Make America Clean Again [Editorial]

Donald Trump's campaign slogan was to “Make America Great Again.” One thing I figured out since the presidential election is that people either love “The Donald” or hate “Trump,” there is no in between. By the time you have finished reading this editorial, I believe you will either love this idea or hate it.

My name is Rick. I'm nearly 60 years old. I am new to the OTR trucking industry; at this point I've only been an OTR driver less than 2 years. I was raised in Western Oklahoma by a mom and dad who loved me enough to discipline me when I needed it, and teach me the difference between right and wrong.

A major wrong in the household I grew up in was filth. My mom kept the house spotless and my dad kept the family vehicles clean. My dad was also a huge proponent of anti-litter campaigns. I've spent my life maintaining what I was taught as a child. Keep yourself and your property clean and don't litter.

We call ourselves “professional” truck drivers, yet I would say that well over 50% of us are very unprofessional when it comes to cleanliness and litter.

Think about it, You would never bank at a bank where you had to wade through the trash and garbage to get to the teller window. You would never spend your hard-earned money in a grocery store with trash and on the floor in every aisle. You would never shop for clothes in a dirty clothing store. Would you even consider buying a new car, pickup or SUV from a dealer where you had to step over bags of trash or jugs of urine to shop the lot? Of course not!

There are three reasons that I can think of that would cause a driver to be filthy.

1. Ignorance.

Maybe they were never taught about cleanliness as I was.

2. Laziness. 

Just too stinking lazy to carry their  trash 50 or 100 ft to a trash receptacle.

3. Has an “I don't care attitude”

You're as pathetic as the lazy driver.

Individuals, small and large corporations, and state governments have spent billions upon billions of dollars on truck stops and rest area to accommodate truck drivers, and we don't even have the decency or respect to help them keep them clean.

Come on drivers, let's clean up our act. Make America clean again!

Love Me Or Hate Me,

Rick Meyer

Driver with K&J Trucking

What did you think of Rick's opinion of driver cleanliness? Do you agree or disagree? Let us know in the comments below or send us your own editorial. Subscribe to the blog for regular updates in your inbox!