There are few places in America where culture collides as strangely as a truck stop restroom. At every hour of the day, you’ve got every kind of driver, every kind of habit, and every kind of hurry-the-fuck-up attitude. But one scene never fails to stop me dead in my tracks: the nose-blowing-into-the-sink ritual.

It starts innocent enough — someone strolls up to a sink, splashes water on their face. No big deal. We all need to wake up during a long haul. Then suddenly, I’m watching a grown adult plug one nostril, tilt over the faucet, and blast the other clear into the basin like they’re auditioning for a firehose commercial.

In that moment, my brain goes straight to enraged chaos:

I should grab this dude by the collar and give him a facial tour of the filth he just created…

Then reason taps the brakes and the inner rage shifts to:

“Man… people brush their teeth in these sinks.”

Seeking wisdom in this matter, I turn to ChatGPT and learn that this is part of wudu — an Islamic washing ritual performed before prayer. I respect that personal beliefs matter deeply to many people. But here’s the reality: truck stop sinks aren’t shrines — they’re shared hygiene zones.

And when someone uses the sink basin like a pothole puddle from some third-world shithole:
A) It isn’t reverent.
B) It isn’t spiritual.
C) It’s gross — and incredibly inconsiderate of others.

Later, while driving down the road, I find myself thinking:

• Does this nasty bastard do this at home?
• Why hasn’t someone left this motherfucker lying unconscious on the restroom floor?
• Why leave your snout sludge behind for the rest of us to observe?

Look, everyone has rituals. But a ritual shouldn’t become a public health hazard. I don’t want to wash my hands while playing dodge-the-sinus soup before grabbing a burger and getting back on the road.

So… here’s the simple truth:

Respect goes both ways.

If you want respect for your beliefs, show respect for the shared spaces the rest of us rely on to stay clean — especially when many of us practically live in these places.

So here’s my plea, from one road-weary traveler to another:

Practice whatever keeps your spirit steady —
but please keep your bodily fluids where they belong.

The rest of us would really appreciate it.

Why Clear Communication with Dispatchers Is Essential for Hotshot Drivers

Discover why effective English communication with your dispatcher is essential to prevent costly mistakes and ensure your hotshot loads move smoothly.

So, to be blunt… probably! Unless you have more time than I do to constantly line up one load after another — while keeping everything moving — good luck staying competitive without a dispatcher.

That said — finding a competent, professional dispatching service is getting tougher every day. It’s absolutely essential that your dispatcher can communicate clearly and accurately in English — both written and spoken. Otherwise, you’ll run into the same headaches I face regularly: misspelled shipper and consignee names, incorrect or unverified addresses, and brokers unwilling to commit to shipments — all due to communication breakdowns.

You might laugh… but it’s a serious issue. Dispatchers call every day looking for business — and too often, poor communication leads to delays, frustration, and lost loads. The impact isn’t just annoying — it costs time and money.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), under the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT), is finally cracking down on this issue with commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers (see English language proficiency rule 49 CFR § 391.11(b)(2)). But when it comes to dispatchers and brokers, the same standards aren’t being enforced. Until that changes, it’s up to us as professionals to set the bar for effective communication in this industry.

Of course, it’s also important to balance these communication expectations with applicable federal employment laws — including Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination based on national origin.