Any Truck drivers here?

J

Jbroad572

New member
Just wondering, at the moment I'm behind the scenes running a company, but will be hitting the road soon. Hopefully, if things start getting a little better as an Owner/operator, but I may have to sign on to a company. It's been a slow season. If I drive for a company I may not be able to carry a firearm with me, by company policy that is. Anyways, just wondering if there are any on the boards and if you guys carry, if so what?

You know it can be kind of dangerous overnight in some rough areas, so just want to get some feedback.
 
I never knew how much truth there was to this, but I was told by a truck driver once that firearms in the cab were a violation of some interstate commerce regulation.

Any one with knowledge of this?
 
I was told by a truck driver once that firearms in the cab were a violation of some interstate commerce regulation.
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I was one of 2 of the first Troops certified to enforce MCS laws in IL in 1982, did a lot of MCS inspections in my career, and I taught MCS law at our Academy. There is nothing in FMCS laws that prohibits a driver from carrying a firearm. However, a driver still has to comply with the whatever state laws in the state they are traveling.
Sometimes someone will quote the hazmat section concerning ammo transportation and they extrapolate that into thinking it means a driver can't carry a firearm in the truck. Those are 2 separate issues. The hazmat section refers to the load and dealing with ammo. The driver's personal firearm is not considered cargo therefore the hazmat section doesn't apply in that case.
 
So if a person works as an interstate truck driver, and wants to legally carry a gun for protection.... What's the best way to handle this?

Is there a state that would be best for being your "home" state, and from there jump through a bunch of reciprosity laws and permits that would eventually give you a right to posses the gun when you're out of your home state (but passing through or doing business in any of the other states) (lower 48)?
 
If you're a company driver you would first need to determine what your company's policy is on weapons in the truck. While their policy isn't law, they do pay the groceries so only the driver can decide if they wish to risk their job.
The driver needs to comply with the state laws where they are traveling. There is no permit from any of the states that will grant you legal authority to carry in all 48 states. It would be no different than if you were in your car on vacation.
I can't stress enough to check each state's laws. It is possible that a particular state could have a law prohibiting a commercial driver from carrying which would be more restrictive than if the driver was not in a commercial rig. I personally don't know of any state with such a law.
 
First get a Florida non resident CCW license. After that there are about 3 or 4 ( I believe) other state permits to add that will give you reciprocity in most states.
There is also a very good book/pamphlet on the laws regarding traveling with firearms of all fifty states.
I bought it once but gave it to a friends mother. I can not for the life of me remember the name, but someone here will
 
I am a fleet manager for one of the biggest trucking company's in the country. Under no circumstances are any of my drivers allowed to have firearms in their trucks at any time. As mentioned earlier, depending on the state, a driver can carry without infracting any DOT laws, but may be infracting other state laws in regards to carrying a firearm.
 
That's pretty common for the big carriers. I'd imagine for liability reasons. I'm sure people do it anyway, not saying that's right though.
 
Just never ever ever carry or have a gun in Canada
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There are lots of american hunters that show up around home every fall because we have world class waterfowling and they bring theyre guns with them. Im sure its just some paperwork at the border and youll probably need a locked case.
 
Hey WALTER

Sorry to hear you won't be coming to CANADA again. I'm just curious ,what happened? I'v been to TEXAS and had a great time and found all the Texans I met to be really nice.Again whats the beef,regards Jim:confused:
 
licence

look up the recipical licence states.
three states I know of are sc./nh/florida .some states have as many as 30 states recipical.not mass/ny/nj.
 
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That's working for a company with their trucks though. I imagine things might be different using his own tractor.
even if you own the trk, when you lease it or even trip lease, the company you're hauling for is in controll.who evers sign is on the door.
never carry a gun, it's just trouble.. park in the front row at sleezy truck stops, never go into unsafe areas to unload after dark, carry a good flashlite, a tire bat with the words stamped right on it, some strong hornet spray, windshield de icer in a spray can. Once i even carried a flare gun until i was told to dis pose of it as it is even illegal in some states, pepper spray is illegal in some states also.
No matter what happends, the trucker is usually the person in the cuffs first. JMOP

PS, don't even think about getting into Canada if you have a DWI, it's concidered a felony there and they will turn you around at the border.
I travel there many times a yr and have seen many people turned around and even took off a grey hound.
 
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