Are you disgusting?

[Sinister]

Poll time!

Post here when you see a disgusting driver! Tell us about him or her! Tell us if you are one! Don't worry we won't judge you. And by "we" I mean everyone else on the site. Because I will insult the hell out of you and shame you right into the shower!

Now, for those among us who reek I havesome questions:

Why do you like being that dirty?

Why do you think this is acceptable?

Are you like this all the time, or just on the road? (pretty sure I know the answer to that...)

That's what I want to know. I'm not trying to get you to change your ways, as it really doesn't affect me, but you have to know, nobody really wants to talk to you, or deal with you in any way. We don't want you in the restaraunt, and I don't care how friendly you are, if your hygiene is poor, get away from me. Oh, I'm sure you don't care what other people think, but to some degree in this business, what other people think actually matters.

Okay, so since I've worked at this big company for the last 2 months or so, I've had the misfortune of running into some pretty freaky drivers. I guess a large company is going to have more of them simply because there are more people.

This company has a bunch of guys who for some reason think it's perfectly acceptable to walk around society unbathed, unshaven, greasy, grimy and just plain foul.

This guy I loaded next to Monday in Chicago was so gross I could literally smell him from the next loading bay. When I pulled up, he came over to talk to me, and his hands were totally grotesque. His jeans needed an oil change, his hair was gross, and I think his shirt looked like he'd rolled around with the pigs. This guys' truck wasn't any better either. All I could see was mostly the outside, but as far as I'm concerned, it was totally unacceptable. I saw part of the drivers side windshield on the inside, and I think this guy actually used a squeegee to clean it once. I asked him if he'd ran all weekend or sat, and he said he'd sat in Lake Station all weekend. WHY DIDN'T HE SHOWER ALL WEEKEND? Oh, he wore his cell phone headset the entire time. I'm pretty sure theres a connection between idiocy and cell phone headset all the time wearers. I'm also sure that in the orientation packet that ATS gave us, they said is was unacceptable to look this way. Also, it's probably a real good thing I'm not in charge on anything. I'd give you one warning, and after that you'd be canned.

Personally, I don't understand it. It simply HAS to be uncomfortable to be that gross all the time. Plus, you add the fact that being that dirty increases the chance of getting sick, and your life on the road is that much more miserable.

Take a bath once in a while. Or at least justify why you don't. Because I don't think you can. Come on pigpen! Give us your reasons for being gross!

[Bullwinkle]

Enjoyed every word of this, LOL

[Bullwinkle]

I take advantage of any shower opportunity I can get, and my truck is cleaned regularly on the inside and outside.

I also have no issues at all with paying for a shower. Just because I shut down for a break at a place where I haven't fueled doesn't mean I am going to be smelly.

[Sinister]

That's another thing. In the last few years, I've started itemizing my taxes, and showers are a write off. I think they might even give 100% on them.

[2xR]

I'm a neat freak. When I'm just doing the drive, I do prefer extremely casual, comfortable attire. However, when I gotta' do the load/unload routine I dress up for the occasion, wearing the bosses' uniform, safety garb, etc.

As for keeping clean, about 24 hours without a bath is all I can handle. If I'm not squeaky clean the urge to get that way becomes a distraction. If it's not a good time, or place, to hit the rain-room, I at least give myself a good splash at the restroom sink to tide me over. I keep (and use) a box of Kleenex Splash n' Go at the rate of about a box per week. They help to make the effects of a shower last 24 hours.

So, how is it some companies allow their drivers to use the dash of the truck as garbage can. I can, with accuracy, look at the dash of a truck, and tell the condition of the driver, prior to ever seeing him. Yuck!!

And, some drivers never have clean hands, unless they're gnawing on fried chicken. Something about that chicken grease makes it clean better than Go-Jo...

This thread reminds of a joke... Why do flatbedders wear driving gloves? It keeps the steering wheel clean.

[Bullwinkle]

So, how is it some companies allow their drivers to use the dash of the truck as garbage can. I can, with accuracy, look at the dash of a truck, and tell the condition of the driver, prior to ever seeing him. Yuck!!

This simply amazes me. I cannot understand how someone allows so much clutter to end up on the dash.

I have a small notebook that I use to write down mileages where I load, unload, fuel, etc.. (for comic book purposes). Other than that, I have a small leather business card case that I use to keep all of my yearly safety video certifications in for the various plants I go into. Nothing else is allowed on my dash, ever.

and don't get me started on the trucks I drive by that have fast food bags and plastic bottles stacked up near that little window on the passenger door

[Sinister]

This thread reminds of a joke... Why do flatbedders wear driving gloves? It keeps the steering wheel clean.

Heeeyyyyy....

[Sinister]

I saw a loving couple today whip into the Pilot. The both looked like the floor of a taxi cab. You could tell neither bothered to wear gloves while strapping and tarping the load of pipe they had on thier equally disgusting freightliner.
They went (waddled) inside the building, and came out over an hour later. My guess is that they were eating Subway. For an hour. Sitting down in public for an hour covered in crap eating Subway.

I'm sure the poor innocent bystanders who simply wanted a double-meat Italian BMT, or cold cut combo will never be the same after the odorous havoc these two managed to wreak on the place.

Then, they came back out looking exactly the same as they had. After well over an hour.

I guess if you're that dirty, it probably gets to a point where it just takes too damn long to get clean, so showering becomes a waste of time. Right? I mean, is that it?

There don't seem to be a lot of grubby fingers coming out of the woodwork to defend the nasties of the world. Maybe they really are ashamed.Well, that's a step anyway...

[Grinder]

For those that are too "busy" to shower, there are some body wipes you can find at your local military surplus store. And probably a camping supply store. They are bigger and thicker than the regular wipes. They work.

I used them when running teams and the schedule was too tight to take an hour for a shower.

The thing is, people generally cannot smell their own body odor. By the time you start to smell it yourself, people will be gagging and looking for a quick exit to get away from you. Deodorant does not mask it. It just makes you smell worse.

[patriciajnsn]

I guess sinister told all you GREASEBALLS,STOP BEING LAZY AND GET IN THE SHOWER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!I don't know why so many drivers are lazy.I see it far too often.You can smell em from clear on the other side of the truckstop.It takes what 15 minutes for a quick shower.Surely they can find time out of their busy schedule to take a shower.Afterall it's free.Back in the day my trainer would'nt bathe much and when he did I very much doubt he used soap.He'd come out of the shower smelling like a bad case of BO.Finally I had enough and told him in a nice way.That's all it took.You can catch more flys with honey.If I have an issue with someone i'll tell them in a nice professional tone to clean up.