Following another thread I thought I would ask if any other members of the trucking community have experienced blatant discrimination due to facial hair?
I have what is described as a “miserable trucker handlebar moustache” by my family members; I haven’t sported said moustache for very long (about 2 months) but have found the discrimination, mocking and bullying I experience to be nothing short of hurtful!
It’s not my fault I have facial hair, I just forgot to shave one day and it all got a bit out of hand!
So has anyone else here blighted by the misfortune of facial hair? If so do you suffer the indignity of constant abuse?
Bacon Sandwich:
I do remember many years ago it was UPS policy not to employ anyone with a beard.
But, then again, it could have been a MMTM type thing. My memory is not what it used to be.
Not 100% sure if that was their policy, but knowing UPS, it probably was!!! I worked for them for a while when they took over Lynx, and you at least had to be clean shaven.
alamcculloch:
I wonder if Silverback is a girl.I wear a beard from time to time never had any problems apart from eating soup,that can get messy.
Not a girl, although do get called a girl due to my particularly weak throwing arm, but that’s another story.
Do you not find when you are bearded that you endure torture, pain and hardship? I just can stand the pain sometimes, and often cry myself to sleep!
It’s not like I throw my facial hair in peoples face, I don’t try to convert others to the way of the moustache, yet still I am discriminated against!
Maybe it’s because I don’t like football?
When I worked for Fed Ex we were not allowed airline and jump seat passes if we had beards, but that was a safety rule due to oxygen masks fitting during an emergency.
I have a close trimmed beard and my missus insists I don’t shave it and was refusedone job I applied for unless I shaved … I went elsewhere.
If there was a high amount of beard discrimination in the USA there would be a severe driver shortage because most of the unwashed, pigs look like ZZ Top.
Bacon Sandwich:
I do remember many years ago it was UPS policy not to employ anyone with a beard.
But, then again, it could have been a MMTM type thing. My memory is not what it used to be.
I had an interview with them a long time ago,and i was told i would have to shave my beard off.Told em no,i never got the job Wonder what they would have said if they had seen my tattoos
Why are you rocking just a moustache? Are you a 1970’s pornstar? If you going to go down the moustache only route then you need the chest hair to compliment it or you just look like a fool, hence the bullying.
Bacon Sandwich:
I do remember many years ago it was UPS policy not to employ anyone with a beard.
But, then again, it could have been a MMTM type thing. My memory is not what it used to be.
I had an interview with them a long time ago,and i was told i would have to shave my beard off.Told em no,i never got the job Wonder what they would have said if they had seen my tattoos
Pat Hasler:
If there was a high amount of beard discrimination in the USA there would be a severe driver shortage because most of the unwashed, pigs look like ZZ Top.
SCF, to be a true man you must appreciate facial hair in all forms! You can’t just discriminate against me because I choose to have a handlebar moustache! That is racism!
3 Feathers Haulage:
SCF, to be a true man you must appreciate facial hair in all forms! You can’t just discriminate against me because I choose to have a handlebar moustache!
I’m not discriminating, I’m trying to help you.
You are being bullied because of your moustache and there is a reason for that; you look like a ■■■■■■■■■.
Don’t worry though, there is a way for you to regain some self respect and dignity. You need to grow some chest hair to offset the effects of the 'tash and perhaps start wearing a big gold medallion too.
I’m sure if you take my advice the bullying will stop and people will respect you for the powerful moustached man that you are.
Smashed crab face is totally right the only facial hair that is acceptable is the magnum pi or souness in 78 look. Any other kind of facial hair leaves you open to ridicule and quite rightly so.
When UPS were taking over Lynx I was told I would have to get a haircut if I wanted to come over to UPS, another Lynx driver laughed when he overheard me being told this. The UPS man turned to him and said, ‘don’t know what your laughing at, that (pointing at his gotee) will have to go’ He’s now with UPS, I’m not!
bigvern1:
It’s true about UPS and shaving your beard off. They nagged at me for months, and I refused. It’s a security thing, that’s all.
Security my arse. It’s an American corporate look BS thing dreamed up by their PR department.
Incidentally, it only applies to those employees in “public-contact” positions; warehouse staff can have beards if they wish. There is also an exemption for religious reasons, although it took a driver in the USA to take UPS to court before they allowed that. UPS claim that the no-beards rule is there because they want their employees looking smart because they deliver to peoples’ front doors.
It also only applies to the parcels division. I worked for UPS Logistics (formerly Haulfast) in Derby for a couple of years, and my beard was never an issue.
Wonder what they would have said if they had seen my tattoos 
