Truck Drivers Delivering Unknow Product

I don't think is right at all. We as truck drivers, because of the new laws, are forced to pull loads that we know nothing about. These loads are sealed and we cannot inspect the cargo. We must trust whatever paperwork that is handed to us from some unknown person. This is our lives at stake here. We should have the right to know what product we are hauling and we should be able to inspect our cargo. We could have bombs or drugs for goodness sake and not know it. This law could very well be an excuse for companies to unknowingly haul whatever they choose to transport. Sometimes I afraid to drive because I really have no idea what im hauling.

 

What new laws are forcing us to haul loads that we know nothing about?

 

I used to pull loads for the D.O.D
Department of Defence. Even though I never knew what kind of bombs I was hauling I new without a doubt I was hauling Explosives.

 

Exactly my question. Also appears to be in the wrong sub-forum.

 

Unless it is Hazmat, in which case you will be informed, I see no real reason that the driver needs to know what the load is.
You need to know if it is high and heavy, or if it is a load that may possibly shift, but that is really about it.
If you do not know what the load is then you cannot be called to question as much if the load is stolen.
I see articles about stolen loads allot, and always the driver is put to the question as to who they may have told what they are hauling.
98% of drivers know not to tell anyone what they are hauling, and would not do it.
But the company's and insurance company's like to blame the driver for blabbing anyway.
Not knowing helps to cover your butt. Not by much, but it will if you have a lie detector test.

 

There isn't any "new" laws. It's just the way the trucking industry is designed that's starting to give me the heebeegeebees on some things. I should've stated the "laws that are in place".

Yep. This I know.

Now how can we know how high a load is or if it may possibly shift without looking at it??? What about it being secure of not. The shipper should give the driver time to inspect the load before sealing up the product, especially with vans and containers. We are not psychics. Yes, the trained driver can go by feel when turning ect to determine this but it's still a guessing game. If we as truckers happen to get pulled over at customs and get inspected and drugs are found, who's to blame for transporting them? How will we prove that we didn't know?

 

Hey LandShark. Would it be of any value to see the load before you took off with it....Yeah. I mean, even the CDL book tells us to inspect the load etc before hauling. How can we inspect something we can't see. I pull tankers/hazmat too by the way.

 

Did they ever tell you to run unplacarded?

I have done the same type of stuff in the UK before noving to the US & we were never placarded even hauling explosives/radioactive for Military...

 

When I haul things like paper rolls I do not need to see it to know it is high and heavy. They tell me on my load info though. That is one I will normally see anyway though. They don't pre-seal those loads much.
On normal loads that are pre-sealed I have to go with what I am told. If they say it is loaded properly and secure, then I have to go with that.
I can have them mark pre-sealed on the bills I guess, or I can just mark it on them.
If it happens to have drugs in it, then that is on them. I do not know they are in the truck, I cannot see them.
Heck, even if it is not pre-sealed you probably will not see the drugs if they package it within the load itself.
This has happened. I have seen pictures on this forum of loads like that. The driver did not get charged, he had no idea they were there.
I do not worry about things I cannot change.
If the issue ever comes up, and I have a real issue like this, then I guess I will go to court.
I will tell the truth, and they will have to prove that I am not being honest.

If you are concerned, then find another line of work. It is what it is.