ive always liked to look smart,so no problem with uniform,but i do struggle with a shirt,it seems so uncomfortable at the moment with all this heat,i end up with top 2/3 buttons undone,i always felt much more comfortable with fred perry,and i.m.o.h.o you still look smart.
What really turns my stomach is when in the summer parked up for the weekend somewhere in europe, you always see a big fat German driver walking around in flip flops and a pair of Speedo budgie smugglers - yuk! 
I’ve joined this topic a bit late and haven’t bothered reading any of it after the first page…but it’s a simple thing for me to say I couldn’t agree more with Luke’s OP about being tidy.
Although I don’t know what it’s like in the rest of europe, some of the drivers I see over here amaze me…it repulses me to see them, so many of them are so fat AND dirty that it wouldn’t surprise me if their wives got the dreaded phone call to say their fat husbands had suffered a heart attack and died whilst sleeping in a lay-by.
Most of us have commented in one thread or another about scruffy drivers with egg stains down their tops and stuff…I just don’t understand why they cant just buy some cheap trousers, polo shirts and cheap safety boots…you can get all that stuff from ASDA (other supermarkets are available) and it’ll cost you, what, £30 at the most? As Luke said, I’d certainly have a contract with a company like stobarts rather than a small independant haulier because stobarts do have it down to a tee…their trucks are smart and so are the majority of their drivers. And if I owned a company I’d be very strict with the people I hired too…like Luke, I’d be a nightmare 
Adam_Mc:
I’ve joined this topic a bit late and haven’t bothered reading any of it after the first page…
That’s a bit of a slap-dash attitude isn’t it? Late, and couldn’t be bothered? I do hope this isn’t going to become a regular occurrence 
Does the drivers attire, be it suited and booted or trackies and a string vest, in any way affect how efficient or competent they are at doing their job?
It seems that image is far more important than ability these days. I have fond memories of my first boss who was an eccentric genius with incredible business skills, but he was proper scruffy herbert. However I would much prefer to have done business with him than to do business with an empty headed vain armani suit hanger.
Squiddy:
Does the drivers attire, be it suited and booted or trackies and a string vest, in any way affect how efficient or competent they are at doing their job?It seems that image is far more important than ability these days. I have fond memories of my first boss who was an eccentric genius with incredible business skills, but he was proper scruffy herbert. However I would much prefer to have done business with him than to do business with an empty headed vain armani suit hanger.
Very good point, in a way…but here’s 3 options:
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Someone who can do the job brilliantly but smells like the gasses that come out your ■■■, coupled with egg stains and a waist line the size of a small planet…
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Someone who is competent, but not great at their job, but smells and looks great…
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Someone who’s very good at their job, but also who looks after themselves and is of good appearance.
Well I know who I’d choose and if all things honest, option Number 3 isn’t actually hard to achieve, I do it everyday and so does the original OP…the only thing that stops other people is themselves. As I said, for an extra £30 a year, you could actually make that generic fat trucker look fairly presentable!
Squiddy:
Does the drivers attire, be it suited and booted or trackies and a string vest, in any way affect how efficient or competent they are at doing their job?
Yes I’d say it does, if customers look at your drivers and think ‘Christ what a state’. It’s often talked about how we want to be treated as professionals but when the general public see drivers dressed the way some of them do it’s not hard to see why they don’t perceive us a professionals. The planners wouldn’t be able to work in the office dressed the way some drivers dress, so my argument is looking smart and presentable is a part of your job, your in a moving office!
I know it’s been hot, but I passed a truck on Sunday and the driver had no top on, now, if it was me with no top on, not a prob because I excercise and look after myself.
This was a stereotype truck driver… Some people have no standards in themselves, so why would other people give a ■■■■ about them?
Personally, I’m a jeans and t-shirt person, usually some stains from grease where monkeys have covered the suzi’s in it on my jeans, hence the reason I wear them for work, but they’re clean washed every couple of days, clean t-shirt everyday, showered everyday etc…
I don’t mind a uniform, but some are just daft, did a bit of food delivery, and the t-shirt was black, but it was that hair attracting black material, so my pet hair stuck to it and I really didn’t look or feel like I should be dealing with food, so I didn’t wear it.
Did a recovery job with a green t-shirt… Erm, no.
waynedl:
I know it’s been hot, but I passed a truck on Sunday and the driver had no top on, now, if it was me with no top on, not a prob because I excercise and look after myself. This was a stereotype truck driver.
I have to say that’s one thing that truly revolts me. I’m by no means a lightweight nor an oil painting, but [zb] me the sight of a standard-built wobbly truck driver with no shirt on is nauseating. It’s definately a case of “eyes front, girls” at this time of year, you can never be certain there won’t be one of these horrors in the cab of whatever you’re overtaking…
As a side note, does anyone else play “guess the order” in transport cafes/truckstops? I’ll be sat to one side waiting for a sarnie, and you can tell who’s going to order the Super King Size Breakfast as soon as they come through the door! 
Lucy:
waynedl:
I know it’s been hot, but I passed a truck on Sunday and the driver had no top on, now, if it was me with no top on, not a prob because I excercise and look after myself. This was a stereotype truck driver.I have to say that’s one thing that truly revolts me. I’m by no means a lightweight nor an oil painting, but [zb] me the sight of a standard-built wobbly truck driver with no shirt on is nauseating. It’s definately a case of “eyes front, girls” at this time of year, you can never be certain there won’t be one of these horrors in the cab of whatever you’re overtaking…
As a side note, does anyone else play “guess the order” in transport cafes/truckstops? I’ll be sat to one side waiting for a sarnie, and you can tell who’s going to order the Super King Size Breakfast as soon as they come through the door!
Ok, what’s my order… Here’s a pic, but I’ll admit, it’s a year old.
waynedl:
Lucy:
waynedl:
I know it’s been hot, but I passed a truck on Sunday and the driver had no top on, now, if it was me with no top on, not a prob because I excercise and look after myself. This was a stereotype truck driver.I have to say that’s one thing that truly revolts me. I’m by no means a lightweight nor an oil painting, but [zb] me the sight of a standard-built wobbly truck driver with no shirt on is nauseating. It’s definately a case of “eyes front, girls” at this time of year, you can never be certain there won’t be one of these horrors in the cab of whatever you’re overtaking…
As a side note, does anyone else play “guess the order” in transport cafes/truckstops? I’ll be sat to one side waiting for a sarnie, and you can tell who’s going to order the Super King Size Breakfast as soon as they come through the door!
Ok, what’s my order… Here’s a pic, but I’ll admit, it’s a year old.
you would prob still order the super size breakie 
thing is i have seen the fat trucker order nothin more than a round of toast and they prob wont eat that much then i have seen drivers that probably weight about 11 stone wet through and eat more than i thought possible a lot of it is down to what u eat unless ur multi dropping and handballing the most work you do is pulling curtains / opening doors / dropping trailers i understand this n while i love a bit of junk food i always have a tub of chicken and rice or tuna with and a bit of fruit etc combinded with a few trips to the gym it aint that hard to to stop yourself becoming the half ton trucker many people expect to c behind the wheel imo
switchlogic:
I was in a large factory this morning. A driver turned up that got me thinking again about something that I had done for a while. Drivers and the clothes they wear. Now I do like clothes and spend too much money on them but you don’t have to spend much to look smart. This driver turned up in flip flops and bright orange shorts, to be promptly told to put on some boots. Now I don’t know if his company supply uniform but for many office jobs for instance you wouldn’t get uniform yet would still be expected to come to work smartly dressed. We are the main image for the companies we work for yet the state I see a lot of drivers in you wouldn’t think so. Companies put a lot of money into the trucks and the image only for it to be undone when some loon thinks a vest top, bright orange shorts and flip flops is acceptable to wear to work. I even saw one old fat driver ■■■■■■■ the other day.Ambercrombie & Fitch, Hollister, 10percent etc…all Lukie baby’s favs
Lucy:
waynedl:
I know it’s been hot, but I passed a truck on Sunday and the driver had no top on, now, if it was me with no top on, not a prob because I excercise and look after myself. This was a stereotype truck driver.I have to say that’s one thing that truly revolts me. I’m by no means a lightweight nor an oil painting, but [zb] me the sight of a standard-built wobbly truck driver with no shirt on is nauseating. It’s definately a case of “eyes front, girls” at this time of year, you can never be certain there won’t be one of these horrors in the cab of whatever you’re overtaking…
As a side note, does anyone else play “guess the order” in transport cafes/truckstops? I’ll be sat to one side waiting for a sarnie, and you can tell who’s going to order the Super King Size Breakfast as soon as they come through the door!
So? 
Nothing better than seeing a trucker stripped off…hey Luke?
got the gist on page one & no doubt knowing you lot it went seriously off topic on pages two & three , so i’ll join back here on four .
I’m with luke & many others on this one appearance makes a big difference towards the attitude other people have towards you . i’m happy to wear ‘uniform’ provided by the company it goes a long way in promoting the right image to the customer.
When i have driven for other people i still think i dress smartly in jeans & polo shirt,
i’ve even given in & now have uniform shorts , although it is a bit disconcerting seeing your own knees while driving
MolePower:
got the gist on page one & no doubt knowing you lot it went seriously off topic on pages two & three , so i’ll join back here on four .
I’m with luke & many others on this one appearance makes a big difference towards the attitude other people have towards you . i’m happy to wear ‘uniform’ provided by the company it goes a long way in promoting the right image to the customer.
When i have driven for other people i still think i dress smartly in jeans & polo shirt,i’ve even given in & now have uniform shorts , although it is a bit disconcerting seeing your own knees while driving
[/quote]
****[/u]
Why, do you only ever wear shorts in the truck?
I wear jeans and t shirts (with rock bands logos,MOTORHEAD,QUO,IRON MAIDEN)we dont get uniforms issued so i wear what i want
waynedl:
Ok, what’s my order… Here’s a pic, but I’ll admit, it’s a year old.
I’d guess you’d order a decent dinner, but you’d be a rice-with-curry/chilli-rather-than-chips man. 
Lucy:
waynedl:
Ok, what’s my order… Here’s a pic, but I’ll admit, it’s a year old.
I’d guess you’d order a decent dinner, but you’d be a rice-with-curry/chilli-rather-than-chips man.
doner kebab and a fight in the taxi queue 
jonboy
Before I joined the industry.
I always thought Lorry Drivers were overweight middle aged men who wore hob nail boots and string vests and drunk tea from chipped white enamel mugs.
I always imagined Eddie Stobart was some bloke in a sheepskin coat wearing a trilby. Busy picking winners from the Daily Star while standing in a muddy wagon yard next to a brazier.
Twenty years later, look how things have changed…
now if I could just get the egg off this shirt…■■
W