Can DOT Highway patrols search your truck

I have a Cali Legal Spread....10' 1"....They're legal to 20K per axle....You don't even have to pull out the "Green Book"....Just look at the chart in a Rand-McNally's Carrier's atlas.....The chart lists the various axle limits per W/B....
I can't understand why some DOT treat them like a tandem.....
Now I do try to balance my loads if possible.....Anyone who has a Cali legal spread knows why.....TIRES!!!!....
But with the new rig being almost a thousand pounds more than a 379.....It's not easy to do that with loads that are 47K+ Net.....So more weight goes on the trailer.....And as a result....Uneven tire wear....Even with an axle dump.....

 

WCP, that's not always true. You can not believe the amount of folks that give consent that are riding dirty. "Dirty" folks think you won't find it or use or thinking. "If I tell them too, they will let me go. Or they think I'm ok."

 

Hmmm...That begs the question...If one is dirty....why tempt fate?......Perhaps a lack gray matter as well?

 

You are right. They can not force you to let them search. But are you willing to lose your career for you principles. Every lease says they have the right to search at there will and that refusal will cause the end of the lease. That will go on your DAC and for those that don't use DAC they will report to the next employer why you where fired. Principles are good but unless you have something to hide don't be stupid about them. "Sorry honey, Can't pay the rent and feed the kids this month because I wouldn't let the company search my truck for weapons and drugs."

 

WCP, only when i wanted to be polite. I was in to many Vietnam peace marches in college Now i treat them with respect.

 

No, EVERY lease does NOT include that clause. If you own the truck, it is NOT a career-ending decision...it's your truck. If they suspect drug use, they call for a "for cause" drug test as provided for under federal regulations...no need for them to enter my truck. Same with weapons. If they suspect I have something illegal in the truck, they need to call the law. I do not have to grant them access to the interior of my truck for any reason.

I am not an employee of the carrier. They can't fire me. All they can do is terminate the lease they have with the company I work for, at which point I would have to find other work for the truck...either with another carrier, or by getting my own authority. That's the "fun" part about all of these "employee misclassification" laws...the more barriers the carriers erect to ensure that you are NOT their employee, the more freedom you have to do as you please in your own truck....and the less control they have over what you can do in and around your own truck.

I have nothing to hide. It isn't about whether or not you have something to hide. I have the right to refuse to give consent to unjustified or illegal searches...especially those done by unqualified individuals. I don't go barging into their home, office, or vehicle just to go snooping around, so I'm not about to let them do the same in mine. There really isn't much more to it than that. If they are demanding to be let into my truck in order to search it for something they may not like, they are already looking for a justifiable reason to terminate the lease (and just haven't found one yet)...which means my time there would ALREADY be limited....so there would be no hard feelings should they terminate the lease. Why would you want to continue to do business with a company that does not want you around?

 

talking with some people is like talking to the wall. I'm out.

 

Hello, wall. I'm the Ramblin' Redneck. Nice to make your acquaintance.

If you knew what you were talking about...or at least had a little evidence to back up your BS claims...perhaps you wouldn't find so many people in disagreement.

 

I know exactly what I'm taking about. Getting fired for something stupid like " you can't see in my truck" is stupid. But them again stupid is as stupid does.