Minimizing Exposure to DOT Legally?

I suspect those who line their dash with trash have hoarder tendancies, which makes me wonder if a new A&E series is in play "Over The Road Hoarders" lol.

 

I’d say just keep doing what you’re doing. The more good inspections you have the more it will help your rating. Right now they see you with a newer number so they check you out.

 

you don't need to wear a suit and tie, but a good looking "work uniform" of sorts or even just non-ripped or torn blue jeans and clean work shoes.

a T-shirt that does not have stains all over it, nor flip-flops.

5 o'clock shadow is ok, so is a full neatly trimmed beard, hopefully with no food stuck in it.

and above all else, RESPECT for yourself, and the DOT scale house people.

you will get RESPECT back in spades!!!!

feel free to flip off stupid, dirty, ignorant, smelly, flip-flop, sweat pants wearing morons....

 

Going to be 6 months with my own authority and pulled in 3x for inspection and a couple more times to just roll past them. So heres my newbie advice...
DO NOT LOOK LIKE A BUM! Im going to say it doesnt matter how you look like as long as you arent dirty. Ive gone thru scales with pants and those safety yellow shirts, and with shorts and different colored clean shirts.
PrePass is a must if OTR or even regional in my opinion.
Truck appearance wise mines a good 7/10 clean. Not clean but not dirty, you can tell i go thru a lot of dirt lots but its not caked with dirt. No missing/broken/zip tied mirrors,lights or anything. Curtains sometimes closed or cracked a bit. But my "work place" aka cab is CLEAN, might have an empty water bottle on the passenger seat if its past lunch but my dash is clean, minus the 2 folders with my company logo on the side not obstructing windhsield vents showing DOT im ready for them if pulled over!
Flatbed equipment is always nice and tighty, no broken/loose chains, no torn straps, tarping loads are always on point and not flapping from out the sides.
And when crossing the scales i go nice and slow, look at my mirrors to check if im not hitting anything once getting onto it and ALWAYS with my window down and no music.
Not much to it to be honest

 

You got me. I guess it did. Lots of people think that way though.

 

That's the way the world works...how many beautiful princesses were dressed in rugs?

 

I looked on google and this is the only woman I found wearing a rug. I don’t know if she is a princess though.

 

I remember that one press article about a truck driver arrested in Texas for something illegal. The cop stopped his truck because his suits were drying up in a cab and it was suspicious to the cop. So don’t go too far with your “professional appearance” either way.

The best advice I can think of is don’t be where they are, and if you happen to be where they are just be prepared.

 

Yeah, nobody ever saw a guy in a ballcap and tshirt from Walmart or Marshalls and thought "#### that looks unusual, I ought to go investigate"