Truck driving without shoes on feet.

[zeeuwse_adonis]

Hai.
In the early years, it was the custom of drivers from the west side of Europe, the Netherlands, Belgium France, to drive in their socks, their shoes off.
Was done by long distance riders.
It had benefits with better feel for the pedals, but also no dirt getting in, through the shoes, or lube oil, or other junk.
Certainly no rubber mat on the floor, but carpet.
I certainly did it that way in my starting career, shoes on the top step of the entry, so-called clog shoe. easy to get in and out.
But from 2015 there was a European legislation that obliges to wear solid shoes with sturdy soles.
But now people actually prefer to take off shoes and wear slippers.
Even with a possible police check now, older officers say to the driver at the tachograph check, we'll stay outside with the shoes, we know.

Now there are also older/others drivers here from the other side of the world, so my question is,
Did you also have this habit of taking off your shoes?
And if you are reading this now, how would you feel if you see someone driving with socks.
In the 1980s it was just normal.

Thanks for your answers,
Greetings:
Pieter.

[Qrazy]

Most of the truck drivers I see are wearing flip flops.

[Ritsuka]

i wouldnt doubt it, its only viewed as unsafe over here as opposed to illegal so i can see truckers doing that or as Qrazy said flip flops (which are more dangerous,they can get stuck behind the gas pedal)

[jakeschmid]

Never heard of barefoot, but i have heard flip flops, mostly as an insult. Flip flops are meant for the shower. I'm a Red Wing boot person, always in boots.

[Karlia]

For me it's Barefoot or a nice comfy pair of boat shoes on the long haul, anything regional with a lot of egress fully enclosed safety shoes or boots with a fitted drop sheet in the cab to protect the carpet. NZ by the way.

[tdjpack]

i drove with cowboy boots with the riding heel not walking, the angle of the heel was very comfortable with pedals. Had outdoor carpet on top step of entry so no drag in mud.

[Simrealism]

real truckers wear boots xd

[Hiro Protagonist]

Not a RL truck driver, but I do the majority of my driving barefoot, better pedal feel plus I'm 6'2" with large feet so it gives just a little bit more room in the footwell. Not illegal to drive barefoot here, and it is actually recommended instead of thongs (flip-flops) or heels as there's nothing to get caught on the pedals.

[Simrealism]

and listen to country and western music. XD

[Reese]

Not illegal to drive barefoot here either. Ohio, not even as a truck driver.

Personally I hear steel-towed work boots everywhere for everything. The rare time I drive in just socks or bare feet is during summer to go pick up/drop off someone. Basically, if I'm only going to be out of the house for 15 minutes and have no plan to go inside anywhere, I won't even bother with shoes.

There is nothing unsafe about it.

As for truckers, well I rarely see truckers get out without shoes on. Of course when they see me, it's typically because they blew a tire. They're certainly not going to walk outside the truck to sign paperwork barefoot. I'll tell you that. But I have met some who even the littlest speck of dirt in their cab is the end of the world. They even have brushes right as you open the door.

It's a work truck, people. Let it get dirty.

[Alshain]

Safer to drive barefoot than with socks or flip flops.

[Sandhill]

What are these "shoes" of which you speak?

[Karlia]

Originally posted by Alshain:

Safer to drive barefoot than with socks or flip flops.

^^ it is not illegal here but it is frowned upon by the police, trucking companies and workplace health and safety. To make safety boots compulsory in the cab a lot of companies have included them as company uniform that must be worn on duty.

[Karlia]

Originally posted by Reese:

I'll tell you that. But I have met some who even the littlest speck of dirt in their cab is the end of the world. They even have brushes right as you open the door.

It's a work truck, people. Let it get dirty.

It's also a home and office for many of us and when you own it you tend to have a lot of truck pride. Hell when I was parked up waiting for a load I would get out and polish the alloy wheels and waterless wash the cab as many truck proud operators do. Same as the mechanics I have met, some work in a total pigsty have crappy gear and have to be told to clean up their space while others have an immaculate well equipped work space and work ethic.

[Sky_Goddess]

I drive with shoes off and sometimes bare foot. It gives me a better "feel" of my truck.

[aqweasd7]

In my country (Saudi Arabia)
mostly (in long trips) they drive with barefoot and let their left foot on the door behind the window