What Are A Truck Driver's Best Defense Against Possible Criminal Acts Against Them While On Duty?

Why is it that people who probably generally agree with the principle "Speak softly and carry a big stick" always forget the "speak softly" part?

Because you're gonna yell out when you drop your big stick on your pinky toe.

The fact is I could DIE or get KILLED!

Is it too late to tell him he's gonna croak from hypertension long before anything else?

Drivers need to be worried about salt, sugar and deep vein thrombosis far more than knives, bullets and "bad hombres."

May a driver even carry a taser or stun gun in the rig? No laws or policy against that, is there?

Many shippers/receivers don't allow weapons at all, which would include tasers and stun guns.

Will shippers/receivers customarily search drivers for weapons intentionally?

Why would they even have to KNOW if one were to hypothetically keep his/her mouth shut?

The question is could the driver face legal trouble from the police if he/she were somehow found out to be carrying a weapon, even a stun gun, on shipper/receiver property?

Couldn't the driver just stow the weapon in the cab or sleeper berth anyway during the shipping/receiving process?

You are only "guilty" when you are "caught".

Why is it that people who probably generally agree with the principle "Speak softly and carry a big stick" always forget the "speak softly" part?

Maybe he's worried that his stick isn't big enough, and needs most confidence.

Why is it that people who probably generally agree with the principle "Speak softly and carry a big stick" always forget the "speak softly" part?

Maybe he's worried that his stick isn't big enough, and needs most confidence.

That really is the essence of the difference between the two types of behaviors. People with real confidence and character often talk softly but carry a big stick.

People who are insecure are always trying to kick up dust and make a lot of noise to makes themselves seem powerful and important. I call it "Yosemite Sam Syndrome". They feel like they're only two feet tall so they keep shooting off their guns and kicking up dust with their spurs to seem bigger.

It's like the little poodle who won't quit barking at a German Shepherd. That poodle has no illusions regarding what's gonna happen if that German Shepherd decides to attack. The idea is to kick up enough dust that the Shepherd decides it might not be worth the trouble.

Meanwhile the Shepherd just stands there quietly looking at the poodle like, "Are you serious right now?"

Drivers need to be worried about salt, sugar and deep vein thrombosis far more than knives, bullets and "bad hombres."

I completely agree with this, and I think so do most drivers after they've been out there for a little bit. I always equate the safety at truck stops with maybe the parking lot on a Friday Night at a big shopping mall. You know there could potentially be problems so you don't get careless, but the real risk is actually very low.

Umm I hate to say this but for over 10 years it's been more common for your truck to be scanned for weapons and explosives when entering scales.. so I really wouldn't want to be hiding guns etc in a commercial vehicle.

They don't talk about this a lot, but yeah, big brother is watching lol. So for those with the thought of "it's not illegal unless they find it" this is just food for thought.

Scanners at DOT Scales

Will shippers/receivers customarily search drivers for weapons intentionally?

Why would they even have to KNOW if one were to hypothetically keep his/her mouth shut?

The question is could the driver face legal trouble from the police if he/she were somehow found out to be carrying a weapon, even a stun gun, on shipper/receiver property?

Couldn't the driver just stow the weapon in the cab or sleeper berth anyway during the shipping/receiving process?

You are only "guilty" when you are "caught".

Instead of looking for ways to bend/break the rules - we aren't we just looking for ways to FOLLOW THEM?

From a LEGAL STANDPOINT it could go a number of ways.

In "warning states" - you would be asked to leave the property, if it is posted "no weapons" - refuse to leave and it's "armed trespass after warning" - a felony. Buh bye gun rights, buh bye job. Even if you leave after being asked - buh bye job - because they will surely call your employer (and they may even have cause to cancel their contract with them).

In "no warning states" (Co for example) - disobeying a posted no weapons zone, is armed trespass after warning, whether asked to leave or not.

Military bases, ports and posted "vehicles are subject to search" - your truck CAN AND MAY BE SEARCHED. Assuming you are somewhere LEGAL to possess - likely a call to your company and loss of job. If you are in a "sterile zone" - federal charges.

Wanna carry a gun - BUY YOUR OWN TRUCK. Wanna get into this industry as a newbie, and stay employed (and not blacklisted) - FOLLOW THE RULES.

We go through this EVERY TIME THIS COMES UP. And I'm not unsympathetic. Lifetime NRA member forever, daily carrier since the early 90's, gunsmith/armorer, prior FFL licensee. I'm a gun guy (or NUT if you will).

It's beyond blue in the face for me (us) at this point.

PLEASE - take a gun with you if you want. And if you get fired and can never work in the industry, or go someplace you aren't allowed to with it and get CAUGHT - don't say we didn't tell you so. As far as I'm concerned - if it's not in a holster on my hip, then it's as useless as if it were home in my vault.

I'm all out of popcorn and eating the unpopped kernels at the bottom of the bowl at this point.

Rick

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.