Starting School Next Week, Better Not Be Smokers.

I am starting school next week. I know truck drivers are notorious for being smokers. I am an anti-smoker. I cannot stand the smell of it since it messes up my lungs. Diesel fumes not as bad and it goes directly up into the air.

If one or two dudes in my class decides to light up in front of me while I am learning about the truck outside in the parking lot, I am going to tell him to smoke on his break!

I don't even know if instructors allow students to smoke when walking around an 18 wheeler and learning about it. But I think its rude when someone lights up next to you. That's just me.

Yes they do allow smoking while students are outside. Unless there is a designated smoking area there is not a lot you can do a out it as long as they can smoke anywhere outside.

If cigarette smoke bothers you that badly, this is seriously not the job for you. There will literally be smokers everywhere you go. In the yard during training, outside every building at every terminal your company has, at every shipper and receiver, at every truck stop. They'll be assigned dock doors next to you, they'll park next to you at night, you'll walk past them entering and leaving shops, restaurants, warehouses, and even on the fuel islands. You may even be assigned a truck that was formerly occupied by a smoker. Unless you plan to spend your entire career wearing a respirator, you're either going to have to rethink your plans or adapt.

I did not even cover the areas Fatsquatch mentioned. While you can do alot to avoid people smoking you can not avoid it altogether. See here is the issue. As you said you are not a smoker and there are a lot of people that smoke in trucking. It will become part of your job to avoid the smokers or learn how because the first time you speak up about someone smoking and you are near them I can imagine the words that will be exchanged.

Designated smoking areas are almost at every place of business directly outside the door you will have to walk through and you will have to walk through that area to get your job done. You will have to learn to hold your breath a lot if you don't like the smell of smoke.

The school I went to had a smoking area by the classroom, so the yard and the trucks were smoke free. You can always work nights in Food service delivery's. I deliver fast food restaurants at night when there closed and nobody's there. You get payed to workout. Imagine unloading 40,000 pounds by hand truck.

I'm going OTR soon as I have my year in.

Hate to break it to you but you are getting in the wrong profession if your trying to avoid smokers. I don't smoke nor like being around it but it's part of the job and I love my job and what I do. It's just something you learn to cope with while doing your job.

Unless you plan to spend your entire career wearing a respirator, you're either going to have to rethink your plans or adapt.

That's funny!

Unfortunately I have to agree with everyone above. You're going to be around it quite a bit I'm afraid. I mean, I guess as long as you don't have allergies to it where you get a serious reaction then you're probably are in the same boat as most people. It isn't pleasant to be around, but it isn't that big of a deal in short doses.

I had a similar aversion to smoking as well to cursing, I can tell you it's not as bad as it used to be regarding smoking, however the language is another matter. I had to turn my CB off unless I needed directions or a question answered. You will get through it ok, buck up.

Unless you plan to spend your entire career wearing a respirator, you're either going to have to rethink your plans or adapt.

That's funny!

Unfortunately I have to agree with everyone above. You're going to be around it quite a bit I'm afraid. I mean, I guess as long as you don't have allergies to it where you get a serious reaction then you're probably are in the same boat as most people. It isn't pleasant to be around, but it isn't that big of a deal in short doses.

Trucking schools that are respected and professional should have smoking-designated areas.

Two reasons: 1.) It is unsafe to be smoking around diesel fumes -- not just tankers. I think the CDL handbook had mentioned it too. 2.) If you want to smoke that is a persons' right, but that doesn't mean I have to inhale the smoke too.

You sound like a real easy going guy with a great attitude, im sure you wont have any trouble with the attitudes and personalities you will encounter in the trucking business.