Overdrive Magazine | Trucking Business News & Owner Operator Info
Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/709236
Voices 8 | Overdrive | August 2016 About every six months, I see a post or a picture about how awful it is to wear flip-flops or sandals while driving a commercial truck. There are some pretty strong feelings about flip-flops on both sides of the argument. Most recently, I saw this picture (right) on Keith "Palerider" Law- son's page and thought it was funny. I shared the post and waited for the comments. They didn't disappoint: "Big deal. It's whatever the driver's comfortable with." "I'd never hire a professional that didn't dress appropriately, be them banker or mechanic. I'm surprised some don't wear swimsuits." "I've been driving 43 years and prefer driving in sandals or barefoot in the sum- mer months. But I never go into a shipper or receiver without putting on shoes and socks. Also, I know it's a no-no for DOT, so if inspected, I put on shoes." "Sneakers, shorts and a T-shirt." "Simmer down there, supertrucker. What's wrong with shorts and a T-shirt? Nothing. If I wanted a suit-and-tie job, I would've gotten one." Of course, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration angle was heavily debated. Appar- ently, language in OSHA's work- place standards doesn't specifically mention commercial vehicles, so there are some who believe employ- er responsibility for employees' use of protective footwear in situations that call for it doesn't apply. I've been involved in a person- al vehicle wreck while wearing a pair of flip-flops, and I can state with fair certainty that flip-flops aren't going to protect your feet from anything when you get hit head-on in a Pinto. After my wreck, they found one of my flip- flops embedded in a dead possum. Apparently, upon impact, it flew off my foot and out the window like a Chinese throwing star, into unsuspecting wildlife. I was ticket- ed for poaching. OK, that's a filthy lie, but I did break the bones in my right foot while trying to slam on the brakes. It might not have happened if I had worn real shoes for my spectacular head-on with a Warner Robins, Georgia, city kitty. I'm very lucky to have walked away from that crash, even if I did have a pronounced limp and only one flip-flop. Wendy Parker chronicles her journey on the road with her owner-operator husband, George, in the George and Wendy Show blog on OverdriveOnline.com. Scan the QR to read more from her on your phone or tablet. Catch you on the flip – or the flop – side " Truck driver or otherwise: Men, please do not wear flip-flops! Sam Elliot or Kevin Costner would be downgraded to a minus-10 if they were seen with flip-flops on their feet. " — Regina Lasley, via OverdriveOnline.com " The joke used to be that cowboys started wearing baseball caps so they wouldn't be mistaken for truck drivers. I miss the days when drivers had enough self-respect to wear clean and pressed clothes and a sharp pair of boots. But I guess at 29 cents per mile, all you can afford is flip-flops. " — Yote Anders, via OverdriveOnline.com Caught up with this guy today at the TA in Laredo. Called him on the CB … and asked him to stop so I could take a pic - ture of what he had written on his headache rack. Sorry, I didn't catch his name. — Keith "Palerider" Lawson " If you're upset about seeing me in the truck stop with flip-flops on, you need to get a grip on what's important. … I've worn flip-flops my entire life. I drive a truck, take regu- lar showers, change my clothes reg- ularly. I keep snowboots, steel-toed and regular shoes onboard for when needed. I drive a dedicated route from Nogales, Ariz., to Nashville, Ill., almost every week. I'm on time for my delivery appointments. Neither dock on either side of my run has dress code requirements. " — Mshntaz, via OverdriveOnline.com