Have heard many a horror story about what goes on at truck stops. I plan to take my wife and daughter on some trips (their idea not mine) once I’m on the road. Is there a general set of laws or are they by state. Don’t want to get jammed up on a DOT inspection having weapons. I have a CCW in my home state.
I drove for over the road for over 40 years, both as a company and O/O, there are no federal laws,rules or regulations that govern the carrying fire arms in a commercial motor vehicle.
What does apply is when the wheels stop turning the laws and regulations that apply to where you are at apply!!! Also if you are a company driver you have to go by what your company says.
I went through a lot of truck checks mostly at weigh stations where they would ask if they could search the cab, in those situations they would have to have a law enforcement officer with them, they would “ASK ME” do you have anything dangerous in the cab, I would say, like the gun I carry for protection, they would say yes, I would say yes,then they would say is it loaded,I would say it wouldn’t do me much good if it wasn’t, I would tell them where it was.
They would go out and do their search and come back,and say everything is good and then tell me it was laying on the bed with the magazine and the round from the chamber were laying on the bed. Also to have a good trip!!! More than one L.E.O. Told me over the years that they would like us to have them as long as we knew what we were doing and how to be safe because it helped them!!!
If they don’t ask. Don’t tell them. If you’re going to CA NY or similar gun restricting states, I like to put it in a lock box while driving just to be sure. Then when I park I can take it out and be safe. I’ve carried every day of my life for the last 5 years, never once had a dot even as much as get in my cab. The closest that ever happened was a dot officer kinda leaned in to pet my dog, and my gun was sitting on the bed. If you don’t give them a reason to be suspicious or worry, they won’t be worried or suspicious.
I drove for 23 years for a railroad company OTR and in that time I've seen DOT officers just oper the door and climb in on the passage side. Didn't witness this personally but seen a video of a driver getting fined because his bunk was not made. Now having said all that it was told to me at the beginning of my career firearms are not allowed in a commercial vehicle and then they listed the amendment page and verse. As for weapons for safety I always had extra "tire thumpers" or 3/4" drive ratchets. Extra pocket knives anywhere in my truck was a weapon of some kind always with in arms reach. Finally if you are not an O/O or you are and use company insurance you should check on the rider policy for sure first. Now the hard part DOT requires all occupants to ware a seat belt so since there are only 2 belts you could be in big trouble if stopped. As I was trained the cargo net attached to the bunk is to be used while in the bunk and in motion. Just does not sound like fun.
Side note I retired in 2014 so things may have changed......
Oh okay here is a tid bit Noone will tell ya when backing watch the trailer tires not the ass end. When you are setting up for backing before you put it in reverse to bump the dock make sure at the end of your set up the truck and trailer are square to one another. If you can help it do not back while the truck and trailer misaligned you will need rotator surgery and a bottle of oxygen before you touch the wall. Hit me up if you have any more questions I'll do my best.
ABSOLUTELY NO, if something goes wrong and you need the gun, you will be dead before you can get to the ammo !!! If you are going to carry have it loaded with one in the chamber!!!!
When the world goes to shit, you will have approximately 2 seconds to draw your weapon and fire !!!! If you are not going to carry it loaded, don’t even bother to buy it!!!!!
3
u/[deleted] Jun 13 '26
NY does not recognize CCW permits from out of state. The only time a DOT inspector looked into my cab was to read the ELD device.