Dot Truck Inspections

an old friend told me his thoughts about cops once and i guess you could apply it to dot also -- "if they don't have anything on you they'll cheat" --

 

Dude...your are really paranoid about getting searched. I hope your name, whtlinefvr, refers to the white lines on the road and not the white lines you are snorting.

I think somebody is overdue for a random UA.

Just kidding. Sorry...I couldn't pass it up...I'm cracking myself up over here, lol. Woops, there I go again..."cracking"...get it? Crack?

Um, nevermind...I'll quit while I'm ahead.

 

I believe he is just running illegal and trying to figure out his rights. Maybe this
happened to him recently and he is just trying to hear everyone eles's opinon on it
without stating it happened to him? That leaving some details out thread we read (well
I hope you did)

HOWEVER: I did like your cut ups, but lets be easy and not assume. I just hate the thought this comment would run someone away from here, thinking we are mean, even though you was doing it fun and games and I laughed

 

I was just wondering if anyone had run into that before. The officer actually told me that the sheet thing wasn't a DOT reg. but a health code for Texas, but since when does the DOT have the authority to enforce health codes. And he went as far as to make me open the passenger door from the inside to prove it worked.

I was also pulled over for having a radar detector according to his little toy on his dash and that was his basis for doing the inspection. Even after searching the truck he still found no radar detector. He even was proud enough to show me how it picked up radar detectors in other trucks when he pointed it at them but when he pointed it at my truck with me sitting in his vehicle it didn't pick up anything. WOW what's the odds of that.

 

I realize that DOT checks are becoming more and more frequent, but in all the years that I have been out here(44), my log book has not been checked over 5 times. Some of you are going through life being so paranoid that it could affect your driving. GET A LIFE! The DOT aint hiding behind every tree.

The best advice that I can give a young driver is to make sure his appearance reflects that of a professional. Dress in a professional manner, take pride in your personal hygiene, if possible drive a clean looking truck. If you are pulled over for a inspection, be respectful, but always remember, you have rights.

 

I have to agree, if you look dirty and your truck looks dirty or junky then yeah your more likely to get pulled in for inspection. Plus if you have huge black bags under your eyes and look and smell like you haven't showered in a week chances are he's going to check your logs closer then someone who looks clean and refreshed. Learned that lesson in the military, if you don't want to get yelled at for your apperance then make it look good. Dirty is dirty and you'll get treated accordingly.

 

In some ways you may be correct but, you may not want to do that to someone like me. I do not recite BS laws and if you challenge me, you'll pay for it. The best advice, whether it BS or not, accept the fine, send it in not guilty and submit proof.

As far as bedding, there's no DOT regs. Although the mattress must be 4" thick. If we "need" or "feel" the interior is suspect, there's always a way in. But like you said earlier- don't be so paranoid. It's the s#$%bag truckers I look for!! Hope I didn't come off like a prick but just trying to help out a little.

 

I fully agree. That's what I was trying to say. There are some prick cops out there like any other profession. I just get pissed when I have to deal with the person they just stopped earlier. 99% of the time, I will show the operator all the violations of their truck in black and white, so they understand what to tell their carrier. Some drivers just seem to get ballsy and that's when I get pissed because I was being nice. As far as some are concerned, a cop is a cop, a trooper is a trooper etc. I don't BS the public. I treat them like they treat me. My family is "public", I don't need some "cop" BSing my family.