Profile For Kirk P.

I'm flatbed and was suppose to do a drop and hook in Indiana, dropped my trailer at the yard at around 2 pm and sat there and waited for my loaded trailer to come up from the plant. Long story short I ended up bobtailing to a convenience store down the road because I was going to be out of hours by the time they got my load ready, I came back in the morning and get the same trailer that I dropped and the BOL said they got it loaded at midnight. So what was suppose to be a drop and hook and take about 30 mins ended up taking 10 hours because they didn't even have one of our trailers already there.

Ours have a bunk heater like Errol V. Was saying, it doesn't require the truck to be on. We can idle the truck if we want to but their is a idling bonus every quarter so I just open up the windows, might get one of those small fans that plug into a 12v port. It just depends on which company, they all have different policies and program their trucks differently.

As for in inverters, I think most companies will install them for you if you choose to buy it.

When I was in CDL School I usually down shifted nearly every gear when driving, didn't really need to but I was still learning and it made good practice.

Now my second week solo I usually downshift while braking with the jake on to 6th gear then I flip the jake off and use the brakes. Get it out off gear, flip the switch to the low side and put it in 2nd or 3rd while still coming to a stop. By the time I'm stopped I'm ready to get rolling again hopefully.

You normally want to get down to about 25 - 30 Mph before you turn the jake off, at least that's what I've been taught.

I've been to places with the "No Firearms" sign and I've also been to places where they don't have one, both shipper and receiver. Most of our receivers are hardware stores.

Where I went for my DOT Physical, they had a "Firearms Welcome" sign though.

I'm not cynical about it, I've got no problem leaving my firearm home, but honestly it shouldn't be that way. And there is a lack of law on the matter in my opinion.

As I keep repeating - there are NO LAWS that specifically prohibit personal firearms in a CMV - neither state nor federal. STATE LAW applies to CMV's the same as 4-wheelers.

As far as laws allowing employers and property owners (shippers/receivers) to prohibit weapons on THEIR PROPERTY (and the truck IS their property), there is plenty of case law all over the country, to support this.

Florida (for example - since I keep up on home state law more than other states) passed a law allowing employees to leave their gun in their CAR on company property, but upheld the employers right to prohibit weapons in the workplace. And if an employer has signs prohibiting weapons, or it's in the employee/company policy manual and you carry onsite - you can be fired with cause (no unemployment).

Your employer (trucking company) has a right to search THEIR PROPERTY (your truck) anytime they want to. Any place that has "Vehicles Subject To Search" signs can search also - once you drive past that sign, you have given them "informed consent" to do so.

Vehicle searches get a little shady - depending on where you are. COMMERCIAL VEHICLE SEARCHES though, are pretty much a free for all, as LEO's are allowed to "inspect", including the interiors. There's no reason to worry about a gun onboard (as long as it is where it is PERMITTED by that states laws). States that are screwy about it (BLUE STATES for the most part, go figure) tend to also be screwy about bad searches too. And if you are rolling through NJ, and they find a firearm in the cabin - YOU WILL GO TO JAIL (unless you have a NJ permit).

NJ Supreme Court (awhile ago) found that GRATEFUL DEAD STICKERS on a car, constituted "probable cause" for a search (VA did also). LEO's would know when The Dead were on tour, and grab hippie-mobiles as they were passing through. In VA, when 95 had tolls - the TOLL BOOTH OPERATORS used to call ahead to the troopers to clue them. That's why I never had stickers on my vehicles.

There's a FEDERAL LAW called "Interstate Compact" that allows gun owners to travel through states where they are not legal, with the gun "securely encased" and inaccessible to the passenger compartment (kind of hard to do in an SUV or Tractor). Most states in the NE IGNORE THIS and WILL ARREST ANYWAYS (NJ, NYC, MA are FAMOUS for this). While you may (eventually) beat the charges, you still got arrested, towed (and you REALLY don't want to add TOWING to your company offenses - probably go down as "abandoned equipment" on your DAC).

There are so many different laws for each state - and SO MANY STATES we have to drive through, that are NOT GUN FRIENDLY - the risk of having a legal incident in ones of those states GOES WAY UP. Is it WORTH THE RISK?

There's a facebook group called: Truckers Lives Matter - that is trying to lobby for firearms reciprocity for truckers (which would be similar to CCW reciprocity bills that are currently in congress right now). Even if Congress did pass some reciprocity so truckers could travel from state to state without fear of LEO - THIS STILL DOESN'T CHANGE COMPANY POLICY.

And like it or not - the TRUCKING LOBBY is way stronger than a bunch of truckers. WHATEVER THE REASON that companies prohibit weapons (liability, safety, whatever) they are WELL WITHIN THEIR RIGHTS TO DO SO. And those rights as they apply to the 2A, are going to override OUR RIGHTS to possess firearms on the COMPANY PROPERTY WE ARE DRIVING (regardless of whether or not it's OUR HOME ALSO).

Rick

I'm not sure if it's worth the risk or not. All I do know is that it would sure be sad to die at a truck stop or on the side of the road somewhere when I could've survived. It's all statistics and probability until it actually happens to you or someone you know.

Kirk wrote:

Reasonable suspicion is a hunch without evidence and does not give an LEO the right to a search or seizure.

You might be thinking of probable cause or plain sight. Which would mean they have facts or evidence, something more than a hunch to believe a crime has been committed.

That may well be true Kirk, however your "employer" can search their truck at any time, without probable cause because it's their property.

I know of no carrier allowing firearms on their trucks. I know of no shipper or receiver allowing firearms on their property. Have you ever rolled up to a shipper and seen a sign; "firearms welcome"?

Carry and conceal at your own risk. That's the bottom line; you know the rules, you know the law, and should know the inherent risks if you choose to defy all that is written.

I've been to places with the "No Firearms" sign and I've also been to places where they don't have one, both shipper and receiver. Most of our receivers are hardware stores.

Where I went for my DOT Physical, they had a "Firearms Welcome" sign though.

I'm not cynical about it, I've got no problem leaving my firearm home, but honestly it shouldn't be that way. And there is a lack of law on the matter in my opinion.

Then you get into the issue of DOT being able to specifically search through your things. Which I'm pretty confident that they can't but I couldn't tell you for sure. While they are allowed to inspect your truck and cab I want to think they can't go into the sleeper and open up a back pack and look through it, any clarification on this would be appreciated because I've never been able to find an answer.

Two words: "reasonable suspicion." Any LEO, at any time, can stop you and search you, your home, your vehicle(s), your luggage, your grocery bags, or whatever just by uttering those two magic words. And there isn't thing one you can do about it, except to be as polite and cooperative as possible and maintain your composure. (Something I suspect the OP of this whole thread would be completely incapable of.)

Now, that's not to say that every time you get pulled in for an inspection the guy is going to get out the flashlight and nitrile gloves and start poking through your dirty underdrawers looking for contraband. Just that, if he wants to ruin your day for whatever reason, all he has to say is "reasonable suspicion" and he's got his Golden Ticket. Is it right, just, or fair? Of course not, but there are a whole lot of other things in life and in trucking that fall into the same category.

Reasonable suspicion is a hunch without evidence and does not give an LEO the right to a search or seizure.

You might be thinking of probable cause or plain sight. Which would mean they have facts or evidence, something more than a hunch to believe a crime has been committed.

You know I asked the head recruiter and fleet manager in their office during orientation what the company policy is on weapons or firearms. They said that their policy is no weapons but then they said if you do decide to, no one should know except you.

Common sense told me that means they won't specifically tell me not to, but if I was to get into an incident involving me shooting someone while legally justified I would then most likely be fired for disregarding their policy. I know they are just covering their own ass.

I want to specifically have my firearm stored in the truck, in its case, locked and separate from its ammo and only to be used as a last resort. I don't plan on carrying it on me.

Then you get into the issue of DOT being able to specifically search through your things. Which I'm pretty confident that they can't but I couldn't tell you for sure. While they are allowed to inspect your truck and cab I want to think they can't go into the sleeper and open up a back pack and look through it, any clarification on this would be appreciated because I've never been able to find an answer.

I'm prior service and an MP. Spent some time in Iraq and I definitely don't feel right when I don't have my firearm with me. I don't know if it's just from carrying one for so long while deployed and while working law enforcement on base in the states. Or if it's just me wanting to be prepared for a worse case scenario. But while out with my trainer I left it at home and felt fine. Never ran into any problems with anybody, hell I don't think I barely even talked with anyone except maybe in the check out line at the truck stop.

Anyways, as a pro 2nd Amendment, prior service, cop I can tell you the best way to defend yourself is to avoid a dangerous situation and if you are ever in one to have a way out of it. Hell even as a cop, I always found the best way to approach any situation was to talk to someone as a normal human being and treat them with respect and I never had to shoot anyone for the 7 years that I was in that profession.

This is always a not so black and white subject from what I've read.

Thanks for the replies guys!

I will either be in a KW t660 or t680, probably the t660 since I'm very green.

From what I've gathered they don't include anything in the truck but they will install anything that I buy. My trainer had a mini fridge and converter but it really seemed to take up a lot of room, so I was leaning towards an electric cooler. I guess I'll see if I have an actual spot for it and measure it when I get there Monday.

Well my trainer gave me the OK! Monday I will head in to the main terminal to finish up some more paperwork and get my truck and start rolling.

I was curious what some of you experienced guys and gals would suggest for must have equipment and oddities, things that make life on the road easier or the job itself more enjoyable? My trainer has already suggested Sirius XM is a good investment.

They want reliablility not a liablility.

Beautiful statement Kirk! - Short and to the point.

I couldn't have said it better myself. Now, forgive my levity, but I will say that I could have spelled it a little better. We are not going to hold that against you though - I loved it!

Oh no! I didn't even notice, usually my autocorrect catches it, it is a little bumpy over here in the passenger seat!