What type of Shoes?

I carry flip-flops, tennies, and red wings as to fit any occasion. I run a step deck and have been known to strap and chain in flops..

 

I recommend something you are comfortable wearing all day with nonslip soles that you can feel the throttle, break and clutch with. Also consider ankle support. High top sneakers, laced all the way up might be a good choice. If you are going to be out on the dock or in a work zone, then absolutely toe protection. However, wear steel toes in the desert heat or in -5 degree weather and you will understand why I do not recommend them for general duty, like driving, fueling, pretrips and drop/hook.

I have low top slip-on sneakers for my driving and general duty, a pair of lace-up steel toed combat boots courtesy of the Navy that only see the light of day on very rare driver unloads and a pair of mocassins for relaxing or when I'm just tired of wearing those sneakers. Yes, I should be wearing high tops, but that's one of the unwritten rules I choose to follow exactly as written.

 

You don't have to fall into any cliche. Be yourself. Wear what's comfortable because your day is long. Note that if you unload your own freight, some docks require steel toe boots. That doesn't mean you have to wear them all day. Just have them handy.

 

I like a hiking/work boot year round. Leather so you can polish and buff them. A good quality like Redwing, Columbia, Timberland, Wolverine (my choice) or any decent quality brand..you only got two feet so be kind to them. Gore-Tex is a must for me so rain puddles or spring time slush will leave your feet dry. For deep snow I carry a pair of regular height Rocky camo Gore-Tex hunting boots.

 

For rain, slush and snow, my favorite is the Alaska Tennis Shoe: Xtra-Tuffs

You can get them lines or unlined. If you spend a lot of time in cold areas, get the lined ones.

 

I wear nikes while driving. It's a walking shoe. I don't do driver unloads. But I do have work boots with steel toes if I need them.

And when not driving I have a pair of 50's style sneakers I like even though they look like a 5 year old should wear them. And yes, I wear flip flops into the restaurants. I like to display my painted toenails.


YES I SAID I WEAR FLIP FLOPS. (but not when working)

 

Lets just remember that we are in n OSHA regulated business.
What this means is if you are NOT wearing the proper footwear and you have an accident on a dock or around the truck, workers comp will NOT pay for any of the injuries to your ankles down and it's on you for the medical costs.
Meaning:
Chaining you load in flip flops, doing a PTI in open toed shoes and you cut, crush or break a toe you pay and not me and everyone else paying in to the system.
If you're on a dock in tennis shoes, or on a yard and a fork lift, pallet jack or a pallet falls on your foot and you're in those flip flops, open toed shoes or tennis shoes it's the same, they will not pay. If you have the proper footwear on they will pay.

That's covered.
But have you looked at the crap on the ground in a truck stop? Walking across that urine infested area in flip flops is pure stupidity! Say you're walking along and you kick up a piece of junk and it cuts your foot. Just from it laying on that asphalt it's got to have some nice crap on it and now it's in your blood stream! Yep, I'd not be wearing flip flops anywhere around a truck except for IN the truck or in the shower!

Then there are the DOT that DO write improper footwear tickets! I've seen drivers being written up for barefoot driving, flip flops and sandals. This industry is governed by OSHA and their rules around heavy equipment and the operation of such equipment mentions "proper footwear!" Things such as steel toes or composit toes, ankle protection and leather uppers and non slip soles.

This is not a 4 wheeler you're driving around in and not a vacation you're on.
I know you think it's ok and cool and comfortable but you're WORKING! Dress the part at least and be safe while working!
There is plenty of time to show those toes or smell the rest of us out of the restaurant or gross us out with those toe nails that are 3 different colors and I ain't talking toe nail polish or in a desperate need of a nail file or grind stone!

 

No matter what you wear, the bottoms pick up the parking lot stink and gets carried into your truck. Just cause you can't always see it, the creepy crawley's are still there.

 

For being so simple that is actually a good question. You want oil resistant soles and good ankle support like lace ups give but you really need to get in and out of them fast when need be for that one in a million scenario which calls for slip ons. I could give you a half a dozen scenarios that I have seen or read in the paper and can tell you don't even think about tennis shoes. Most drivers that I know that got hurt fell getting in/out of the cab or fell off a flatbed. As for money just keep trying the cheap ones on till you find some you like and then trade up later. Never hurts to have a second pair for those dirt lots or walking in the salted snow. I will say up to about $200 you won't regret the money spend on a good pair.

I did see one thing a couple years ago. Asked why there was an ambulance at the fuel island and a driver had asked another driver to pull his trailer tandem release and the guy left his foot under the trailer wheel and it got run over. No boots would have prevented that but it was just a funny story I remembered.