Minimizing Exposure to DOT Legally?

Dress professionally, wth????

Is this like one of those things where the City of Los Angeles (don't know about others, but this one I've personally seen) has an actual specific separate ticket form for citing cab drivers that includes checkmark options for fining them for non-collared shirts or unapproved footwear?


Cause that's some freaking bs and frankly baffling how that's legal

 

Long ago when Santa needed to build truckers, one of his spec sheets stated that it is required to have a foot of almost expired paperwork lining that dash.

Those who cannot stand paper lined dashes worked at being a pretty boy of sorts lining velvet, hanging dice and so on.

 

Wear pants, a long sleeved shirt and wear boots. This will minimize your exposure to the DOT, and skin cancer from sunlight.

 

My truck is pretty much spotless inside, but sorry, my dash is my snack area, lol.

 

No way no how. I drive all day! Why not be comfortable? I never get pulled in. I'm jinxing myself probably but it's been a year. Clean truck and I have a few ideas but it doesn't matter what you're wearing.

I wear shorts and a black T-shirt every day. I wear flip flops or Crocs on long drives and have socks and shoes beside my seat which go on in about 10 seconds if I need to get out at a shipper, bad weather, scale house, funky truck stop, etc. Black T-shirt should be every trucker's uniform. Every one I have that isn't black gets grease and coffee stains on it.

I'm not going to argue choice of clothing or footwear here because so many have such weird opinions on this but I'll say this. There are lots of types of trucking and that makes a difference. If I were oilfield, line haul, flatbed or something sure I would wear boots or better shoes. For OTR long days on the road? Whatever is most comfortable.

Here are my tips for avoiding scalehouses:

- Clean truck and dash
- Easy to read legible numbers and stickers (IFTA, ELD, etc.)
- Roll down windows as soon as I hit the exit unless it's pouring rain. The cameras are looking long before you get to the scale. Make yourself visible and alert.
- Take the headset off, end or put the call on hold
- Make eye contact/wave and move your head around as you go through. Look like you give a #### about the situation.

 

Tell us about the appearance of your truck?

 

Drive at night. Start at 1am drive make delivery. Get loaded, park repeat. Use trucker app to figure out where scales are at. Park before them. Keep your truck up to spec of course. Get an apu so you can sleep in the south.

 

Sarcasm went right past you.