A trucker is often a high-risk job. For example, when transporting hazardous materials or cargo of irregular size and shape. To work with such loads, the truck driver must meet the hazmat endorsement requirements.
But beyond that truck drivers are often at serious risk from high crime rates in some areas. In order to keep their hours, they sometimes have to park in strange places where danger may be waiting for them. That’s why many truckers believe they need to carry firearms to protect themselves in such cases. But not all state laws allow truckers to carry firearms.
In addition to legal restrictions, many trucking companies also prohibit drivers from carrying firearms in the truck. Some truckers carry tasers and baseball bats. But if a driver meets a criminal with a gun on the road, and all he has in his hands is a tire iron, how much chance will he have to defend himself?
Do truckers carry weapons? Yes, many drivers carry concealed weapons in their vehicle. Trucking is not the safest business, and many truck drivers sometimes find themselves in deserted areas during dangerous hours. That’s why many of them carry firearms.
Most truckers who have guns in their trucks have a concealed-carry permit in their state. But many of them also don’t mind carrying guns in states where they don’t have such a permit. But to do so, they need to take all necessary precautions to avoid possible problems.
Generally, truck drivers transporting concealed firearms keep them locked up under lock and key and store ammunition in separate compartments. Federal law does not prohibit truck drivers from transporting firearms, but they must comply with local and state gun laws.
Why it is difficult for truckers to transport firearms
Federal law does not prohibit truckers from carrying firearms in their vehicles. However, the confusing structure of local and state gun laws complicates things. Many trucking companies also prohibit carrying firearms in their trucks.
Many trucking companies also prohibit carrying firearms in their trucks, but HMD Trucking is not one of them.
Drivers can’t always find safe places to park far away, and truck parking lacks protection. Most truck drivers have a permit to carry a gun from their state, but the problem is that it may not work in other states through which the route passes. Troopers can stop and search any vehicle at their discretion and can charge the driver with violating gun laws if it happens in a state where their permit is not reciprocated.
There is also the problem of gun safety training. Some level of training is required to obtain a permit to carry it, but most trucking companies feel it is not enough. And a firearm in the hands of an untrained user poses a danger not only to the user, but also to others.
What you need to know about transporting firearms
While carrying a gun provides drivers with protection in the unpleasant situations that occur in the trucking industry, it can also cost them their jobs. To avoid this, one should be well-versed in gun laws and company policies such as these. If the trucker is an owner-operator, it is easier to carry firearms because the company cannot impose its rules on you and forbid you to keep them in your truck.
Also, keep in mind that firearms are not the only way to protect yourself. Some drivers carry Tasers allowed in 45 states. Baseball bats and tire irons are also a favorite self-defense weapons of many truck drivers.
Research the gun laws in the states your route takes you through. Some states’ gun permits will allow you to enter other states, while some are unacceptable. States such as Alabama, Arkansas, and Illinois issue gun permits to residents and non-residents, while some states only issue permits to their residents.
How truckers can stay safe
Truckers are most vulnerable when they are not driving. There are all kinds of people at truck stops with not the best of intentions, and in such cases, one should not underestimate one’s own safety. Often drivers will stop driving when they have worked their allotted hours (HOS). And that can mean having to spend the night in an unsecured parking space. However, such problems can be avoided.
With proper pre-planning, you can keep hazards to a minimum. It all starts with a study of your surroundings and parking area. Allocate enough time to find a safe place to park. If you can’t find a safe spot in a truck stop, consider paying for backup parking. It all comes down to being mindful of your surroundings. But one way or another, it doesn’t hurt to carry something for your own protection and it doesn’t have to be a firearm.
Can weapons be transported in a commercial vehicle?
The situation is ambiguous. Federal law does not prohibit transporting a firearm in a commercial vehicle, but some states have different requirements. If you want to transport firearms in a commercial vehicle, it is important to know the requirements of the states and counties you are traveling through. Even if you have a permit and legally own a firearm, some states do not recognize permits issued elsewhere. There are maps online showing reciprocity from state to state. To avoid criminal charges, it’s important to know what the law is in the various states and cities through which your trucking company goes..
If your company doesn’t allow guns in their vehicles, don’t carry them. Bring a taser or other approved self-defense weapon, such as a baseball bat or tire iron.
