As they don't provide a shower in the parking lot.

Many companies don't reimburse the expense. That's no excuse.

However, do you go over to your neighbors and ask can you shave and wash your face in his bathtub? So your wife and kids don't have to see you?

We're not going to pay $10 for the privilage of shaving and brushing our hair and teeth out of your line of sight.

I carry an electric razor at all times. I use it about once every 3 days. I don't shave every day. It breaks my face out, and I develope a rash which itches like mad. i can't speak for the others.

And the majority of us are tired and burned out at the end of the day/run.

Try timing your life around an 11 and 10 hour clock. See what happens to you within the first week.

If I bring a load out of CA to NC. And it's got a hot delivery time. I drive 11 hours...sleep 10 hours...drive 11 hours...sleep 10 hours...drive another 11 hours.

You start the trip at 0800 hours. By the time you are into your 5th segment of driving. You will be starting at 1500, and finishing at 0300. And you've been through 3 time zones.

Your sleep/wake schedule is toast by day 5 of this.

While the younger guys can take it day in and day out. I can generally run like this for a couple of weeks...and I'm done.

We completely understand. And the majority of us agree with you.

However, our job demands many things of us that you do not understand. And having access to a shower 24/7 is not part of the job perks.

A quick look at a truckstop guide will show you what I am refering to.

Look up Baudette, Minnesota and see how many truckstops are close by with a shower.

 

When fueling at most truckstops, the drivers get a free shower with the purchase of at least 50 gallons. At times, I have stayed at truck stops where I didn't have a free shower coming to me, so I paid the $6 or $7 to take a shower.
However, my current position gets me home every night. I may be sweaty and stinky and I'm not bringing clean clothes and paying for a shower just to please your nose. I'll shower when I get home.
Not all drivers have that excuse. They may be waiting until they get to their closest terminal where they have access to a shower.
Who knows? But at least you don't have to be around them for long. And they'll clean up when they get the chance.

 

I'll agree with you that I stink sometimes. I know that there are a lot of times that I simply don't have a lot of time to shower. By the time I've driven my 11 hours, I'm exhausted and I just want to sleep! Sometimes I'm so broke, I can't afford just to buy a shower. There are a lot of times that I'm not somewhere I can shower. My company only lets us fuel at TAs and Pilots. There are a lot of times I end up in a rest area and I reek! Its summer time and I have to keep my idle time below 40 percent.
I appologize for stinking, I don't like it anymore than you do! I've been out here for 3 weeks now, and I won't get home for another week because I have a family function to get to.....I can't wait to get home!

 

Of course, tourists and local citizens frequent truck stops. They are forgetting that the truck stop is meant to be part of the trucking industry's infrastructure. Truck drivers are in their work environment at a truck stop, and the place would not exist if it were not for diesel powered trucks in need of fuel and repair, if it were not for truck drivers needing big parking lots while they eat or sleep.

My point is that if these same tourists and local citizens would visit any of the extraction industries, they would see workers in the same sweaty, dirty, tired condition. They point the finger at truck drivers, but they have never been to a working farm, a mine, an oil well, a lumber camp, on a fishing boat. I am told that the cab of the typical locomotive is not exactly #### and span. It bugs me that tourists come out of an air-conditioned office, wearing a white shirt and tie, and they criticize a very hard working and efficient segment of our economy. And, they come into our "house" to level this criticism.

 

i would say that for a fair number, the truck makes the difference in the driver and the homeless. as for tired, dirty and burnt out, the trucker is probably the only worker that is sent out for weeks on end to unappreciating customers, by unappreciating managers, among unappreciating public, that seems to take delight in making our job difficult. only to find out that they just got beat out of their last check. i would say majority make up is new drivers, trying to make a living, and learn the ins and outs, before they go under.

if you think hard work has an odor, take a slow trip through amish country in the summer.

as for not having money for a shower, i wish i had a dollar for everytime i have seen a bullhauler sent out with no more than 20 bucks in his pocket, with the promise of money wired ahead of him. that makes for an aggravated, hungry, tired indivijual.

don't think i am picking at you, most people think the truck driver has a job that is comparable to every ones conventional 9-5 job. it just ain't so.

 

He may make the comment about the truck driver, but how about the smelly 4 wheeler that hasn't seen the shower for days. They can be quite rank as well.

 

all of this is true. everyone said something so true here. truck drivers, 4wheelers, we all have our bad " smelly " days. and yes, truck drivers do have more smelly days then most 4wheelers, but what the general public does not realize is that there is so much more to just driving a truck for miles upon miles.
the general public does not no what the heat inside of our trls is really like, and for the drivers that do the tailgate service during the summer you no how bad and how smelly it can get.
i do tailgate service, and by the end of the day i begin to STINK!!! bad!!! and the first thing i do is shower, i need to. look under " The Truckers Image " for my of this from me.