Required clothing

I had one pair of quality steel toe boots. Bought em at 21 and finally realized it will cost more than they are worth when soles finally wore through at 48. Threw them away. I wear standard walmart high tops with steel toes to this day. They don't look it. But easy enough to prove. Just stomp em. *DING!

Otherwise jeans and weather related clothing as needed. There were times Ive adapated to cold storage in winter and worked in shorts and tee shirt (With boots) unloading a -20 trailer by hand. (Not doing that again...)

One time I show up in Maryland, Williamsport at DM Bowman dispatch office. A air conditioned three tie vest suit land in there. Frosted windows in the 95 degree Maryland heat. I had spent a week in 110+ alabama and was dressed for it.

What did they do? Yell at me in 58 degree office.

That was easy enough. And started the process of getting the hell out of that stuffy suited up outfit. I like to stick all of them into Alabama 110 degree weather in their suits and see how they continue the work.

I don't do anything crazy with clothes, I keep one week on hand and have a set of bad weather and one for cold weather thats it. No reflective vests, shiney belts, fancy duds or company issued doo dads. If someone is going to kill you by motor vehicle nothing will help on your last day here on earth.

Regarding customers. If they want freight to leave here to go to B across the USA, they load it pronto. Never mind me. Me don't matter, if I tried to gussy up and dress to their code I will be right back to me in a hour 10 miles down the road.

 

Some places don't allow sneakers, even if they are steel toed.
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Get a pair of slip-on steel toed boots so your ankles are also protected.
They don't have to be tall boots; just tall enough to protect the ankles.
Don't get lace-up boots as they can be a pain to deal with.

 

I would say just look presentable. Theres a thousand thread on here about acceptable attire. When I was bumping docks, I was always in pants and boots but that's my attire on my off days too so I never thought much of it. Steel toes didn't seem to be all that important customers but companies might require them. I prefer steel toes but I also had a pair of light hiking boots that looked the part. All depends on what you are going to be hauling and where though.

 

Sketchers make a nice pair of solid black memory foam safety toe lace up sneakers that I’ve been wearing for close to 3 years now with no problems. A pair last me 6 months. Around $80 thru amazon. They have a few styles to choose from and one with pink trim for the ladies. My wife loves those.
I think most places frown on the traditional white colored non lace up sneakers even if safety toe more than anything.

 

Evidently you can wear flip flops anywhere.

 

In 98% of the places I bump docks the dress requirements are typically the same . Close toe shoes are a must , at least half require safety vest . A couple industrial plants I delivered to require pants. I wear cargo shorts and nice comfortable running shoes , I have my hard hat ,safety glasses and vest if required.

 

just spend the money.

 

You must wear underwear. It can’t be showing.
Here’s shoes that work good for me. All the lousy lots. Mud and water puddles. They work good for me. Then I have my North Dakota shoes.

 

In the flatbed world 95% of the time u better have a hard hat , safety vest long sleeve long pants and closed toe shoes or u wont get passed the check in gate. And dont be the doofus that walks into a jobsite with no safety attire on.