Marten Transport is a piece of work

If I owned a trucking company, I would fire anyone who smoked in the truck. Cigarette smoke fouls up the whole interior, and even damages the air conditioning.
Of course these OTR outfits don't care because:
1. The owners & office people don't have to live in the trucks.
2. 99% of truck drivers smoke, so they wouldn't have any drivers.
3. They don't give a #### about the drivers anyway.

 

I wonder where you get the statistic of 99% of truck drivers smoke?

I would say it is less than half. Most non smokers refrain from smoking areas.

 

You all, always give your opinion! I hope everyone understands when they read these, it is the persons opinion! I liked and agreed with most of your post but I believe it is not a one all solution! I am very professional, I have not encountered a handful of drivers that are more professional than me, However I have quit a few times with a letter and quit the next day/same day, You have to protect yourself and look out for yourself! I've seen lots of guys get screwed in there last 2 weeks of employment, sometimes things get explosive depending on the situations/people involved! I'm very tolerable of people but I have my breaking point, just like others do, I had a situation were if i didnt leave I was going to fuss/cuss the boss out so I quit..in fact i quit this job twice, the boss still calls me offering me a job, why? Because i do my job, no matter what job it is, how much I might hate it, I believe you do your job at all costs, if it gets to be to much find another one. Drivers do have to protect their careers and Resumes, But sometimes you gotta do what you do!

 

Please post a site where we can see the proof that smoking damages the air condtioning. I know a couple of people who works on hvac on homes and vehicles, and they have been in the biz for 30 years, and and never read a service bulleton from any ac manufactor, stating this.

 

WOW what a nice fun chap you sound like. Nice manufactured statistics used to disguise your hate.

 

So you'd fire me for smoking and hire some idiot who'd roll the truck into the ditch in the first week. Great plan.

 

Personally,

yeah, I'd seriously consider a company-wide no smoking policy.

I have the (mis)fortune to be an ex-smoker, and I have found nothing (short of a flame-thrower) that will successfully eliminate that stale smoke smell from an environment of extended daily use. For example: the cab of a truck where the driver has been smoking for the past year.

Febreze is good, but not THAT good. It's probably adequate for other smokers and people who aren't sensitive. It does NOT fill the bill for me.

I've not investigated, but assume that the smoke particles are substantially smaller than the droplets from the spray. Hence, smoke migrates much more deeply into fabric and other porous surfaces. Deeply enough that inexpensive cleaning just can't reach it. (there may be expensive ways to get the smell out, but at that point, it's probably cheaper just to completely gut/reupholster)

Back to my first comment.

Why would I go smoke-free as a business owner? My insurance rates would be lower, and the resale value on my trucks would be higher.

What interests me at the moment, Kajidono, is your assertion that by insisting on a non-smoker, I'd be hiring an incompetent driver. I'm puzzled how you figure a nicotine addiction automatically makes you a much better driver.

 

Skibum is right smoking does not damage HVAC units. Where the smoke smell comes from are the filters, seats, and the bedding. As far as the staining it can be cleaned. I'm a smoker BY CHOICE and if you don't like the smell of my cigerette smoke feel free to move away from me. The statement that 99% of drivers smoke is false. Yes I'm fully aware of the health issues from watching my Grandfather die from Lung Cancer. I've met quite a few drivers who don't smoke. Smoking has been part of life since the Native Americans introduce it to Columbus.

 

Based on his comment, a nicotine addiction automatically makes me a bad driver worthy of being fired for that reason alone. That makes exactly the same amount of sense.

 

But the smokers don't clean the truck, they leave it fouled up for the next person.

Wish us non-smokers could "move away" from you. After you foul up a truck with your filthy smoke, someone else will have to drive and live in it.

I left truck driving in 2001 so I don't have to deal with it. Smokers foul up the trucks, don't clean them, and the smoke clogs the filters, which damages the a/c units. For all you smokers who are rude and inconsiderate, just remember you'll die a slow painful death from it eventually. What goes around, comes around.