Bruce Oakley Trucking (Bulk)

You're comparing apples to oranges - unless there's some religion I'm not aware of that requires its members to drive clapped-out Cascadias.

 

I’m not. It’s not an employee applying for a job. It’s a business wanting to enter into a contract with another business. Anyone has the right to do business with whoever they choose and if someone doesn’t want to play by their rules they don’t have to do business with them.

 

UPS Freight had this policy for a long time. No facial hair except a mustache, no side burns past your ear. If you had a beard when the rule was instated you were “grandfathered” in but if you shaved, you couldn’t grow it back. They used to have a no visible tattoo policy as well, but I think that was eased up a bit right before the buyout. I can see both sides of the argument, but I lean more toward agreement with @runningman0661 Thats not my idea of a work culture so I didn’t want to work there. Their name is the biggest one on the door so it’s their rules.

 

The facial hair requirement is about being able to wear a respirator. A lot of their customers are refineries that require as such. It is no different than if you roll up to a refinery and they turn you away if you refuse to shave. It’s a safety thing and it’s their call on their property.

Any of y’all bent out of shape about it sure as hell would not hack it at Oakley in the first place. If that tid bit sets you off, y’all would absolutely blow your top when you find out how they dispatch. Forced. Don’t like it? Bring the trailer back and kick rocks.

 

It’s not a respirator deal, that’s been covered, watch the guys on YouTube they reference nothing about respirators other than clean shaved and clean hair cut is how Bruce Oakley has represented himself and his company from day one, don’t like it, don’t apply.

 

Ask one of them for their required equipment list for end dump or pneumatic. You’ll see respirator quite plainly on that list. They can say what they want on grooming appearance, but if they were that steep on appearances they wouldn’t require a hood mirror to be installed on trucks without them. They started that to lower their insurance costs.

It satisfies their need to service safety sensitive customers and weeds out the more argumentative applicants. The image is a byproduct.

 

Last I applied with Oakley the recruiter asked if I had any heart conditions. I told him no but found it odd that he’d ask a question like that

 

Well because if pulling an end dump or hopper bottom you’re going to actually do physical labor. Get in that wagon with a shovel in a 110’ heat and muck that product off the walls. 75% of todays labor force can’t or won’t do that, they just want to drive down the road and hold the steering wheel.

 

Been pulling a dump for too many years to count I have NEVER shoveled product off the walls and have no intentions. But you are right most drivers can't do that type of work, their flip flops would fall off

 

I goto orientation on the 15th of January 2024. I was originally hired on the end-dump side but got switched to hopper due to lack of trailers. I've done both and always believed end dump was easier. Hopper bottom in the middle of July with a sticky load will wear you out. I was told that when new end dump trailers arrive I can switch over but may stay with the hopper.

You guys/gals looking at my avatar, I just purchased this truck and trying to decide if i should remove the top "air deflector". I'm thinking yes.

I live in Warsaw Mo., and although the end dump pays more per mile, I am looking forward to pulling a hopper again. Its been awhile, but off the "beaten" path is enjoyable.

See ya out there.