Driver's protection-young driver

Just watch the state of Tennessee when you are an independent hauling nice cars like Mercedes, BMW, etc. Those clowns they call interdiction units for the THP work between Memphis and Nashville and like to stop you for BS reasons and assume their is dope in the nice cars you are hauling. They usually make up a reason to stop you, saying you committed a moving violation then giving you a warning and ask permission to search your vehicles.
They can't find their own butts with both hands but will search a car with dust and cobwebs for an hour, do damage to it, and then let you go, and even might write you a warning just for good measure to cover themselves on the civil rights violation for the illegal stop. I know this happened to my dad this year right after Christmas. Just giving you a heads up.

 

Like someone previously said, getting a drug trained dog would be the easiest. If not there are things to look for, like new rivets and fresh body work, places in cars where voids can be filled. Let air out of the tires and see if it smells like marijuana, buy a fiber optic camera and look in the gas tank. One of the smartest places I ever saw someone hide money was in an engine bay underneath the intake manifold laying against the pushrods and lifters in a zip loc bag, 50k I believe. Google interdiction stops hidden compartments to see the level of ingenuity some dope dealers use.

 

I wouldn't lose any sleep worrying about people trying to smuggle drugs in the cars your hauling. And don't let any of the haters on here discourage you from pursuing something you want to do. Since you already have a year's worth of bill money saved, your parents are able to help you if you need it and you have a friend in the business that can help guide you, then go for it. The worst that can happen is that it doesn't work out for you, but at least you tried doing something that you want to do and you might as well try it while your young. This business is heavily regulated and can be expensive to start up, so make sure you do your research and do everything by the book, you'll be thankful in the long that you did. Good Luck and be safe.

 

Hey kid, listen to this, if you plan on anything, you may not get there. one accident to take your life onto a different tangent, one slip and you hit your head you will deal with nightmare of recovery IF you can.

This is a dangerous job, I have fallen, I have tripped and I have almost been run over by idiot drivers - both forklift and truck. I am retired, I was knocked off a trailer by a huge die set that was being improperly moved while I was setting up my chains for chaining the set I had to move. I fell and after six little surgeries and a few more, I have no choice but not to drive any more.

So I get it, the glamorous job of hot shot may seem to be easy to do (Actually there is no 'training' for it needed), but the truth is if you get into one accident, that's it, you are royally screwed.

So take you degree and go do what you took a few years to earn.

AND don't need to reply to my post, I just gave you some of the best advice you'll ever get.

 

So never take a shot at what you want to do? Be afraid you might stub your toe and it will hurt? How about never cross the street so you can't get hit by a car. Your best advice is to run away and be scared? if that's your best advice you should rethink giving advice.

 

p608 how many years have you been driving? I agree with you on trying somethings out you like. It's another to go in the wrong direction if you have options.

 

The problem is that most fail at this work. It is better to be prepared for the worst of it and then get some of the good out of it without falling into the trap of failure.

I don't have a clue who you are, but me I am a fleet owner with a lot of years of driving under my belt plus a lot more in business and consulting, so my advice is valid, if it isn't what you want to hear so what, it may help others see that the bs of this industry is what hurts others, the sugar coating crap people keep saying just covers that all up.

Risk is there with anything we do. The best people, not the lucky ones but the actual ones who work to be the best that they can always look at both sides of the situation.

The lucky ones are those who just get by and act like they know what they are talking about or are the ones who say "sure come on in the waters fine" while ignoring the great white sharks swimming under their feet. Risk is 80% of the game, lessening that risk is important and takes skill and time, like I said one accident can ruin your life's plans so always have that in mind.

 

I drove for 38 years before retiring, hauled cars reefers, doubles, and flats, even have a 2 million mile safe driving award.

 

Than you should heed your own advice and stop hiring drivers, you're putting them in danger.

 

That's a fine driving record. After 38 years were you done with driving or wanted to do something else like fish.