Trucker's opinions on hitchhikers, or people needing rides.

I don't think I would ever pick one up. Although I assume most of them are simply people down on their luck and have their own little demons that they're trying to escape, there's no telling which one might also be a violent criminal.

 

As a driver of a company CMV I would not give a ride to a hitch hiker, they are there by choice and probably most companies prohibit giving hitchers a lift. A person needing a ride might be a different story, car broke down, bad weather etc.....Same thing with someone asking for a lift at a truck stop, as a company driver I dont think I would go down that road.

 

Technically, you need a company permission slip to have anyone in a commercial vehicle.

Example. Driver was broke down about 5 miles from rest area. Second driver stopped and gave the broke down driver a ride to the rest area. State police officer saw the guy stop and met him at the rest area. Asked the second driver for the permission slip. Was given a ticket for this offense. Nice officer wasn't it.

 

Why do the police care, what was the ticket for? Just because something is against company policy doesn't make it against the law. Yes, I realize hitchhiking on the freeway itself is illegal, but this was a breakdown, not a hitchhiker.

 

As an 0/0 or driver I used to NEVER even think of picking up a hitchhiker until about 8 yrs ago.

I locked a transmission up in my pickup truck near Mendota ,IL.It was zero with a bad wind and I had the flu started on top of it..I stayed in the truck until I was nearly froze and then started walking south not really knowing where I was headed...A driver stopped,picked me up and turned around at the next exit and took me a couple of miles back north to a motel.GOD bless him because he saved my ### that day and since then I have a little bit more understanding about picking folks up....If you have a mangy looking dog with you tho',the answer will be no way.I never could figure a person out who was disrespectful enough to hitch with a dog and expect a ride in someone elses vehicle.

 

The ticket is for an unauthorized passenger in a commercial motor vehicle. It is not for a violation of company rules but DOT laws. The form is required by them. The company requires it for the insurance.

 

Ok, thanks. I didn't know that. That's what I love about this site, I learn so much.

 

There is an exception in DOT rules in cases of an emergency. As far as picking up hitch-hikers, no way. You don't know what drugs etc. they may be carrying or what they may leave on your truck.