Self defense for truckers - Page 2 - The Firearms Forum

ozo · 09-27-2012, 08:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by carver

Great idea for anyone who finds them selves in a situation where they can not have a gun! BUT, consider that federal law prohibits the use of any pesticide "in a manner inconsistent with its labeling." Likewise, some states forbid carrying substances for self-protection that aren't specifically authorized for that purpose. Stupid laws, created by stupid people!

There are MANY things drivers use for self protection......
a tire checker[thumper]...but it MUST be labeled as such,
hair spray, claw hammers, breaker bar,...etc.
I kept several 3' and 4' lengths of polybutylene pipe, and if
asked, they were 'tools' that I used to push chains through
the bottom of pallets with.
DOT in CA took my softball bat.....and I really did use it at
batting cages, for exercise, when I had a chance.

north tex · 09-27-2012, 09:32 AM

Something that you'll have to keep in mind. If you do deliveries and pick ups on federal installations you are subject to search on entry and exit. If THEY find a firearm you will be arrested. Can you fight it...maybe..but it will cost you many dollars and hours. States such as Ca, Il, NY, NJ, Md, and Ma will make your life miserable if they find a firearm in your truck (even with the federal regs saying you can carry in certain conditions). If you are driving for a trucking company, most will almost certainly have a no firearms policy. So it would cost you your job also.

I drove OTH for many years and never carried anything other than a tire thumper. Many locations I wished for more but had to balance my needs with reality and try to avoid stopping in real bad locations. Sometimes it took some planning and hedging the logbook a little. But now with the automated log books and satellite tracking many options are no longer available. That was a primary reason for me to retire from trucking.

I drove locally for the last 6 years and still found myself in locations that were bad, I was driving for a company that had a very strict no gun policy and moving to automated logs. They wanted 70 hours a week and when I left my hourly equivalent was down to less than $10. It got to the point that it was no longer worth it when you are fighting 450-550 miles daily in metro traffic.
Good luck on your new career. Be careful and judicious.

Double D · 09-27-2012, 10:19 AM

I am not one to ever suggest breaking the law. I have a clean record and follow the laws of the land to the best of my ability. But no job is going to dictate my ability to protect myself when I am out in situations where there is no protection. If I am asked to travel to a military base or federal installation, I will stop at a gun shop in that town and make arrangements to leave my firearm with them or with another driver outside the post until I make my delivery, but I wont travel unarmed, period. As a traveling citizen, I wont go to any state that doesnt recognize my carry permit. So, if anyone I know or any relatives might live in one of those states, they will never see me again unless they come to me. I will not disarm for anyone.

Gun Geezer · 09-27-2012, 10:39 AM

What about interstate travel in RV's ( travel trailers, 5th-wheels, motor homes etc.)? Can the gun be secured in the RV if it's not directly accessible from the tow vehicle?

carver · 09-27-2012, 10:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gun Geezer

What about interstate travel in RV's ( travel trailers, 5th-wheels, motor homes etc.)? Can the gun be secured in the RV if it's not directly accessible from the tow vehicle?

About ten years ago we decided to make a very long tour thru the western U.S., about 7,000 miles. I was worried about the same thing that you have asked. I got on the phone, and called every state, every state park, and every National Park that we intended to visit, and those close by in case we decided to go there. Everyone was polite, and the worst it got to be was gun unloaded, and stored seperate from the ammo. I never did unload the guns, and had no problems with anyone. Cops are not apt to stop you in a private vehicle if you are minding your P's, and Q's. Truck driver is whole nother story!

carver · 09-27-2012, 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Double D

I am not one to ever suggest breaking the law. I have a clean record and follow the laws of the land to the best of my ability. But no job is going to dictate my ability to protect myself when I am out in situations where there is no protection. If I am asked to travel to a military base or federal installation, I will stop at a gun shop in that town and make arrangements to leave my firearm with them or with another driver outside the post until I make my delivery, but I wont travel unarmed, period. As a traveling citizen, I wont go to any state that doesnt recognize my carry permit. So, if anyone I know or any relatives might live in one of those states, they will never see me again unless they come to me. I will not disarm for anyone.

I think like you! I've even carried in D.C. Visited the musems, and such, but I had a woman in a wheel chair that I was pushing, and the Security Guards would let us thru with out using the wand, cause the chair set of the alarm. I have to admit that I was more than a little worried at times. Everything worked out fine that trip, but won't ever test the Guards at the metal dectors again! No metal dector, I'm packin'! And this is just one of the many reasons that I no longer drive a truck! Those of us that were driving into Canada on, or just after, 9-11 can tell you all some stories!

cpttango30 · 09-27-2012, 11:05 AM

Against the law or not. No truck driver I ever meet was unarmed some didn't carry guns but they had bats or some form of striking instrument. 90+% of them carried a gun.

I grew up around trucking my dad was the GM for a local truckstop in my home town. My mom sister and I all worked there at some time.

north tex · 09-27-2012, 11:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Double D

I am not one to ever suggest breaking the law. I have a clean record and follow the laws of the land to the best of my ability. But no job is going to dictate my ability to protect myself when I am out in situations where there is no protection. If I am asked to travel to a military base or federal installation, I will stop at a gun shop in that town and make arrangements to leave my firearm with them or with another driver outside the post until I make my delivery, but I wont travel unarmed, period. As a traveling citizen, I wont go to any state that doesnt recognize my carry permit. So, if anyone I know or any relatives might live in one of those states, they will never see me again unless they come to me. I will not disarm for anyone.

I am in sympathy and agreement with your attitude toward the situation. But it not always possible to find an FFL with parking for an 18 wheeler. Another aspect of the truck driver's situation is many HAVE to go to Canada and/or Mexico as a job requirement. Taking handguns into either country is prison time if caught. Often the drivers cross in at one port of entry location and return through a different port. Getting back to the FFL where you left your gun can be a problem. You have to draw a line somewhere to balance your income and safety needs.

sting75ray · 09-27-2012, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by carver

I think like you! I've even carried in D.C. Visited the musems, and such, but I had a woman in a wheel chair that I was pushing, and the Security Guards would let us thru with out using the wand, cause the chair set of the alarm. I have to admit that I was more than a little worried at times. Everything worked out fine that trip, but won't ever test the Guards at the metal dectors again! No metal dector, I'm packin'! And this is just one of the many reasons that I no longer drive a truck! Those of us that were driving into Canada on, or just after, 9-11 can tell you all some stories!

When my wife and I left for Vegas to get married years ago I was 19 years old. I had carried some sort of handgun in my pickup ever since I started driving and the local LEOs knew it but being a small town they never seemed to care. When we left the house that day I slipped my little billfold derringer in my back pocket and carried it while we were in Vegas and on out to California for our honeymoon. Walked all over Disneyland with it. Looking back now thinking if I had been caught with it I would still be in jail out there. I never gave it a second thought back then.

dad2thebone · 09-27-2012, 08:45 PM

The bat deal works as long as you carry a mitt and a ball. A tirethumper was what i had in my cab as well as a 12 inch screwdriver. I hauled furniture for many years and when i had my gun i pulled over and put it in back before the scales.

Jerryboy · 09-27-2012, 10:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dad2thebone

The bat deal works as long as you carry a mitt and a ball. A tirethumper was what i had in my cab as well as a 12 inch screwdriver. I hauled furniture for many years and when i had my gun i pulled over and put it in back before the scales.

what would that do? surely they wouldn't be able to detect the extra weight of a gun in your cab?

north tex · 09-28-2012, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jerryboy

what would that do? surely they wouldn't be able to detect the extra weight of a gun in your cab?

It's not the weight. I think he was referring to placing it in the cargo area of the truck. The likely hood of a random search increases when you stop at a scale. Many times just a dog walking by the truck. Many of them have been trained to key on any explosive's odor. Trouble is if you are running with a sealed dry box trailer then there is no way to open the doors and put the gun inside the cargo area (unless you have a duplicate seal).

gun runner · 09-28-2012, 11:34 AM

I carry one of my shotguns in the cab of the truck. Especially when going to oil wells out in the brush to pick up salt water. You never know when there will be an illegal alien coming at you with a mesquite branch

firefighter1635 · 09-28-2012, 05:30 PM

Fortunatlly I don't have to travel for any kind of work. I just don't go where I can't carry a gun.

dad2thebone · 09-28-2012, 05:45 PM

I should have explained. when i put the gun in my trailer its not in my cab where they can search. it takes a federal warrant with every shippers name on it to search a furniture trailer. so it never in my years happened unless the dog smelled dope. i didnt seal my trailers only locks. open the door and put it in close and lock.

09-27-2012, 09:32 AM	#27
north tex V.I.P. Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Leonard, Tx Posts: 284	Re: Self defense for truckers Something that you'll have to keep in mind. If you do deliveries and pick ups on federal installations you are subject to search on entry and exit. If THEY find a firearm you will be arrested. Can you fight it...maybe..but it will cost you many dollars and hours. States such as Ca, Il, NY, NJ, Md, and Ma will make your life miserable if they find a firearm in your truck (even with the federal regs saying you can carry in certain conditions). If you are driving for a trucking company, most will almost certainly have a no firearms policy. So it would cost you your job also. I drove OTH for many years and never carried anything other than a tire thumper. Many locations I wished for more but had to balance my needs with reality and try to avoid stopping in real bad locations. Sometimes it took some planning and hedging the logbook a little. But now with the automated log books and satellite tracking many options are no longer available. That was a primary reason for me to retire from trucking. I drove locally for the last 6 years and still found myself in locations that were bad, I was driving for a company that had a very strict no gun policy and moving to automated logs. They wanted 70 hours a week and when I left my hourly equivalent was down to less than $10. It got to the point that it was no longer worth it when you are fighting 450-550 miles daily in metro traffic. Good luck on your new career. Be careful and judicious. __________________ Project 404 (1974) Vet Last edited by north tex; 09-27-2012 at 09:39 AM..

09-27-2012, 10:19 AM	#28
Double D TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: North Florida Contributor Posts: 8,052	Re: Self defense for truckers I am not one to ever suggest breaking the law. I have a clean record and follow the laws of the land to the best of my ability. But no job is going to dictate my ability to protect myself when I am out in situations where there is no protection. If I am asked to travel to a military base or federal installation, I will stop at a gun shop in that town and make arrangements to leave my firearm with them or with another driver outside the post until I make my delivery, but I wont travel unarmed, period. As a traveling citizen, I wont go to any state that doesnt recognize my carry permit. So, if anyone I know or any relatives might live in one of those states, they will never see me again unless they come to me. I will not disarm for anyone. __________________ I own a bunch of scary guns. You want em? Come and take em..... Liberalism is a serious, non curable, mental disorder... NRA LIFE MEMBER Oath Keepers Member NRA Certified Instructor 30 Yr CC permit holder.

09-27-2012, 10:39 AM	#29
Gun Geezer Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Central Florida Posts: 1,710	Re: Self defense for truckers What about interstate travel in RV's ( travel trailers, 5th-wheels, motor homes etc.)? Can the gun be secured in the RV if it's not directly accessible from the tow vehicle? __________________ If voting could change anything for the better, It'd already be illegal.

09-27-2012, 11:05 AM	#32
cpttango30 Former Guest Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Stafford, VA Contributor Posts: 3,071	Re: Self defense for truckers Against the law or not. No truck driver I ever meet was unarmed some didn't carry guns but they had bats or some form of striking instrument. 90+% of them carried a gun. I grew up around trucking my dad was the GM for a local truckstop in my home town. My mom sister and I all worked there at some time.

09-27-2012, 08:45 PM	#35
dad2thebone Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 1,357	Re: Self defense for truckers The bat deal works as long as you carry a mitt and a ball. A tirethumper was what i had in my cab as well as a 12 inch screwdriver. I hauled furniture for many years and when i had my gun i pulled over and put it in back before the scales. __________________ 9-11-01 we will never forget.And then we have dec 7 now it's Nov 6th all sad days for our country. And dont whizz on my leg then tell me it's raining.

09-28-2012, 11:34 AM	#38
gun runner Former Guest Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: South Texas Contributor Posts: 1,871	Re: Self defense for truckers I carry one of my shotguns in the cab of the truck. Especially when going to oil wells out in the brush to pick up salt water. You never know when there will be an illegal alien coming at you with a mesquite branch

09-28-2012, 05:30 PM	#39
firefighter1635 Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: US of A Contributor Posts: 1,837	Re: Self defense for truckers Fortunatlly I don't have to travel for any kind of work. I just don't go where I can't carry a gun.

09-28-2012, 05:45 PM	#40
dad2thebone Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 1,357	Re: Self defense for truckers I should have explained. when i put the gun in my trailer its not in my cab where they can search. it takes a federal warrant with every shippers name on it to search a furniture trailer. so it never in my years happened unless the dog smelled dope. i didnt seal my trailers only locks. open the door and put it in close and lock. __________________ 9-11-01 we will never forget.And then we have dec 7 now it's Nov 6th all sad days for our country. And dont whizz on my leg then tell me it's raining.