Carrying firearms in a truck

That's a bit misleading - in no state is it illegal to carry in a CMV. The legality revolves around the individual and whether he has a permit to carry in that jurisdiction.

 

I've only read the first 3 pages, and thought I'd give my 2¢ worth; oh wait, factoring inflation since the "2¢" term was coined back in the early 20th century, I'll say my $2 worth. Inflation averages 3 percent per year, according to economist.

When I did OTR eons ago, & before I realized hourly-paid local trucking was where the $$$$ was at (with at least 20 hours' overtime per week), I heard rumors of truck hijackings over the CB radio, & the news would occasionally report armed robbery of a trucker parked in a secluded rest area. I was a company driver, but I decided to carry a snub-nose 38 revolver in my sleeper berth. I didn't own a CCW permit, & was fully aware I was taking a gamble of termination, or getting hauled off to jail & the truck impounded. It was a choice of either being totally unarmed, & hope I survive an armed robbery or truck hijacking, or at least having a fighting chance of killing my assailant, and having him to keep me company in the afterlife.

If you carry a gun, I strongly recommend no smaller than a 38 caliber. If you research ballistics, a 22, 25, or 32 caliber doesn't have enough propellant powder in them to generate the proper muzzle velocity to penetrate deep inside human tissue, unless you register a head shot. If you only mortally wound the assailant, and he's carrying a real gun, it's only logical he'd shoot back and teach you a lesson for trying to kill him. If your armed robber had already served prison time, a lot of these repeat convicted felony types had made a promise to themselves they'd rather go down in a hail of gunfire from police, rather than going back to serve another prison term.

Case in point was the North Hollywood Bank Robbery on February 28, 1997. Prior to this incident, police officers were forbidden from carrying rifles in their patrol vehicles, fearing over-penetration & a stray bullet would hit an innocent bystander. After the incident, every police, sheriff, and state agency across the country changed their policies, allowing officers to carry a semi-auto assault rifle in the trunk of their patrol vehicle. The 2 armed robbers in that case had already served prison terms, which is why they refused to surrender, in spite of the over whelming number of officers surrounding them.

If you were an armed gunman, and a trucker pulls a gun on you, the natural reaction is self-preservation, so you immediately retreat. But if the trucker takes a shot at you and misses, or only wounds you, now you're extremely agitated, and you want to teach this trucker a lesson for being a lousy shot. This is why I carried a 38; my first shot would likely miss or only wound him; but if he doesn't turn and flee, I've got 5 more rounds to register a head shot, and make sure he never assaults another trucker again. I also carried 2 speed loaders, just in case I kill one robber, but now his partner (driving the get-away vehicle) wants retribution for his dead partner, and I've emptied all 6 rounds on the first robber.

The main point I'm making, if you decide to carry a handgun, keep it a dark secret you never divulge to anyone, not even your wife (I recall a case where a wife learned her husband cheated on her, so she decides to file for divorce, but not before getting him fired by calling the company to report he had a gun in the sleeper).

When you pull into a DOT inspection, the officer may ask if you have a gun on board. The officer is watching your body language & tone of voice to indicate guilt, so it's important to look the officer straight into his eyes, put on a confused look in your face, and reply "Gun !!?? why would any driver carry a gun ??" Act like that was the strangest question you've ever heard. Then suddenly change your facial expression to express shock & disbelief, then ask "Are you implying some of these other drivers carry guns ?? Whoa !! I never thought of that." Practice this theatrical acting in front of a mirror, it can mean the difference between being searched, or the officer deciding you're not carrying.

If the officer suspects you have a firearm, and you refuse consent to searching your truck, he'll call the company to get a recorded verbal consent to search the truck. I've never heard of a DOT officer asking if a driver has a firearm on board, but there are no written policy saying he/she can't ask this question. On routine traffic stops, I've been asked if I had a gun on board. Without hesitation, I'd give a prolonged "Noooo" answer while giving the officer a questionable expression on my face, to let him know that was the weirdest question I've ever heard.


The likelihood of being hijacked increases when you haul high-value loads, like electronics, heavy-booze alcohol beverage, software like video game CDs, tobacco products, and any retail products that can be easily be sold at swap meets or over the internet like Ebay. A lot of these hijackings are due to classified info being leaked to hijackers. Investigators have concluded someone at the shipper, receiver, or your company's dispatch or management staff is selling info to organized crime. If you shoot & kill your armed robber or truck hijacker, it's safe to assume you're about to be terminated when the company learns you had a gun with you, but at least you're alive to fill out the police report. In contrast, without a gun, you're just another crime fatality statistic, and you've created a driver position opening for another unsuspecting newbie driver.

If you cross into Canada, unload your handgun, get a box big enough to hold your ammo and handgun, package everything and send it via UPS, Fedex, or DHL ground service back to your residence. The Postal Service can have a warrant issued for your arrest if you send firearms or ammo over USPS, but they're allowable if they're sent via private parcel carriers. If you cross into Canada or Mexico, they don't need your consent (or a search warrant) to search your truck. You'll be immediately arrested, & the truck impounded, if they find a gun or ammunition in your possession. When you cross the Canadian border, they'll ask if you have anything to declare as possible contraband. If you confess you have a gun, they'll confiscate it, then release you with no criminal charge against you. If you return to the same point of entry and ask for your gun back, they'll return it to you, then immediately inform US Customs you're on your way to cross the US border with a firearm on board. When you cross back into US border, they'll ask you to produce your CCW permit.

On the Mexican border side, you're immediately placed under arrest if you have either a gun, or just the ammunition alone. Like Canada, they can search without your permission. The only difference, Mexican police can be bribed, but it will be at least $500 cash to have the officer let you go, then he'll notify other officers to pull you over and search you, so they can also profit off your stupidity.

Edit ► Another option is to carry one of these realistic-looking airsoft handguns, and try to bluff your assailant to believe it's real. When a gunman knocks at your door, hold your fake gun up and say "Yow man, don't force me to use this. Just turn around and walk away, and maybe no one has to get hurt today." Again, you have to put on a convincing act. Don't act nervous, and believe to yourself you have a real gun. Acting nervous may convince the gunman, your gun is a fake. Most of these airsoft guns have the orange-tipped barrel to let police know it's not real. You take a permanent black marker, or get some hobby model-builder's black paint, and cover up this orange tip to give it that realistic look. The news & the police never release this info, but a significant number of armed robberies are being committed with these realistic airsoft handguns. I was told this by a retired sheriff deputy I met at a gun show, while I was admiring some airsoft handguns and rifles that were being sold without the orange-tipped barrel.

 

I won't address most of the above...

but I strongly object to any presumption that using a fake gun is a good (or even less bad) choice. You are far better off having no gun at all than waving a fake - no matter how realistic - around.

There's a difference between you and the agressor carrying a fake. If you call his bluff, he runs off (or just beats you over the head with it). If he calls YOUR bluff, you are probably dead.

It all falls back on the axiom: If you issue a threat in a life or death situation, you MUST be prepared to carry it out.

 

I'm a local class b driver in Memphis, Tn but I basically run anywhere within 100 miles of Memphis. I'm nothin but a lil ol country boy that's never really been around thugs and gangsters, but when I started this job they would send me off in the getto past drug dealers and prostitutes trying to wave you down. I would make a delivery next to houses that had been boreded up from the police and it would have signs on them saying "property of shelby county police drug task force". Needless to say, I got my hand gun permit not long after I started the job. It cost me around 300 dollars just to get my permit. I've had my personal truck broke into 2 times and one stole within a matter of the past 2 years here in Memphis. My employer never said I can't carry a gun therefor I won't tell him I carry one. I've been carrying everyday for over a year now while at work and nobody I work with has a clue that I even carry one. I carry a simi-auto .40; 10 in the clip on in the chamber on the inside of my pants with a "in the pants hoister". I currently want to go to school for my class a and if I do and end up going over the road, you bet your ##% I'll be packin. I'd rather go to jail and lose my job then be sent home wrapped in plastic to my family from a guy that shot me. I have a right to carry and I have a right to protect myself and I will do just that. You would think that if someone has a permit to carry, no matter what state they are from, you are a law abiding citizen and you should be able to carry a guy anywhere at anytime. I go to college part time and I carry to class. I'm not going to end up shot because some wacko decides to come into my class room and shoot everyone just because he/she doesn't like their life. They might get a shot or two off but I'll make sure they leave in a body bag.

 

It is a FEDERAL crime to carry a firearm in a commercial vehicle. As a CDL carrier, you are subject to FEDERAL law. In fact, until recently, it was illegal to carry in your personal vehicle if you had a CDL. Hope this helps. Remember, when in doubt, you are FEDERALLY certified, look there for anything you need to clear up.

 

No, it doesn't help. You haven't referenced any actual law or any other source for your claims.

 

I wonder where it says its a Federal crime because I can not find it in the Regs.

 

I would like to see the regs also
I take federal gun control pretty serious!!!!!!!
Its a state by state matter
Its been said many times on different threads that crossing state lines is where the problem comes in
That is when it becomes a federal matter

 

Man, the rumor mill at Trucking School must have a "must talk about guns being illegal" section. It is NOT a Federal Crime to carry a firearm in a commercial vehicle or if you have a CDL. There is NO SUCH LAW and anyone who tells you so, has NO KNOWLEDGE of the subject.

 

Not getting back into the stupid "you can't have a gun in a CMV" BS again...


but I LOVE that button!