Tattoo Policy?

I would not give up on the industry just yet, Tcc_timbo. I see a lot of drivers with tattoo's. I would suggest that you mention it to any company that you are interested in working BEFORE you get to orientation. I don't think most people give much thought to any repurcussions later in life from a tattoo one gets when younger. When I was growing up most whom I saw who had tattoo's were usually in the Navy or Marines and got a tattoo while drunk on shore leave. I have a niece who got a tattoo on her back when she was in high school. It was an act of rebellion that she now regrets. She only got the outline and never had it filled in, so it isn't too bad. Since it is on her back it is easy to cover up. Tattoo's can be removed, but the process is very expensive. Any time you have customer contact physical appearance becomes more important. I would expect that you will find a carrier where having a tattoo isn't a deal breaker. You may be able to wear clothing that hides it while you are in orientation if it is a problem. Most of the major carriers have an employee handbook which is a polices and proceedures guide. It should tell you their policy on body art. Good luck with whatever you decide to do. Perhaps you could keep us posted.

 

My hubby has three tattoos, two on his upper arms and one on his forearm. Never mentioned it to any company and never had it mentioned to him by any company. They have never been an issue with any shipper or receiver either. His t-shirts usually cover the upper arm ones, but the one on his forearm isn't covered very often.

 

I know that Schneider doesn't mind tattoos as long as they are not obscene, or if they are as long as they can be covered. Heck my orientation class had a guy going strait to leasing who had F... YOU! across his knuckles and they still hired him, guess it's his truck so it's his deal.

-+

 

I have a couple tattoos and piercings and I never had a problem!!! I dont think a comoany ever aven asked me about tattoos or piercings!!!

 

Swift does not mind tattoos as long as they are not offensive, racist or obviously gang related. Piercings seem to be acceptable as well. I saw a guy at the main terminal with so many piercings I initially mistook him for a Borg. He had facial piercings and tats all over. Wearing a wife-beater shirt, baggy shorts, shaved (but tattooed) head...

Just keep in mind (not directed to our recently discharged Marine) it's awfully difficult to take someone with that appearance seriously. If you choose the radical look, don't expect to be offered the "gravy" jobs.

I do tend to agree with the grave digger with regard to work ethic being most important. However. We are in a customer service business. We serve all types of customers. Repeat business is the bread and butter of the industry. If you have such a radical appearance that it scares or offends our customers, they may be less inclined to call us back and we lose that business. In a large company, that may not seem like a big deal. But enough customers get scared away and pretty soon you don't have such a large income to the company, freight drops off and people start losing their jobs. Just a thought.

 

Regardless of what you do for a living, it is always good to present a professional image. Trucking is no exception. When someone pays a premium price for a service they do have certain expectations. That could include the personal appearance of the individual who is representing the company. Regardless of your personal views of body piercings or tattoo's, it is the customer who makes the final decision. My philosophy is to present a conservative image and you cannot go wrong. That doesn't mean you need to wear a coat and tie, but if you dress neatly and are well mannered you are probably going to get further than someone who doesn't.

 

If the tattoos were an issue with a company the fact the OP was USMC would probably get him a pass or it should anyway..

 

I don't think that it will be an issue with most carrier's.

 

I am probably one of the nicest most personable people you could ever meet, to steal a line from one of my favorite authors I could "talk the devil into setting himself on fire". Sure I may look a bit scary, and it has served me well on occasion(I find a guy chatting with my GF at a truck stop the other day while I'm getting our shower keys, she says here's my BF now, he gets one look at me and takes off lol). And I have several times in my 3 weeks otr so far had many conversations with receivers and shippers about my piercings (did it hurt most often asked question) and many convos about motorcycles since I am obviously a biker. Never really had anyone afraid of me that I did not intend to be afraid of me.

I will be getting some head tottoos eventually. I'm thinking eyes on the back og my head and grow some hair back there so it looks like there's a goatee lol.