Anybody here who drives bare feet?

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by Gabe85, Feb 21, 2022.

  1. prostartom

    prostartom Light Load Member

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    I wear steel toe boots as I have to unload my own truck and never take them off until I get home. I am doing several stops a day, so obviously it's different then over the road trucking.

    My company has a uniform policy but it's not really enforced, most of the drivers just wear what they want. But I like to stick to it as I believe it does show some professionalism.

    About 5 years ago my company decided to partner with a much larger company to sell there products to our customers. I got the honor of being the 1st driver to stop and load at this new partner company. I got there about 1pm and as it was busy season there was quite a few trucks packed into the dirt lot.

    I checked in at shipping office and they immediately gave me a dock to back into, a couple of minutes later the owners son came out to greet me and talk about how the pickups were going to go today and in the future.

    After we got through the procedures we were just standing by my truck shooting the wind when this other truck driver comes walking up. He was wearing a wife beater t-shirt, gym shorts, and flip flops and spoke with a thick foreign accent.

    He proceeded to give the son of the owner a ton of grief about having to wait several hours and he was not happy that I just got there and already was being loaded. He chewed that guy out for a good couple of minutes all the while the owners son just kept nodding with a little smirk on his face.

    After Mr. Flip Flops was done the owners son assured him they were doing the best they could and it was busy season so some waiting was to be expected and he would be out of there soon.

    As I was standing there in my steel toe boots, khaki pants and collared company shirt I said "It's really hard to take a driver wearing flip flops seriously." The owners son said "Ain't that the truth."

    Now I don't know if having a more professional appearance would have helped, but I surely couldn't see how it would have hurt.
     
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  3. Gabe85

    Gabe85 Light Load Member

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    I am just nervous that my trainer will surely find out that I am suffering from peripheral neuropathy and he/she will see my "limitations", and then he could tell the company about it. I don't think I have any limitations, but people have opinion you know. Not many people are accommodating and forgiving
     
  4. TravR1

    TravR1 Road Train Member

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    I was just posting for general consesus. You do you. But obviously don't walk into the customer's office barefoot, or with flipflops. LOL. And don't put your feet up on the dashboard. Be professional.

    I don't like stinky feet smell in my shoes either. So I wont wear my boots any longer than I have to. And whether or not I wear shoes while driving has no impact at all about how I drive.
     
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  5. TravR1

    TravR1 Road Train Member

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    You don't say anything about it and you do what you do normally. I didn't wear shoes while driving during training and nothing was said. If you know you can drive safely then that's what matters.

    If you cant drive safely then that's also on you to make the call and get off the road. You know which is which deep down.
     
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  6. Gabe85

    Gabe85 Light Load Member

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    I am 100% confident I can drive safely without wearing shoes, I have been doing this for years. I had a 1500 mile drive last week in my car.
     
  7. gentleroger

    gentleroger Road Train Member

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    So long as you informed whomever did your dot physical, you're fine.

    If the company you're going with has a footwear policy, aquire compliant footwear ahead of time so you can break them in.

    You can and should broach the topic with your trainer and see what he says, but expect to wear shoes while in training.
     
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  8. Gabe85

    Gabe85 Light Load Member

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    I did eight hundred miles out of that 1500 in one go, with Gabapentin in my system, I had no problems , no drowsiness no nothing
     
  9. Gabe85

    Gabe85 Light Load Member

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    I got my learner's permit, next week I'm going to Concentra for dot physical. I will honestly tell them about everything
     
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  10. supergreatguy

    supergreatguy Road Train Member

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    hahahahahahaha needs an update on his programming
     
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  11. JolliRoger

    JolliRoger Road Train Member

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    That is why it is more likely. Good times have a way of building up; self confidence increases, and bang it happens. You are riding barefoot for a fall.
     
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