The Old days are dying and the New drivers only smell like they have.

I hear ya there Brickman! Holy crap... seems most of today's drivers couldn't back a Radio Flyer into an airplane hanger, geez.

I've had quite a few close calls in the truckstop parking lots. I woke up the other night when someone else blasted their horn because a driver was millimeters away from taking my driver's side mirror off. Now I've gotten into the habit of checking my truck and trailer over for dents and scrapes VERY thoroughly before I even move... even if it was to park for a minute to run in and get coffee.

 

Ahem... I do... and it's a company truck. You'll never see windshield wiper marks on my windows... EVER! In fact, I caused a mass window cleaning session at Saddle Creek Warehouse in Chattanooga yesterday, when I broke out my bottle of Windex while getting unloaded. The guy next to me decided maybe his windows could use cleaning... and so on down the line. My Windex stays right next to my seat and is never put away.

I don't see how some of these guys, with two weeks worth of ding-dong and twinkie wrappers on the dash along with various other sorts of crap, and windows you can barely see out of, get through the scales without being pulled around back. Um, if I was a DOT man, I'd pull 'em around back and make them clean the whole truck until it was spotless.

 

Don't say that too loud. Some outfits may start forcing their drivers to clean the rigs on their days off. I saw many a Swifty driver doing that on Saturday mornings at the terminals (when I was lucky enough to be at a terminal or home on a Saturday morning). Each taking half a day to clean his rig and shining all the pretty chrome on his, er, SWIFT'S 57-mph truck. Jesus.

If I got pulled around back of a stye and told to clean somebody else's fiberglass, I'd maybe do it. But that first time would be the last time. But maybe I wouldn't do it, and it'd get left there at the scalehouse. The list of endorsements a driver can get on a Class-A doesn't include 'janitor', just like there's no such thing as a 'lumper' endorsement on ye ol' CDL.

Quit giving your company all this free labor. Take it to a Blue Beacon if it needs a bath.

 

ENOUGH SAID HE IS AND REPRESENTS WELL HIS EDUCATION AND UP BRINGING. This is exactly what this thread is all about. Take it some where and let some one else clean it. I bet the inside looks real good to with that kind of an attitude. And i bet he even has the cut off sweats and wife beater t shirt to go with it. So young they start this and never grow out of it.

 

Sorry, but I agree with Tip. Keep the inside clean and presentable - after all, you live in that truck but why should I clean the outside on my own time? I don't have a lot of free time and they're not paying me to clean it so let them pay for it. If they will reimburse me for taking it to a truck wash, sure, I'll do that but I have very little free time and like to spend it doing things "I" want to do, not cleaning my COMPANY's truck for them.

That's part of maintaining a fleet of trucks. If you won't clean them or reimburse your drivers for doing it on THEIR FREE TIME, why should you do the outside? Sure, keep the windows, lights, etc. clean but scrub the truck? Shine the chrome? Wax the paint job? Clean the stacks? Why should I? It's YOUR truck - you clean it or REIMBURSE me to do it on my FREE TIME.

The inside, however, should ALWAYS be kept as clean as is reasonable since you LIVE in it.

If you've ever been up north where there's snow all winter, the salt and mud and sand and crap that gets on a truck - it's almost a full time job to keep a truck clean in those conditions. One 10 mile drive and the truck is FILTHY again, especially in fresh salt. If you live down south, it's easy - you don't have salt. The truck doesn't get nearly as dirty as those up here do. They're gross. It'll be so nice to see spring come, the snow stop and the salt get off the roads so ALL our vehicles will be half decently clean again. Winters are grossly dirty on vehicles up here. ugh!!!!

 

I am no expert, but alot of what the OP Muleskinner mentioned is a reflection of our society as a whole. Look around, these types of problems are everywhere!..... and I guess on some levels it has always been so, just not to such a large degree as now.
Did that make since?

 

My dad owned a small truking company, so I grew up around a bunch of truckers. All of them were nice guys, clean cut, wore western clothes. They kept their trucks clean, etc. They respected themselves and others.

I remember the first time I met one of the truckers you are talking about. I was 16 and working at a grocery store. A load of watermelons arrived at the store, direct delivery, not one of our compnay trucks. This dude gets out of the truck wearing swimming trunks, wife beater, and flip flops. He stunk like hell. Remember, I was only 16 and I just could not believe what I was seeing. I thought all truckers were like the ones that drove for my dad. I was disappointed and thought that dude did not deserve to drive a truck.

 

Pete
All opinions are welcome here WITH RESPECT! I do not know you personally but since you wish "represent" for a large group of newcommers( notice I didn't say driver as that is a title that is earned not awarded by trucking mills)so be it.
You handle things? Can't tell you how many times an old hand has had to back ya'll in 'cause ya can't blindside. Who's always on the radio 'cause they can't read a map or apparently even use a GPS?
Remember when you started jr. high and thought you knew it all? Despite what you may think or how many miles you got there is always something to learn. Maybe us old timers have to adjust to the tech stuff but I agree with hd2500lly about 2 years in the service(imagin that) . Son I see your from Ga. can't believe you grew up there and didn't get better manners(southern or otherwise). Someday (if you make it) you'll bi%^h about the way things have change or are you guys gonna make trucking the perfect profession? Not hatein' on ya as ya'll say just trying to keep you from haveing to eat crow down the line.

 

Not sure where I fit in here but here goes. I suspect I will be labeled "new breed" but we shall see.

Lets see... where to start?
OK. 16 years trucking with over 2 million miles. I can put a big truck just about anywhere, sight side, blind side, straight line, off set, parallel park (either side), slalom backwards around obstacles, figure 8's backwards? No prob!

I drive an aerodynamic truck and DO NOT wash it period. I will run it through an automated company truck wash but other than that It is company equipment and they can wash it or pay someonle else to do it. I am paid to drive. Pick up freight deliver freight and do it without hitting anybody or damaging the product. I have better things to do with my time than be buffing and polishing on a piece of machinery.

I actually hate chrome and the bulls balls I see hanging off of these bull racks. The reflective trailers and chrome actually reflect the sunlight back into drivers eyes and makes it difficult to see the road and other vehicles. I see a big fancy shmancy brick going down the highway and shake my head knowing that fella squandered untold time and money on that rig. Its a TRUCK fellas designed for moving freight from place to place. When it gets to a point of diminishing returns on that investment you should get rid of it. The customers could not care less what your truck looks like so long as you get their fright delivered on time and intact.

Now for apparel; I wear tan Dickie work pants or tan work shorts with a pocket tee shirt. Not jeans (thats dumb) as they hold in heat. You need something light colored and airy to keep things aired out on those long rides. I do not wear a cowboy hat nor cowboy boots nor spurs like some fellas I have actually seen (too funny!) I will wear a ball cap once in a while with my company logo on it but usually only if I have that "wild man of Borneo Look" going on. Nor do I have a chain drive wallet nor button down shirts with pearl colored snaps and epaulets.

For technology I do use wireless headsets but rarely ever go inside with 1 on unless it is an important call. I listen to all kinds of music rap, rock, country, even classical. This is called being "eclectic." I appreciate music for musics sake.

I am not prejudiced nor racist. It does not bother me when others working here speak a different language. If it did then I would take the initiative to learn their language (that way you can tell wether they are talking about you or not!) I applaud the fact that they are working rather than being a thief or mooch upon society. For those of us born in this country we are truly lucky. We did not have to make a choice on leaving our home country, friends, and families in the hope of finding work in a foreign nation to support your family. I say embrace the hard workers and deport the mooches and thieves instead!

Respect is a 2 way street there fellas. Your charming notions and antiquated ways are just that; "your ways." By disparaging the "New Breed" as you call them you are no better than the folks you are railing against.

Lets talk about smell now. Many over weight guys sweat profusely. No amount of deodorant will help. I have worked with fellas that showered and within 30 minutes smelled just as bad as they did before they went in. You guys travel through cattle country and say "yeah smells like money to me!" Same goes for farm country. Talk about a stink!

So you see fellas we are different yet we are the same. We both have prejudices against one another. Wether it be measured by appearance, language, taste, or odor (thats right folks you stink too) especially those ones [men and women] that feel it necassary to bathe in perfume or cologne and leave a vapor trail behind you. Thats right a VAPOR TRAIL that many with allergies have to hold their breaths and walk away or get completely out of the store to get "fresh air."

Lets not forget you "smokers" that pollute the air as well. But thats another rant. Ok fellas let me have it.

Hygiene is the only issue I think we can agree on. Washing hands after using the restroom, and showering regularly is important.